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A distinctive Japanese hexagonal tsuba combining two contrasting materials: a warm-toned copper outer frame and an inner shakudō chrysanthemum motif.
The unusual geometric outline immediately distinguishes the piece from more conventional round or oval sword guards, while the contrast between the reddish copper exterior and the darker inner section gives the composition a strong visual identity.
The tsuba measures 6.7 × 6.2 cm and is accompanied by a Supein Nihonto certificate.
The most immediate characteristic of this tsuba is its hexagonal profile.
While many Japanese tsuba use broadly circular, oval or mokkō-shaped outlines, this angular form gives the guard a more architectural and geometric appearance.
The six-sided outer contour frames the central floral design and creates a strong contrast between the rigid geometry of the perimeter and the more organic form of the chrysanthemum inside.
The outer portion of the tsuba is made from copper, providing a warm reddish-brown tone around the darker central composition.
Copper was widely used in Japanese sword fittings both on its own and as a base for alloys and decorative treatments.
Here, the material performs an important visual role, defining the shape of the guard and creating a clear boundary around the central chrysanthemum motif.
The inner section depicts a chrysanthemum rendered in shakudō.
Shakudō is a traditional Japanese copper-based alloy valued for the deep dark surface produced through patination. Its characteristic black to blue-black appearance made it especially effective when contrasted with warmer metals such as copper or gold.
On this tsuba, the darker shakudō centre provides a strong visual contrast with the copper exterior, allowing the chrysanthemum form to dominate the composition.
The chrysanthemum, or kiku, is one of the most recognisable floral motifs in Japanese decorative arts.
Its highly ordered arrangement of petals lends itself particularly well to metalwork, where the radiating structure can be translated into a balanced and symmetrical composition.
The flower appears across many forms of Japanese art, including lacquer, textiles, ceramics, sword fittings and architectural decoration.
In this example, the chrysanthemum occupies the central visual field of the tsuba, creating a direct relationship between floral ornament and the geometric outer frame.
One of the most interesting aspects of the piece is the deliberate combination of two contrasting metals.
The warm copper perimeter and dark shakudō interior create a clearly defined two-tone effect without the need for extensive additional decoration.
This restrained material contrast gives the tsuba a refined appearance and allows the form of the chrysanthemum itself to remain the principal decorative element.
A tsuba was primarily designed to function as the hand guard of a Japanese sword, positioned between the blade and the hilt.
Over time, however, tsuba also became an important field for specialist metalworkers, who transformed these functional components into highly individual works of decorative art.
Variations in shape, metal, surface treatment and iconography allowed sword fittings to express a wide range of aesthetic preferences and symbolic themes.
This example illustrates that approach through an unusual hexagonal form and a restrained combination of copper, shakudō and chrysanthemum imagery.
The tsuba is accompanied by a Supein Nihonto certificate, documenting the piece as part of the information supplied with the object.
A distinctive hexagonal copper and shakudō chrysanthemum tsuba, combining an unusual geometric outline with one of the most recognisable floral motifs in Japanese art. The contrast between the warm copper frame and dark shakudō centre gives the piece a refined and immediately recognisable appearance, making it an appealing addition to a collection of Japanese sword fittings.
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