Tsuba, Shakudo (an alloy of copper and 3-6% gold), gold inlay, At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes, with remnants of sekigane (plugs added to fit the tsuba to a sword) made of shakudo (a soft copper and gold alloy). Surrounding this is the seppadai, a flat oval area that is migaki (burnished). On either side are ryo-hitsu, openings for the kozuka (utility knife) and the kogai (skewer tool). Both are hangetsu-kei (half moon) in shape., Japan, late 19th century, metalwork, Decorative Arts, Tsuba

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Photo credit: © Artokoloro / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 19th, 3-6%, added, alloy, area, arts, burnished, center, century, copper, decorative, fit, flat, gold, hangetsu-kei, inlay, japan, knife, kogai, kozuka, late, metalwork, migaki, moon, nakago-ana, opening, openings, oval, passes, plugs, remnants, ryo-hitsu, sekigane, seppadai, shakudo, shape, side, skewer, soft, surrounding, sword, tool, tsuba, utility