Unsigned, Tetsugendo School, Iron with Gold and Silver Inlay, Kōgai, Three Heroes of the Peach Garden Design, Superb Craftsmanship ( Fittings, Menuki, Kozuka, Kodachi, Tsuba, Fuchi, Kashira, Habaki, Saya)

Unsigned, Tetsugendo School
Period: Late Edo
Likely a custom order favored by the samurai class. It features an unusually high relief carving of the Three Heroes of the Peach Garden from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, filling the entire frame.
On the left is Guan Yu, the Beautiful Lord with a Magnificent Beard; in the center is Liu Bei; and on the right is Zhang Fei, rushing to join them slightly behind. The scene is depicted with a soft touch, full of human emotion.
Beyond the main motif, the entire piece is robust and thick, with a superb sense of weight. There are no signs of it ever being fitted into a mounting.
It is likely a treasured masterpiece, perhaps displayed for appreciation and valued for its artistic qualities.

Overall length: Approx. 21.43 cm
Width: Approx. 12.84 mm
Maximum thickness: Approx. 7.15 mm
Weight: Approx. 47g