T038 - Ajiro 網代

Tate Maru Gata shaped Tsuba (Slightly oval in vertical). Geometric braiding design (Ajiro 網代), rounded Maru Mimi border, presence Kogai and Kozuka Ana.

• Material: Iron, black patina.
• Dimensions: 74.5 x 71 x 3.3 mm
• Weight: 123 g

This Tsuba represents a braiding (Ajiro - 網代) widely used in basketry and marquetry, often diagonal producing diamond patterns. This type of braiding is also found vertically.
It is a technique for producing baskets, but also panels to dress the pieces used for the tea ceremony (chashitsu 茶室) in wall coverings, for the ceiling, doors. It is also used for garden fences.
This type of braiding was finally also used in a V shape as a net to catch fish by forcing them to go to the bottom and be blocked there.
The kanji composing Ajiro also mean 'linking generations' or 'linking between ages, periods'.