Tsuba - Owari - early clockwork device.

This iron tsuba from the Owari school features a striking and unusual design inspired by the mechanism of an early clockwork device. The round plate is forged in a characteristic Owari openwork style, with bold, clear negative spaces and a strong, symmetrical layout.

At the center sits a large, cog-like form with sharply cut, evenly spaced teeth, evoking the appearance of a primitive gear wheel. Flanking this central gear are two elongated oval apertures, which enhance the mechanical character of the motif while maintaining visual balance. The central nakago-ana is framed by the gear’s inner contour, adding expressive tension between functional and decorative elements.

The rim is a simple, sturdy maru-gata outline, typical of Owari workmanship, with four straight internal spokes connecting the outer ring to the inner structure. Seen from close range, the iron surface shows fine hammer texture and subtle patination, with honest signs of age and long handling.

This tsuba is a rare example of mechanical imagery in Japanese sword fittings, combining traditional forging techniques with an imaginative reference to early timekeeping technology.

Dimensions 76,3 m x 77,8 mm x 4,8 mm (4,6 mm), 71,3 g