| This tsuba, probably a Katchūshi work, is made from a well-forged, thin iron plate of round form, with a single Suhama crest pierced in openwork near the rim. Suhama is a traditional motif representing a sandbar formed along the water’s edge. Its distinctive form resembles three connected circles and has long been used as an auspicious design on furnishings and as a family crest. Katchūshi tsuba are believed to have been made by armorers, as the name suggests, and are characterized by thin, well-forged iron plates and simple openwork designs. This example is only about 2.5 mm thick, with a slight niku on the front while the reverse is relatively flat, where the forged texture of the iron is clearly visible. Free of elaborate decoration, the tsuba allows the deep black patina, rich iron character, and forging itself to be fully appreciated. The edges of the Suhama openwork are comparatively neat and well finished, suggesting that this piece should not be regarded as an earlier Ko-Katchūshi work, but rather as dating to around the early Edo period. A deeply appealing Katchūshi tsuba that combines rustic simplicity with the powerful character of well-forged iron. |
Search
