Shibuichi tsuba signed "Hirochika". Made of shibuichi which is an alloy of copper and silver. Shibuichi tsuba often have distinctive difference in color on the front and back bacause when melted more silver gathers on one side of the tsuba. In this case back is much lighter (more silver) than front.
Surface has been polished (migaki ji). Rim is kaku-mimi ko-niku, so round but rather flat surface.
Carvings are made with sukidashi bori technique. This means that large parts of the material was removed with chisels or hammered away. And what remained was shaped with finer chisels.
There is shakudo inlay: clouds and stones, gold inlay: dots and surface on the stones, silver inlay: dots and gilded dragon.
Tsuba is signed "Hirochika" who was active around 1825. He was part of Kondo family and member of Uchikoshi School from Mito Province.
Size: 70 mm x 65 mm x 5,5 mm
Weight: 155 g
