SEIRYUKEN EIJU: A LARGE IRON TSUBA WITH DRAGONS CHASING PEARLSBy Okamoto Naofusa (Seiryuken Eiju), signed Seiryuken Eiju with seal NarihideJapan, c. 1780, Edo period (1615-1868)The iron suba of marugata shape, heavily cast and exceptionally thick, engraved with a design of dragons chasing tama executed in an interesting technique of sunken and high relief. The kogai hitsu-ana with a gilt nanako ategane, the nakago-ana with some sekigane. Signed to the front SEIRYUKEN EIJU with a gold square seal Narihide.HEIGHT 9 cm, LENGTH 8 cmWEIGHT 308 gCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.The artist is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on pp. 1313-1314 (H 06602.0) and was a student of Okamoto Harukuni and adopted son of Okamoto Naoshige.