Iron Soten style tsuba. It is really thick with very high relief so It reminds me of Tetsugendo tsuba made in similar style.
It it is a great piece made in this style. It has a really high relief with additional effect added by parts that are cut very deep. This tsuba is more then 8 mm thick were the samurai are on the front, on the other hand birds on the left are tilted with one wing going almost to the other side of the tsuba. This creates very interesting 3D effect. Unfortunately I am not able to experience it on photos. It has to be examined in hand.
There is no nunome zogan on this tsuba. There are real pieces of gold inlaid in carved spaces or gold iroe on inlaid copper. It is worth noting that two types of gold alloys have been used.
Decorated with Minamoto Yoritomo at Mt. Ishibashi.
Minamoto Yoritomo was exiled to Izu when he was thirteen. When he grew up he raised his army and camped at Mount Ishibashi (Ishibashi-Yama). There he was attacked by Taira clan army, with force that outnumbered Yoritomo troops by 11 to 1. With such a huge difference in numbers there was not much he could do. Therefore after a brave struggle he made his retreat.
Based on a story he managed to hide from his pursuers in a hole in a huge tree. Kajiwara Kagetoki who was a part of Taira army checked the hole and informed others that there is no one inside. Ōba Kagechika, leader of the Taira army wanted to double check but Kagetoki stood in his way, saying "It is insulting me". And by doing so he saved Minamoto Yorimoto life.
Size: 71 mm x 86 mm x 5 mm (at seppa dai)
Made in late edo period.
