A fuchi and kashira are the two metal ends of a Japanese sword grip, the collar at the guard end and the cap at the pommel, and this is an antique kinko set, meaning it was worked in soft metal by a specialist fitting maker. The supplier identifies it as authentic and antique and notes that it came from a well-known collection; no maker, school, motif or dimension is listed.

That leaves the photographs to do the talking, and a Texas collector should study them for the ground, the carving and how closely the two pieces match. A set like this can be mounted on a tsuka by a restorer or kept as a study piece beside other tosogu. Provenance from an established collection is the one hard fact given, so buyers who track collection histories will want the SKU, MGJ942, for their records. Condition is listed as used, which is the norm for antique fittings.

Key features

• Antique Japanese fuchi-kashira set
• Kinko soft-metal work
• From a well-known collection
• Used, SKU MGJ942

The set ships to your Texas address directly; no dealer is involved.