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Antique Japanese Tsuba - Shakudo/Nanako Shi-Shi Dog & Peony Flower

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:250.00 USD
Antique Japanese Tsuba - Shakudo/Nanako Shi-Shi Dog & Peony Flower
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Antique Japanese Tsuba - Shakudo/Nanako Shi-Shi Dog & Peony Flower, ca. mid-18th to mid-19th Century. Nice small round tsuba made of shakudo with nanako stippled background, featuring a design in relief of a shi-shi lion dog with a peony flower and leaves, derived from a common Japanese fable. There are kozuka and kogai hitsuanas on either side of the nakago ana. The tsuba measures 67mm wide x 71.5mm tall. The nanako stippling extends over and on the rim of the tsuba. Nice carved details to the shi-shi and flower designs. The reverse features a gold peony flower in relief. The nakago ana shows some punch marks from being fitted to more than one sword in its lifetime. There are numerous light kanji characters scratched into the body of the tsuba on the upper half of both sides, as well as on the seppa dai area of the back side. Condition is very good, the shakudo surface having a nice dark black patina, with light soiling and minor wear. There are a couple of very light dings to the rim area, almost not worth mentioning. The scratched-in kanji show the lighter copper/gold alloy base metal. This scratched-in writing is worthy of further research as it could pertain to family ownership or other history of the tsuba. There is light wear and scratches to the gold applied to the designs of the flowers and shi-shi dog. Includes a wood storage box. Est.: $500-$750.