Tsuba, 1595–1615 (CH 18341859).jpg
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Tsuba, 1595–1615 (CH 18341859), Tsuba are disk-shaped metal sword guards that prevent the palm of the hand from slipping past the hilt and onto the blade. This tsuba was made during the Keichō period (1596–1615), a time when metalsmiths were beginning to transition from the production of Kyoto swords (old swords in traditional vernacular styles), and began to produce Shinto swords (new swords). 

This iron tsuba is shinmaru gata (a true circle) in shape, has a migaki (smooth) surface, and is decorated with an inlaid brass design of a kakiwaki kiri (branch of the paulownia tree) with parted foliage.

The inlay technique known as tetsu was a specialty of the Heianjo school of brass inlay in a region of which Kyoto is the center. The suemon taka zogon inlay is high relief with thin, linear carving lines resembling hair.

At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes. On either side are ryo-hitsu, openings for the kozuka (utility knife) and the kogai (skewer tool). At left is sashi ura, the side which faces the blade, whose opening takes the hangetsu-kei (half moon) shape. Opposite is the more elaborately decorated sashi omote side, which faces the sword hilt. Its tri-lobed opening is of the suhama type, and symbolically represents the coastline of Horai, the holy island of the Immortals. Surrounding these openings, is the seppadai, a flat oval area that is migaki (burnished). The rim of the tsuba is angular, or kaku-mimi.
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Tsuba, 1595–1615 (CH 18341859), Product Design and Decorative Arts in the Cooper–Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, iron, engraved brass inlay, Artist, Unknown, Tsuba, 1595–1615
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とは、手のひらが柄をすり抜けて刀身の上へ突き出さないようにする、円盤状の金属製の刀身である。京兆時代に作られ、京刀から金工が移行し始め、新刀が作られるようになった。この鉄は真円形をしており、表面に見垣を描き、脇切の金で修飾されている。鉄と呼ばれる法は、京都を中心とする平安城流真の名物であった。須右衛門高象は、髪の毛に似た細く直線的な彫り線のある、高い浮き彫りである。中央には刀が通る中子穴がある。両筆、小柄の開口部、左に差し裏、刃に面した面に開口部が半月形になる。柄に面した刺面面は、より精巧に装飾されている。三葉の開口部は須浜型で、神仙島のの海岸線を象徴的に表している。開口部を囲むように、平面楕円形のミガキの空間である雪破台がある。の縁は角ばった角耳。
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, 1595–1615, クーパー・ヒューイット社製品デザイン・装飾美術, スミソニアンデザインミュージアム, 鉄, 刻印金管インレイ, 画家, 不明, , 1595–1615
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guard hair utility knife angular shape high brass smooth-haired carving knife moon-faced