Ōnin ten-zōgan tsuba with circular sukashi design. Mid-Muromachi period (1454-1513).

Iron tsuba of round form with one hitsu ana; centre of the plate outlined with the inlaid circular brass wire broke by a circular opening 7 mm in diameter located between 4 and 5 o’clock of the plate and in its turn outlined with brass wire. Extraneous to the central wire, the plate is decorated with four rows of brass dots (ten-zogan). A few dots are missing. In a custom kiri wood box. The meaning of the emblem is probably either the sun or the moon.

Ōnin school. Unsigned.

Mid Muromachi period, middle of the 15th century.

Dimensions: diameter 88 mm; thickness 3.3 mm.