Suaka Kozuka Signed "Tsuchiya Masachika" with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu - Dragon and Clouds

Suaka Kozuka Signed "Tsuchiya Masachika" with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu - Dragon and CloudsKozuka signed "Tsuchiya Masachika" with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu. Masachika was one of the names used by 6th generation Yasuchika. He was a son of 5th generation Yasuchika. It is said he studied with his father, Hagiya Katsuhira and Tanaka Kiyotoshi. His exact birth date is unknown, died in 1861. Made of Suaka, that is literally pure copper. So refined copper without additives. Size: 97 mm x 15 mm x 4 mm

Eyes inlaid with soft metal

Full wrap high quality samegawa

"Studies in Kyo Goto" by Kasahara Koju and Akimoto Shigeo

Its literal meaning is "scarlet copper"

It is a Ko-Kinko tsuba made of  high quality shakudo

Especially the one on the left

It is rare to see sets like that on tsuka

carved in takabori and decorated with shakudo inlay and gilded elements

however it refers to crows/ravens flying in the morning light

Made of shakudo with nanako ground with gold and silver inlay

Koiguchi made of horn are cracked

Shakudo has the same slightly red colour and it also is made in very high relief