Ume Sukashi Tsuba 梅樹透鐔

Tsuba (Sword Guard) “Ume”｜Hand-Polished Openwork Iron Plum Blossom Motif with Black Patina Finish

The “Ume” (梅) tsuba is an openwork iron guard (sukashi tsuba) adorned with delicately forged plum blossoms and branches — a timeless motif symbolizing endurance, purity, and the quiet beauty of early spring. The circular composition features gracefully flowing lines and balanced negative spaces, creating an impression of nature’s renewal captured in steel.

Each blossom and branch is hand-cut with meticulous precision, expressing both strength and refinement. The surface is finished in a deep ni-kuro shiage (煮黒仕上げ) black patina, lending a subdued, enduring luster that complements the simplicity of its design.

Elegant and contemplative, the Ume Sukashi Tsuba reflects the harmony between nature and craftsmanship — a serene embodiment of the Japanese spirit that finds poetry in stillness and life in simplicity.