Large, powerful Shoami Tsuba, nicely forged iron plate.
A look of great strength with a lightly hammered ground to effect a stone like surface on both sides.
The Sukashi openings are pierced in a robust manner including the Inome (boar's eye).
Decorated on both sides with nawame inlay of which there is a slight loss.
This sukashi work is the ultimate in simplification. Within this severe, unemotional work is a deep humanity that speaks to us today.
This style of tsuba, was influenced from the Heianjo school, or possibly from the last period of Onin brass inlay style of the Muromachi period.
Kanteisho (paper) from 'Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan' (Japanese Fittings Museum) attributes to the Shoami style. This museum was located in Sugamo, Tokyo. The Head Kanteika was Ikeda Suimatsu (now deceased), who wrote many books on the subject of swords and sword fittings.
78mm X 3.5mm thick.
Slight loss of inlay.