Tsuba made from Chinese [Qing] iron?

[Curran]

This one is beyond me to translate.

Seller says it reads as, " This iron tsuba is inscribed with the signature of "Tachibana Akimasa" and engraved with the words "Made of Qing iron."

 

Is this correct?

Made of Qing iron?  

We've seen lots of Namban tetsu and Namban tsuba, but Qing tetsu is a new one to me.

 

 

 

[Nobody]

I found the tsuba at Yahoo Japan auction. The reading is correct.

橘顕政 – Tachibana Akimasa

以清鐵造之 – Made this from Qing iron.

[Curran]

 

Thank you. This was interesting.

I looked up Tachibana Akimasa and found him listed in the Haynes Index.

 

The tsuba style fits the description that he was in the Awa (Shoami) family.

Given when he lived, this use of Qing iron seemed very unusual.

I wonder whether it was somehow through the Dutch or some other form of trade?