A kinko kodzuka with a shakudo nanako ground, the fine punched-dot surface, carrying a gold prancing horse as its subject. The reverse is finished with a gold cat-scratch pattern. It is sold used and no signature is listed.

The pairing of dark shakudo, nanako texture and a gold horse is a classic soft-metal combination, and the worked reverse means the piece looks finished from both sides rather than only from the front. For a Montana collector this is a display kodzuka for a tosogu case, a study example of nanako work, or a handle to fit into the saya of a sword under remount. Without a signature it is bought for the subject and the quality of the craft, so examine the horse and the dot ground closely in the photographs. Handle it by the edges and keep it dry; old shakudo should not be polished.

Key features

• Kinko kodzuka, shakudo nanako ground
• Gold prancing horse subject
• Reverse in gold cat-scratch pattern
• Used, no signature listed

It ships to your door in Montana.