Antique Japanese Copper Tsuba Kiku Hanazume Chrysanthemum Edo Kiri Box 3"dia

Japanese katana tsuba (鍔), maru-gata round form, copper alloy with allover kiku hanazume (菊花詰) chrysanthemum relief decoration, with kiri paulownia presentation box, Edo period

Japan; Edo period, 18th–19th century

A Japanese katana tsuba (鍔) in maru-gata (丸形) round form, worked in copper alloy with a deep dark patina, the entire surface of both faces covered in kiku hanazume (菊花詰) — tightly packed chrysanthemum blossoms filling every available surface without break. Each flower is individually chased with multiple narrow radiating petals converging on a raised central dot, the blooms varying slightly in scale across the field to suggest naturalistic abundance rather than mechanical repeat, with small dot accents scattered between the flowers. The decoration is continuous and consistent across both faces. The piece carries a nakago-ana (blade-tang opening) with two hitsu-ana (side openings for kozuka and kogai utility fittings). Presented in a fitted kiri (桐) paulownia wood box lined in purple silk with a fabric peg.

The kiku hanazume format — chrysanthemum packed wall to wall across the guard surface — is one of the most refined conventions in Japanese tsuba decoration. The kiku (菊) carries deep associations with longevity, nobility, and the imperial tradition, and its use in the hanazume format reflects both the prestige of the motif and the ambition of the metalworker.

• Form: Tsuba (鍔), maru-gata (丸形) round sword guard
• Material: Copper alloy with deep dark patina — confirm alloy type in hand
• Decoration: Allover kiku hanazume (菊花詰) — individually chased chrysanthemum relief with radiating petals and central dot boss, both faces
• Hitsu-ana: Two (kozuka and kogai sides)
• Mark: Confirm maker’s signature or attribution on reverse in hand
• Period: Edo period, 18th–19th century
• Dimensions: Approximately 3″dia (7.6 cm) — confirm in hand
• Provenance: Fitted kiri paulownia presentation box with purple silk lining
• Condition: Dark patina consistent with age; wear to nakago-ana and surface consistent with period use. Please see photos for details.