Item No. 126 A Tsuba in copper alloy ( sentoku ) with shakudo inlay 8.13 cm x 7.74 cm x 0.36 cm

Subject of oak branches , leaves and acorns in the Umetada style by Ford Hallam about 12 years ago.

A tribute to the Umetada style with finely worked inlays . This can be seen particularly in the veins of the leaves where they finish in a tapered point ( less than 0.2 of a millimetre wide typically ) – simply a tour de force of inlay work. 

The blank started to develop ( or reveal ) a few cracks while being forged ( not uncommon with this alloy ) and Ford has chosen to accentuate these with silver instead of trying to hide them . They seem to have no effect on the integrity of the piece itself which rings like a bell when struck.