**Originally Listed At $250**

East Asia, Japan, Edo period, ca. late 18th to early 19th century. A beautiful forged-iron Yotsu-Mokkou (4 Mokkou) shaped tsuba, a protective and decorative hand guard traditionally employed on Japanese swords. This tsuba presents with an equestrian theme, with a horse riding crop or implement delineated in openwork above the Nakago-ana (central blade opening), and two brass renderings of other horse riding implements below it on the front and back of the piece. There are also two cloud-like openwork forms to either side of the Nakago-ana. A lovely example. Size: 3.875" in diameter (9.8 cm)

A tsuba is the hand guard of a traditional Japanese sword, usually a katana or tachi. Its primary purposes are to balance the sword, prevent one's hand from sliding down the blade and, as a last resort, as a block against an opponent's thrust or slash. However, as time and skills developed, the tsuba evolved into an artistic item and symbol representing wealth, prestige, or skills as a swordsman. Early tsuba, known as neri tsuba, were made of leather encased in an iron or wooden frame which was occasionally lacquered for strength and stability.

Lucite stand for photographic purposes and is not included.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#159746

Expected surface wear with some softening to details, abraded areas, and nicks to peripheries commensurate with age. The brass and openwork motifs, however, are still strong. The iron has developed a rich age patina.