File:Iron plaque depicting a mounted Samarai battling Mongol foot soldiers - RC129.tif

"Iron plaque by Komai of Kyoto decorated with a battle scene and signed “Kyoto Komai Sei” – “Made by Komai, Kyoto” in a cartouche on the back. The recessed central plaque depicts a mounted warrior under a hail of arrows whilst fighting off, with a sword, two Mongolian foot soldiers armed with spears. All three figures are of separate pieces of iron decorated with fine gold inlay (kinsujizogan) and with gold applied to scratched areas (nunomezogan). The samurai’s face is of shibuichi as is his horse, sword and other fine details. He has lost the right kuwagata from his helmet. The Mongolian soldier (only one face visible) has a red copper face and hands together with shibuichi details. The separately patinated pieces in the style of iroe- takazogan. On the ground lies a Japanese helmet bearing a mon of a central circle surrounded by five smaller circles and with the helmet cords cut through. The rectangular scene is enclosed within a raised silver band and a border of stylised floral patterns with an Imperial chrysanthemum at each corner.

The remainder of the recessed panel is decorated with diamond lozenge shapes with a hirazogan border of silver wire. The subject matter contained within the lozenges includes objects from nature, toys, books, and mon, all executed in kinsujizogan gold wire and flat areas of gold leaf over a prepared area. One lozenge bears the inscription “Furo, fushi” – “live long, never die”- in kinsujizogan.