Iron tsuba. 6 lobed mokko ji sukashi (pierced open work) tsuba. The rim is composed of traling aoi vines with the aoi blossoms drooping inside to form the interior of the tsuba. Late Edo. 8 cm.
Brass tsuba. Pierced and carved depicting chokwaro's magical horse leaping out of its gourd. Possibly 19th century. 6.5 cm. Chokwaro was a mystic, who prefered not to walk, but did not want the responsibilities of a horse. Therefore, he conjured one out of a gourd. It could be ridden and then returned to its gourd carrying case. Neat trick. (Thanks to Jim Gilbert for referring me to Katherine M. Ball's Decorative Motifs of Oriental Art and to Hawley's Tsubas [sic] of California, which has a similar tsuba.)
2 coiled dragons "mouthing" a golden jewel. Each scale is detailed , as are the claws and long flowing whiskers. They are cast from a dark brown running toward dark red brass. Their spines are raised and rom the mimi (rim) of the tsuba. Probably a 1860's Kinko tsuba. 6.5 cm.
Tatemaru gata (oval) iron tsuba with mon sukashi (silhouette) of a paper blessing. Akao Noshi. Early Edo. 9.3 cm.
Maru gata (round) ji sukashi tsuba depicting a pagoda, trees and clouds. Kyo 17th century. 7 cm.
