Tsuba: Engraved face of Shishi
Signature/mei: Myochin Katsumi Ki no Munenaga
Material: iron
Era/jidai: very late Edo (1866)
Dimension: (h)81.6mm/(w)81.3mm/(d)2.4mm
Custom made box with cushion
Price: not available
Unique and rare, very finely chased iron Myochin tsuba with the face of a grimly smiling Shishi. On the ura we find a very extensive signature:
Keio ninen hachi gatsu kichijitsu Myochin Katsumi Ki no Munenaga saku Sakamoto Naokata Ouju
On a lucky day in the eight month of Keijo two (1866) Myochin Katsumi Ki no Munenaga saku Made on behalf of Sakamoto Naotaka
The roots of the Myochin family can be traced back to the Heian period. During this time – and many generations later – the Myochin made armor for samurai and bridles for horses. It is amazing that the Myochin masters continued to be active for many generations until the end of the Edo period, producing iron works such as this unusual tsuba.
