Japenese , SANMAI TSUBA Late18th early 19th century

Home > Worthopedia – Price Guide > Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art >

Terms and Conditions for using our site

Japenese , SANMAI TSUBA Late18th early 19th century

Sold For:

or Sign In to see what it's worth.

Sold Date: 03/04/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

SANMAI TSUBA

Sanmai tsuba are constructed of three sandwiched plates; a top and bottom plate of shakudo, shibuichi, or nigurome with a center core normally of yamagane(copper). They are bound by a fukurin (rim) which holds the three plates together. This construction can be seen on the interior of the nakago and/or hitsu-ana. The plate decoration is done by a repousse technique, working the design from the back of the plate, sometimes hammered into a pattern mold. Some sanmai tsuba will have the exact same design on both sides; others will have different designs on each side of the tsuba. Commonly the plates will have some type of gold inlay on areas of the design.
The dating and attribution of this type of tsuba has been a subject of some debate among collectors. Some beleive these tsuba are a type of Tachi-Kanaguchi tsuba. Others feel they are Ko-Kinko (early soft metal) tsuba . They have also been attributed as Ko-Mino (early Mino School) tsuba. Sanmai tsuba have had attributed dates from the Momoyama period to late Edo period. Sanmai tsuba have received origami from the NBTHK, NTHK, and NTB generally attributing them to Ko-Kinko or Ko-Mino and dating Momoyama to early Edo periods.
Gold dragon around rim

Very nice piece

Japanese, Edo Period, late 18th Early 19th century
School: Sanmai School, Japanese
Overall: Size (cm) : 05.6x4.8x00.5cm Nakago 2.5x0.6cm,Weight 60.0g Main material: Copper, other metals: gold; copper sekigane.
Classification: Arms and armor
Obverse:Gold Dragon around rim