Spartancrest

What do we think of this one? https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1233653264 Repro or the real thing?

Haven't we all! I sometimes put this little thought in my head - "Could I have made this piece as well as it is, for the price I actually paid for it?" - The answer invariably is NO. Doesn't mean I wouldn't like a better one, but it helps just a little.

Dean, I think you will find plenty of cut out habaki in this thread - it is very extensive and might take some time.

https://tokka.biz/fittings/TS291.html https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-080813.htm https://www.lotsearch.de/lot/a-french-watch-case-repurposed-as-a-nanban-style-tsuba-38922103

Wangata are mounted opposite to a basket hilt the cupped/indented side faces the blade not the grip. There is a theory that the design keeps water and dust from getting into the saya [just a theory IMHO] Most Wangata tsuba would not fit very well into the hand if mounted like European cup hilted weapons- the size would tend to cut into the hand, the exception being the huge example seen below A HUGE novel mounted example [recycling a childs Kasa or Jingasa] and a more conventional mounted piece. I have at least four Wangata examples. Similar theme and design [A bit more "up market?"] https://tsuba.jyuluck-do.com/TU10197.html Video link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Wangata+tsuba&oq=wangata+tsuba&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MggIARAAGBYYHjIKCAIQABiABBiiBDIHCAMQABjvBTIHCAQQABjvBTIKCAUQABiABBiiBNIBCDczNThqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4d96ccfc,vid:ZZQ6A-pRfqA,st:0

Who has some spare cash? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/397817591639 Antique Tiffany Studios LCT Iridescent Blue 4" Tsuba Favrile Glass Tile OTHER EXAMPLES OF TSUBA TILES EXIST, IN VARIOUS COLOURS- JUST VERY HARD TO FIND AND EXPENSIVE!

Something similar? https://www.jauce.com/auction/c1101293589# This one looks like a rough wire wheel has been run over it! This is mostly ruined and not worth the asking price. Seeing a cloud dragon is generally viewed as a powerful, auspicious omen but there is also the Divine Emperor Myth: Historically, early Japanese emperors were believed to be descendants of dragons. Because the dragon was viewed as an incredibly divine, celestial being, it was a common belief that actually seeing a full, whole dragon would cause a mortal to perish from its sheer power. So parts of the dragon were obscured or could only be seen on the opposite face. It might be a liberty but most large collections will likely have a similar example ["dragon" collectors may have several]

Must be something in the water - these keep washing up! https://www.jauce.com/auction/s1233429649 This doesn't look of huge age but very hard to tell!

I agree, it is a strong contrast to the rest of the decoration - it wouldn't look so good on a polished plate.

A set of fitting here with very similar punched surface [like reverse nanako?] https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1231118933

Even the fake monkeys wore glasses - I wish I could un-see this one!

Two different metals, one each side Two different metals, one each side Four different metals, two each side. These examples from the Metropolitan museum

Beautiful - I think the price is right! Sakura falling on rafts and water, then switching to Chrysanthemums beside a stream I love the bold shape.

Nunome Zogan: From this reference Nunome-zogan is NOT originally a Japanese technique - however they certainly mastered it Nunome Zogan means cloth weave overlay and uses very thin foils - 0.02mm thick and the gold is attached to the base metal by creating a cross-hatched ground made with chisels. Around 7 - 9 chisel marks per mm created in three different directions at 45 degrees to each other. The technique is a type of Damascening that was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 16th Century. The technique was originally used on Iron and Steel to decorate weapons although more recent practitioners have expanded this to include copper, brass and sterling silver. https://www.sandrawilson.co.uk/blog/nunome-zogan https://www.scribd.com/document/439904095/Numone-Zogan

What is this then? is this related?

https://emuseum.cornell.edu/objects/18527/tsuba-with-pierced-design-of-6pointed-star-inlaid-with-squ similar technique? But the only others are in the Ashmolean museum and are listed as various offshoots of Shoami school - and that is a pretty general attribution as we all know.

How about Jauce? https://www.jauce.com/auction/s1233055547

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u1224612069 Comparing the two: very, very close but not identical as far as I can tell. The reverse side is markedly different with the striation marks all over the place on Bruno's

Reminds me of a local baskeball club -

I think I have seen these before? I have an image of one with the rim removed. A common theme but each seems unique?

Another example pretty close to the original image.

There are several examples where the opposite of what is actually shown implies something else. Mice amongst rice bails - implies wealth, only people with excess food have mice. Poor people don't leave scraps- so no food for rodents.

No doubt about the subject matter in this instance! Though the description of "Carp" might be questioned? [that is an ugly fish IMHO] OTSUKI MITSUOKI: A SUPERB INLAID IRON TSUBA WITH EBISU AND CARP, DATED 1803 Sold for €4,160 The image taken from a Japanese book I have - unfortunately not in colour and the shape of the guard is different. The design is not uncommon. From Google translate [very poor]. Ebisu is implied by his absence on the guard.

The tsubako artists have had glasses for several hundred years - as shown in this Edo period woodblock - also even the Monkeys wore them!