Iron tsuba decorated with beasts. On the front there is Baku, supernatural being that devours nightmares. I am not sure what the one on the upper right of the front side is, from all creatures that I am aware off it reassembles Shishi the most. However it is carved differently than regular Shishi so It might be something alse. On the reverse there is a tiger.
This tsuba is signed "Somin" with Kao. However I do not guarantee authenticity of this signature.
This tsuba is made in a very interesting way. Surface looks hammered with parts that look like that have beed made with hot stamps. Signatures is made in a gold bar that has beed inlaid in the tsuba. All beasts are made in a very uncommon way. Baku is made of brass with gold inlay, shishi is made of shibuichi with gold inlays and tiger is made of copper with gold inlay. This tsuba was made to look older then It actually is.
Made in late Edo period.
Size: 65 mm x 61 mm x 4,5 mm
