- Tsuba – Large Saotome School Iron Sukashi Tsuba – Radiating Bars in “Kiku” Form

This imposing Saotome school tsuba is a classic example of armor-maker ironwork translated into sword fittings: bold, repetitive geometry executed with disciplined consistency and a strong sense of structure. The plate is exceptionally large and reads as a stylized kiku-gata (chrysanthemum-like outline), its rim subtly scalloped and crisply defined, emphasizing the radial concept of the design.

The sukashi pattern is composed of numerous evenly spaced radiating bars running from the central seppa-dai outward to the rim, producing an effect reminiscent of a wheel, sunburst, or kiku rosette. This kind of systematic, modular openwork is strongly associated with Saotome taste—more architectural than pictorial—where visual power is achieved through repetition, symmetry, and controlled negative space rather than narrative motifs.

Workmanship is robust and confident. The iron surface carries a dark, mature patina, while the cutouts are deep and clean, with consistent bar thickness and well-maintained spacing despite the large diameter. The seppa-dai is left comparatively solid and textured, anchoring the composition and reinforcing the guard’s functional strength. Overall the tsuba conveys the Saotome hallmark: armorer-born practicality refined into graphic elegance, resulting in a commanding and highly recognizable iron guard.

Dimension

91,5 mm x 93,3 mm x 6,2 mm (Seppa) - 6,2 mm (Mimi), 109,6 g