Spartancrest

[I guess the word "utsushi" wasn't in the vocabulary of these early collectors?] From "Ornamental Ats of Japan" 1884 by George Ashdown Audsley - "Although we have in the course of our studies, examined thousands of guards, we do not remember ever to have seen two exactly alike" From "The Scottish Arts Review Vol 1 Japanese sword-guards" by J. P. MacGillivray 1888-89 - "From the variety of designs it would almost seem a first principle with makers of sword-guards in Japan that there should be no two alike. There is nothing characteristic of wholesale manufacture about them." Wow how things have changed!

Jean there are others - of course. https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/1089133/Japanese-meiji-period-iron-tsuba Worse when they copy a crap copy!!! https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/696932111117232603/ omote view of another sold at auction https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-bronze-wolf-under-pine-tsuba-ein-tsuba-aus-bron-261-c-f28490a948

Do I have to? https://www.ebay.com/itm/116660887829 Even this one is trying for twenty times its worth! [50 times maybe?]

One in a group of three auction - looks very similar to James' piece https://www.jauce.com/auction/h1227700475

Alexander I also did a four volume book series on the A.H.Church collection - the unpublished Koop catalogue in book form with the addition of both views of the guard, which unfortunately the museum's online resource does not have.

Is this the link John? https://www.aoijapan.com/tsubakishu-ju-sadanaganbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-tosogu/ A sold example Kishu Ju Sadanaga https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/326823576742?srsltid=AfmBOooDqcgIxmv03s_wR7cQ7XFjIeKKX6whNdNtt8f67q0RrvY9ApMm https://www.bonhams.com/auction/16021/lot/139/an-iron-tsuba-by-kishu-no-sadanaga-teimei-mid-edo-period/ About thirty guards down the list is this one from https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_kogatana&tousougu&youhin.html Looks like Sadanaga varied his style a lot [if it was the same guy and not several with the same name?]

A shiny one over on ebay - asking far too much. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/389909629724 AU $296.23 but the detailing looks "crisper" [Factory fresh?] This same piece is much much cheaper over on Mercari - https://jp.mercari.com/item/m39082170296 AU $70.13 When you find something you like it is often good to check other sites.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s1224870401

I have done a three book set on the subject, along with five others centering on specific collections from the 19th century and early years of the 20th. Plus a few related design references - the books mentioned concentrate only on tsuba other objects from those collections are not included. Total pages 934 1924 100 pages 1894 > 1902 88 pages 1916 98 pages 1911 68 pages 1884 and 1898 82 pages I did the Wrangham collection along with the Hartman collection for my own study source. A thick book of 415 pages [I guess it is a "pirate book" as it is the only one in the world ] The Georg Oeder collection was translated from German to English - the original German is here: https://archive.org/details/japanischestichb00vaut/mode/2up Willkommen bei NMB, Alexander!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/137238358374 looks like top of the range!

The school of "exquisite" - and out of my pay grade! Wow beautiful piece.

Could the eye be a natural crystal or stone? There is also enamel as an option? https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.1265.2/ Coral?

You are likely correct Mauro - I have two others like a display table.

A rim would fit on the latest but I don't think it was made with one - the top section would show a lot of alteration or rim "scar"

Wow Chen! - Great pieces! I especially like the large tsuba in the first image. Welcome to NMB