What are the oldest mountings that have survived?

[Misconstrued]

I'm wondering what old mountings exist and have survived despite them being old. Mountings are replaceable and so seeing old mountings is somewhat uncommon, yet not unheard of. (Photos are welcome but not needed).

[Bugyotsuji]

It depends how far back you want to go, and what your definition of ‘survived’ is. Parts of sword furnishings have been found in tombs and after cleaning reveal quite a lot about how they must have looked originally.

Stylistically they changed so much over the centuries that it is a field of study in itself. (The Shōsō-in repository in Nara must have a few interesting examples I would think. Also have a look at the Tokyo National Museum etc.)

[Bugyotsuji]

See some examples here

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=古代の刀剣拵&tbm=isch&hl=ja-jp&tbs=rimg:CU1qcLbu9IJ5YWDWcE8b7d_158AEAsgIOCgIIABAAKAE6BAgBEAE&client=safari&prmd=imvn&sa=X&ved=0CBIQuIIBahcKEwjQuZK-9uv4AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQDA&biw=414&bih=715

[vajo]

Piers did you know what kind of sword this is?

 

 

 

those are not chokuto? 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Good question Chris. It says:

Evolution of sword shape.
2nd ~ 3rd century Tachi with Uchizori and a plain ring.

Uchizori Sokan-Tō Tachi

 

(Chokutō from 4th to 9th centuries)

[Spartancrest]

As far as tsuba go there are Tôran-kai 倒卵形 [also known as Hoju tsuba] which date back 1,500 years and on occasion turn up on auctions-

see  https://richardturner.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/toran-kai-倒卵形-tsuba/    https://tsubakansho.com/tag/hoju/    https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1928107

[The Christies catalogue lists 129 as Shitogi but it is Hoju - jewel shape, Kofun refers to a burial mound]

https://tosoguya.com/bronze_toran_kei.html - items for sale

A link back to 2013 NMB with 'old' tsuba

https://www.mandarinmansion.com/glossary/tsuba

The earliest known tsuba are the so-called tôran-kai (倒卵形) or "inverted egg shaped" tsuba that date from the Kofun period of circa 300-568 A.D. These were most likely made by sword makers themselves.

Metropolitan Museum, accession number 06.310.9.

 

As Piers says, how far back do you want to go?

 

[Misconstrued]

Sorry for the late response, I'm looking for as far back as possible, or as far back that is possible for stuff to survive. Thanks a ton for all the photos and links! I greatly appreciate it!