TSUBA

                                        KO-KINKO TSUBA

               This is a shakudo Ko-Kinko tsuba in namako form.  Ko-Kinko is a type of work starting from before the Momoyama period with, as of yet, no definitive artistic group, but, may be alligned with what was to became the Mino Goto school.  On this tsuba is what is called Amida-yasuri, which are lines that radiate from the center and are believed to represent the spiritual aura of the Buddha/Boddhisatva.  

                                                                                                                         MINO-GOTO TSUBA

        This tsuba shows the typical Mino-bori autumn flowers theme. What differentiates this tsuba is the Goto style dragons found on the mimi. Four dragons, two that are forward facing and two that are looking behind with their heads looking over their right shoulders. This tsuba has a very fine nanakoji. I believe what we can term the Mino-Goto school developed from the Mino-bori artists which was the school Goto Yujo studied. Upon his retirement Yujo returned to Mino no Kuni and with his Kyokanagushi influenced style had created the mainline Goto Shirobei line of fittings makers. I think his influence on Mino-bori artists outside of his direct line created what can be termed the Mino-Goto school.

                                                                       KAMAKURA TSUBA

                                                                                                                                                 鎌倉

                  A tetsujigane Kamakura marugata tsuba with bori of ya (arrows). Some karakusa hira-zogan in silver was later inlayed, probably in an attempt to revive it's use with changing tastes. I don't think it added anything myself. Remnants of the copper sekigane are still visible. This type of tsuba is named after a technique of wood-carving, kamakura-bori and is derived from katchushi and tosho tsuba.

                                                                         SHAKUDO TSUBA

                                                                                 SEMI   

        This three plate shakudojigane tsuba held together by a gold fukurin in sukashi style is a nice wakizashi size tsuba, and rather elegant. The surface is mirror-like, very smooth and dark. This tsuba had lost it's rim, so a new one was applied by John Tirado of  www.sayashi.com  It made from 22K gold. I think that the silhouette represents a cicada (semi). New sekigane have been installed.

                                                                                                                        TOSHO

                                                                                                                                               刀匠      

                     A tetsujigane marugata Tosho Tsuba of a heavy steel plate with a shakudo fukurin. Signed Jumyo.  Interestingly shaped hitsuana.

                                                                                                                  SUAKA NAMAKO TSUBA

                                                                       A suaka (copper)  marugata (round),  namakogata (sea cucumber shaped) tsuba.

                                                                     A YAMAKICHIBEI TSUBA

                                                                                                                                                 山吉兵

          A later copy of a Yamakichibei tsuba showing tekkotsu with a good steel plate, having a yakite shitate  焼手仕立 a re-fired and slightly melted surface.

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