T237. Tsuba signed Issando Joi. 6.6 x 7 x .4 cm. The nakago hitsu-ana is .7 x 2.1 cm. I believe this is made of silver that has been patinated black. The gourd in Chokaro’s hand is gold and the skillfully applied fukurin is shakudo. Chokaro was a legendary wizard of China and it isn’t unusual to find him depicted on a tsuba. Other than for a slight scratch (less visible in person than it is in my pictures) this tsuba is in excellent condition.

Joi is one of the Nara San Saku: the 3 most famous kodogu shi of Nara. As such, his work is incredibly valuable, has been for a long time, and forgeries of his signature are far more common than his true work. I don’t know for a fact that this is gimei but if I suspected otherwise I would add at least one zero to my price. If you buy this and prove me wrong I’ll gladly refund your money on return. Even if I’m right about the piece, it is a very nice tsuba. $360