MauroP

I don't agree on Mino style, but consent on the general approach.

Gents, there is a lot in between from Kiyosada school to Nagoyamono. The subject is very Japanese (shōgatsu-kazari straw rope and tachibana fruits). The material, from the images, looks fine shakudō. The nanako-ji, thought not outstanding, is far better than usually seen in Kyō-kanagushi. The gold gilding shows minor wears as expected from a piece 200 years old or so. So, why not an honest middle/late Edo Owari-kinkō or Kyō-kinkō?

Thank you, Jean. I had to tell that story to my wife—with due respect to the proportions, of course.

Here multiplate kagamishi tsuba are reported: https://tsubakansho.com/2020/01/02/hollow-kagamishi-tsuba/

NBTHK papers usually attribute sanmai construction to ko-kinkō tsuba (and, exceptionally, to Nagasaki and Umetada schools). The defining construction technique of a kagamishi tsuba, however, is casting (鋳造 - chūzō).

Hi Bernard, as Jean already said, the shape is not unusual. Here's one of my tsuba. About the signature 國廣 (Kunihiro), it was supposedly used by several unrelated tsuba makers.

I know for sure that tsuba belonged to professor Schrödinger (or to his cat)...

Sorry, the paper says yamagane...

Another close example from https://shibuiswords.com/haynesTsu-924.html

Actually most of tsuba appraised as tachi-kanagushi by NBTHK don't show a tachi style orientation. So, why not, tachi-kanagushi or simply ko-kinkō... Regarding the sukashi it's quite surely sorrel (酢漿 - katabami).

I'm inclined to agree with Dan's suspicions (hard to believe, but every now and then it actually happens...).

Perhaps a way to get an apprentice practicing nanako?

The WAMB member has committed seppuku...

WESTERN ART MESSAGE BOARD An unusual depiction of Voodoo practice in Reinassance Italy I wish to share my finding of a painting portraing a puppet stinged with pins in a well known black magic ritual: - Sorry, the subject is Saint Sebastian, quite a common subject in religious art of Renaissance. I know very well the saints, are always depicted with a halo behind their head... - The presence of arrows clearly point to a scene of martyr persecution. When I was a boy I used to shot with the bow, and the arrows were disposed differently on the target! - Voodoo religion was not practiced in XVI century Italy. I know what I see. Maybe the next time such a painting will be submitted to National Gallery appraisers it will be correctly denominated "Voodoo magic" instead of "Saint Sebastian"! - ...