| Mino, located at a key transportation hub close to Kyoto, had highly developed metal-carving techniques from ancient times, giving rise to sword fittings known as Mino-bori.The distinctive feature of this style is the so-called “Minobori, deep carving of Mino,” in which the background is deeply excavated while leaving the motifs in relief. Designs—most commonly flowers, plants, and autumn insects—are expressed with fire-gilded gold and silver polychrome decoration.Works believed to date from before the Momoyama period are referred to as Ko-Mino, while those produced thereafter are known simply as Mino.This piece is a refined example of Mino carving from the mid-Edo period, depicting peonies on a fuchi-kashira set. It has passed the Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu shinsa in August 2025. |
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