Photo Credit: matsu-kaze-japan
Very Rare Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Japanese 18-19th C Samurai Antique Tsuba
Buy It Now Price: $650 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This is a Japanese tsuba from the 18th or 19th century during the Edo period. A tsuba is the guard of a samurai sword, either the infamous Japanese long-sword – the katana – or the less well known and shorter Wakizashi.
-During the Warring States period (from 1467 CE to 1603 CE) and earlier, tsuba were usually strictly utilitarian pieces. However, starting in the Edo period in the 17th century, tsuba became works of art, meant to display a samurai’s noble heritage and high social status.
-This tsuba measures 69 mm (2.72 inches) by 66 mm (2.60 inches) by 5 mm (0.20 inches) thick.
-The main material used is brass. However, the piece is also accented with copper, inlaid mother-of-pearl and Shakudo. Shakudo is an alloy unique to Japanese metalworking that is composed of 3% to 7% gold with the remainder being copper. Shakudo is renowned for its subtly dark, velvety-black patina.
-This specimen shows a beautifully naturalistic heron wading among stylized reeds, all rendered in glorious high relief. Regardless of its age, Japanese art – like the tsuba pictured above – often displays a modern simplicity that most people find very attractive.
-This is a remarkably alluring work of art. The Japanese are esteemed for their metalworking and this tsuba is no exception; it is absolutely exquisite. $650 is a fair price for such a magnificently crafted piece.
Cons:
-Mother-of-pearl is a notoriously fragile substance that tends to chip and crack with age. Unless the piece is handled with great care, it is possible that the mother-of-pearl inset will eventually become damaged with time.
-Because this tsuba is made of brass and other soft alloys, it is apparent that it is a show piece, originally meant to impress other samurai and casual observers alike. Therefore, it is improbable that this specimen was ever used in a real samurai sword fight. This may or may not be a con, depending on what kind of tsuba collection you are looking to build as a connoisseur.
