Baigetsu saku- 梅月作 Magnificent Dragon & Waves Tsuba by Baigetsu (Circa 1800)
A spectacular example of late-Edo period Japanese metalwork, this masterfully carved tsuba (sword guard) captures the awe-inspiring power of a dragon writhing through tempestuous waves and swirling clouds. Crafted from brass (sentoku) in a round form with a slightly raised border (tate-maru-gata with taka-mimi), the piece utilizes dynamic high-relief carving (maru-bori) and elegant openwork (yo-sukashi).
Baigetsu saku- 梅月作 Magnificent Dragon & Waves Tsuba by Baigetsu (Circa 1800) A spectacular example of late-Edo period Japanese metalwork, this masterfully carved tsuba (sword guard) captures the awe-inspiring power of a dragon writhing through tempestuous waves and swirling clouds. Crafted from brass (sentoku) in a round form with a slightly raised border (tate-maru-gata with taka-mimi), the piece utilizes dynamic high-relief carving (maru-bori) and elegant openwork (yo-sukashi). The artist’s exceptional skill is evident in how the kinetic composition faithfully continues from the obverse to the reverse. Exquisite gold and silver inlay (ten-zogan) highlights the dragon’s scales and the crashing surf, bringing an extraordinary sense of life and movement to the mythical beast. Technical Details & Historical Notes Signature: Signed “Baigetsu saku” (梅月作) — Haynes reference H 00164.0. According to Wakayama, this maker’s name is notably linked to a dragon-motif fuchigashira (hilt collar and pommel cap), which may have been the original companion fittings to this very guard. Features: Includes both kozuka and kogai hitsu-ana (accessory openings). Significance: A very rare and important example combining bold sukashi design with refined metallic detailing, elevating functional armor to a museum-quality canvas of martial elegance. Pedigree & Provenance Published: Prominently illustrated and described in the late scholar Robert E. Haynes’ seminal reference, “Gai So Shi - Study Collection of Japanese Sword Fittings” (Nihon Art Publishers, 2010, No. 160). Provenance: Formerly a prized possession within the esteemed M. Tomkinson Collection (Inv. No. 265), widely regarded as one of the most historically significant early Western collections of Japanese art.
2 high-resolution detail views — use zoom viewer to inspect hamon, jihada, and metalwork
Baigetsu
梅月Baigetsu (梅月) is an enigmatic and largely undocumented artisan of the late Edo period (c. 1800), whose specific provincial origins and formal lineage remain absent from authoritative historical records. While the name is preserved in regional contexts such as Echizen [13] and Shimo-Suwa [17], no primary sources link these to a specific school of swordsmithing or metalwork. Within the historical framework of the late Edo era, such an artisan would have contributed to the highly developed field of *tosogu* (sword fittings), which flourished under continued samurai demand for ornamental metalwork [9][11]. For the serious collector, Baigetsu represents the "arcane and obscure" tier of craftsmanship [1], where historical standing is defined by the rarity of the signature and the thematic execution of the artist's namesake motifs—the plum blossom (*ume*) and the moon (*tsuki*).