Charming Heianjo Tanto Tsuba

[Higo-san]

Dear all,

 

I am offering a very charming little Heianjo tsuba from the Momoyama period with two bristletails inlayed in brass on a tightly forged iron surface decorated with small sukashi.

 

Dimensions: 7.0 x 6.6 x 0.3 cm

 

Asking price: USD 240.00 / EUR 225.00 plus shipping (including PayPal)

 

Best,

 

Chris

[vajo]

I send a pm. Looks lovely.

[kissakai]

Hi Chris

I PM'ed at 8:38 so I'm assuming I was the first to reply

As described it looks charming

[vajo]

Is that the animal on the tsuba?

 

[Higo-san]

SOLD - could be!

[kissakai]

Hi Vago

Due to the time difference you did infact get your bid in first - congratulations

 

This is what I found out but the real question is why!

The silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) is a slender, flat, wingless insect with three tail bristles.
It is covered with silvery scales and moves quickly.
It normally lives indoors and is worldwide in distribution.
Because it eats materials containing high percentages of starch (e.g., paste, bookbindings, and wallpaper) it can cause damage to books and fabrics.
The antennae and the tail bristles of the silverfish are shorter than the body

 

 

 

[vajo]

Hi Grev,

 

thanks. The question is easy to answer. I like to know what i see in the motif.

I didn't think it's a silverfish. Because they have 11 sections in thier body and only 2 antenna. I think the animal on the tsuba could be something like a shrimp. Maybe a krill. In Japan it is food i think.