A kinko tsuba by Shokatei Motohiro, late 18th century to early 19th century.
size – 7.3 x 6.6 x .35 cm
“Given name Nakagami Shinpei. No birth or death dates known. But has dated tsuba from the Tenmei (1781-1789) and Kansei (1789-1801) eras extant. Otsuki School – Kyoto, Student of Mitsuyoshi [1747-1816] & later student with Mitsuoki [1766-1834]. He always signed with the old character for „hiro“ (廣). In terms of workmanship he followed the Gotō and the Ōtsuki style, that means shakudō with nanako ground and takabori-iroe ornamentations.”