Katana tsuka decorated with very rare wolf and moon fittings. Fuchikashira and menuki made of shakudo and decorated with gold and silver inlay, and gold iroe.
Fuchikashira and menuki are part of the very well designed set. It is rare to see sets like that on tsuka, because they are usually worth more as collector items kept in a box. This set theme is "gekka garō" so a hungry wolf in a moonlight. There is a half moon in the cloud on fuchi and wolf on kashira. On menuki on the back side of tsuka there is what appears to be a full moon. In my opinion it means that regardless of times symbolised by different phases of the moon there will always be hungry wolves out there.
According to one interpretation this hungry wolf is searching for food when suddenly moon appears from behind the clouds and he instinctively wants to bite it.
You can read more on NMB thread about the subject:
https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29452-keigyoku-wolf-tsuba-female-tosogu-artist/
Good quality and tight tsukamaki.
Samegawa appears to be slightly reddish and lacquered.
Size:
Length: 21,5 cm
Fuchi: 37 mm x 20 mm
Fuchi hole: 29 mm x 7 mm
Nakago hole: 14 cm
From top of the fuchi to center of mekugi ana:
