| This tsuba was designated as Tokubetsu Kichō Kodōgu (Especially Precious Sword Fitting) by the NBTHK in 1970 and attributed to the Shōami school. It is made in a tatemaru form with a thin goishi-gata profile using suaka (pure copper). The surface is finished with a finely textured, ishime-like ground resembling delicate kebori engraving, creating a subdued and tasteful patina with deep character. Beside the hitsu-ana are small openwork motifs in the form of pine cones (matsukasa), adding a subtle yet distinctive design element within its otherwise simple composition. From a modern perspective, however, features such as the distinctive suaka ground and the pine cone-shaped openwork also suggest characteristics associated with the Shōnai school. This is a refined tsuba that combines classical elegance with a sophisticated sense of aesthetic restraint. |
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