Edo Period (1615-1868) 

Shakudo tsuba with an all-over design of waves in relief, the foam cleverly rendered with gold inlays, signed Takase Yoshitoshi with kao (花押), with Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu (Sword fitting Extraordinary Worthy of Preservation) certificate issued by NBTHK.

Mei: Takase Yoshitoshi with kao
Date: 17th or 18th century (Edo Period)
Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu NBTHK certificate

Takase Yoshitoshi
Takase Yoshitoshi was a talented tsuba maker from the Hitachi Province working as part of the Mito School circa 1800. His pieces can be found in museum collections around the world.

See the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, access. no. AK-MAK-1140 for a tsuba signed Takase Yoshitoshi of similar design on loan from the Royal Asian Art Society of the Netherlands.

See the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, access. no. 13.2696 for a tsuba by Takase Yoshitoshi featuring crashing waves purchased from Chikami Kiyoomi (1856-1916), former governor of Kagoshima. Cf. R E Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, no.H12191; also see B W Robinson, The Art of the Japanese Sword, p.81, pl.88."

Personal note: This was purchased with a legacy left to me by my father, who died in 2025.