Tsuba: Dragon with mountain scenery
Signature/mei: unsigned/mumei
Material: iron, shakudo, gold, copper
Dimension(h/w/d): 70.0 x 62.7 x 4.7 mm
Price: €550 / $650 / ¥100000
On the front, we see a dragon rising from storm clouds. Traces of golden decorations are still visible in the rain and on the dragon itself.
Our gaze is drawn to the dragon’s mouth and eye, highlighted with copper and gold, which stand out clearly against the dark iron base plate of the tuba.
The reverse depicts a different, more tranquil scene. The clouds have cleared, and a building, presumably a pagoda, can be seen behind a mountain in the distance. Closer to the viewer, another building is discernible, towards which two figures are moving amidst a rocky landscape. Several trees—some stylized—are carved from the base.
Two hitsu-ana, one of them carefully filled with shakudo.
A good example of how beautiful and artfully crafted tsuba don’t have to break the bank.
