Framing of Japanese wakizashi sword with NBTHK cetificate

The frame of a Japanese wakizashi type sword. It does not have a metal blade, but a wooden frame called a tsunagi. The binding comes with a Tokubetsu Kicho certificate issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai). Fuchikashira made of iron and decorated with gilded kanji characters in calligraphic form. Menuki made of shakudō, an alloy of copper and gold, decorated with a leaf motif covered with golden water drops. The braid on the handle is made of cotton and lacquered. The Nagoya-mono type yoke made of yamagane, or copper alloy. Decorated with a shishi (lion) and peony motif. The shishi is considered the king of animals, while the peony is considered the queen among flowers. On the tsuba, these symbols represent the contrast between strength and beauty. The scabbard is made of lacquered wood. Kozuka made of iron carved in the shape of a Japanese sword shaft. Decorated with a chrysanthemum and kanji characters which are a notation of the name "Inoue Shinkai", a well-known blacksmith active in the second half of the 17th century. Kozuki of this type were usually signed with the name of a well-known blacksmith, but it was not made by him. The setting was made during the Edo period (1603-1868).