Owari
Iron Sukashi Tsuba
Christian Jesuit Motif

Dimensions: 66 mm x 62 mm
Thickness: 5 mm

This is a Owari tsuba form the early Edo period. This design had been known as tokei (clock gear) sukashi. Recent research has actually shown this to be a Christian Jesuit motif in the manner of the IHS halo. Please see the 2nd Koukusai Tosogu Kai book for a detailed study of this topic by Fred Guyer. Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned Christianity and executed 27 Christians at Nagasaki in 1597 as a warning to others. Wearing this tsuba was a way of displaying the faith of the owner without being persecuted for it. See the photo below of the bell of Namban-ji. This is the bell of the first Christian church in Japan established in 1577. This tsuba also features ginger shoots and its kogai hitsu retains an Edo period lead plug. This tusba is in good condition and is wonderful to study and discuss.

HOLD

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