NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThe motif of this iron tsuba is the Igeta family crest (井桁紋), executed in openwork (sukashi) technique. The design is created by cutting through the iron plate, allowing the open spaces themselves to form an integral part of the composition. The Igeta crest represents the wooden frame structure built around a traditional Japanese well. Composed of straight, intersecting lines forming a square grid, it symbolizes stability, order, and the life-giving importance of water. As a family emblem, it was widely adopted by various clans and conveys a sense of strength and structural clarity through its simple geometric form. This tsuba is also signed, bearing the inscription “Myōchin Munetsugu saku” (made by Myōchin Munetsugu). The Myōchin school is a long-established lineage best known for the production of iron armor, particularly helmets (kabuto) and cuirasses (dō). Because armor-making required highly advanced forging and finishing skills, the Myōchin name became closely associated with superior ironworking techniques. In later periods, craftsmen connected to this tradition also produced other iron objects, and the Myōchin name occasionally appears in connection with sword fittings as well.
NihontoWatchOffered by Samurai Museum
We couldn’t find current papers for this piece. Ask the dealer whether it has been, or can be, submitted to shinsa. — Hoshi
21 on the market
Tosho-Katchushi · Kyoto
21 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Munemasa宗政 | — | 0 |
| Yasutsugu保次 | — | 0 |
| Munesada宗定 | — | 0 |
| Munetsugu宗次 | — | 0 |
| Yoshitada義忠 | — | 0 |
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
Returns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.
¥75,000