Shakudo tsuba decorated with Bian He presenting famous jade "Heshibi" to a king. ''According to legend he brought it home and submitted it as a present to King Wu. Thereupon King Wu had a jeweller give an opinion of it. "It is an ordinary stone," said the jeweller. The King, regarding Ho as a liar, had his left foot cut off. Upon King Wu's death, King Wên ascended the throne, when Ho again submitted it as a present to King Wên. King Wên also had a jeweller give an opinion of it. Again he said, "It is an ordinary stone." The King, also regarding Ho as a liar, had his right foot cut off. When King Wên died and King Ch'êng ascended the throne, Ho, carrying the uncut jade in his arms, cried at the foot of the Ching Hills. After three days and three nights his tears were all exhausted and blood flowed out. At this news the King sent men out to ask him the reason, saying, "Throughout All-under-Heaven men whose feet were cut off are many. Why should you be crying so bitterly?" "I am lamenting not the loss of my feet," said Ho in reply, "but for the calling a precious gem an ordinary stone and for their dubbing an honest man a liar. This is the reason why I am lamenting." Meanwhile, the King had a jeweller polish up the jade and got the treasure out at last.'' - source: Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._He%27s_jade?fbclid=IwAR2Cq0YXVJ0JXeZN9ImUj4IOGDxq14oKZPYtWDSJwHqdWjgOKeU_cLA2ru0
Made of shakudo and decorated with copper and silver inlay. Many elements are gilded.
Made in late edo period.
Size: 65 mm x 60 mm x 3-4 mm