1829828

Carved Japanese Bronze Katana Tsuba, ca.18th c.#1829828

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Asian Antiques Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:0.00 USD
Carved Japanese Bronze Katana Tsuba, ca.18th c.#1829828
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Exquisite!! Finely carved Karajishi (shishi) lion bronze (sentoku) tsuba. A real beauty!!</em></td>
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A very finely carved Japanese sentoku (bronze) katana tsuba, ca.18th c. Edo period. Dimensions are 2-7/8" tall, 2-3/4" wide. Sentoku is known to westerners as bronze. It is a special softer metal, composed of copper with approximately 10% tin and zinc. The unique yellow color, (which varies from artisan to artisan), is from a special pickling process. The pickling formulas were a preciously guarded secrets among the artisans. With the advent of new softer metals like shokuda, shibuichi, sambo gin, karakane, and sentoku, 18th century artisans created esquisite expressions of nature and Buddhist themes. This sentoku tsuba is of Nara school style. The style is reminiscent of Toshinaga shishiai bori or sunken relief. This sentoku tsuba has a wonderful carved shishiai bori, of 9 karajishi lions. "Karajishi" or Tang Styled Lion, lions were generally unwitnessed by eastern people in ancient times and as such the depiction of the Karajishi took on imaginary qualities, the Karajishi is believed by some to be a baby dragon, a supreme being that would guard a home against evils and invite good luck. Sengoku (like this one) and other soft metal tsubas were often the chosen tsubas used by samurai or shogunate officials. The obverse, (the side that face outward of the nakago of the katana), is carved with a design of a flowering chrysanthemum and the trunk of a tree. The overall color is a even chocolate brown. There is some white oxidation along the top, in the karajishi lion details, of the ...
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<td>Reference
#: 1890</td>
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<tr><td>Condition:Extremely Fine</td></tr>
<tr><td>Year:ca.18th c.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Country:Japan</td></tr>

<tr><td>Height:2.9</td></tr>

<tr><td>Width:2.75</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weight:.27</td></tr>
<tr><td>Title:Carved Japanese Bronze Katana Tsuba, ca.18th c.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Style:Sentoku (bronze)</td></tr>


<tr><td>Location:FARMINGTON, MI, USA</td></tr>
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