Spartancrest

Tsuba on tsuba still appearing https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/326370267223 It has one more tiny tsuba than the one I have - but I prefer what I paid for mine!

This one has always made me smile - just from the absurdity of imagining it on a sword!

This tsuba proves that Dragons and Crinoids co-existed - AT THE END OF THE PERMIAN - 345 million years ago!

Hi Zachary one very much like yours in the Norwegian National Museum - I just thought you might like to know you have a museum quality piece. https://www.nasjonal...tion/object/OK-09433 https://www.eldreds....-openwork_2E02EACA27 https://page.auction.../auction/f1106215209 The six lobed ones are slightly outnumbered by the four inome versions - the actual flower decoration tends to vary from piece to piece, maybe some personalization to each customer like a Mon?

Well - - it is not a fake. I will say that much, but there were so many tsuba that were later signed that the signatures are often in doubt. I have to say that a signature of a relatively unknown maker [at least as far as Haynes is concerned] makes me lean more towards genuine - Why fake a signature that is "unknown"? Very possible to be a smith from the provinces that was not prolific and not recorded

Would you say the image colour is accurate? As you point out it doesn't look to have been fitted to a blade [unless it was not necessary to "tighten the fit" with tagane.] Well to my eyes it looks sandblasted clean, which would contribute to the rounded edges of the nakago-ana and the general pitted look. But possibly cast - though there is little direct evidence, just a few questionable spots. You could do the "drop test" but that is rather drastic. If you didn't spend too much it is always worth a gamble - alloy fakes are selling for stupid high prices, so an iron guard that may have been "over cleaned" and appeals to you is a no brainer. I presume you don't have it in hand just yet? There is usually "something" that speaks to you when you hold one and can really see it in good light. Good luck

Two inome on a gift I received from Roger Dundas back in 2022

Not the best quality piece I have but I do love the Kawari-gata nature of it. https://en.m.wikiped...File:Gion_Mamori.svg Gion Amulet - 「祇園守」 The Gion Mamori is a special amulet sold at the Yasaka Shrine in Gion district in Kyoto. The origin of the Gion Mamori kamon is shrouded in mystery and is still debated: some think that it represents a cryptic map of the woods that used to surround the Yasaka shrine, while others say that it is in fact a hidden Christian cross. There is also a third interpretation linking the amulet to an obscure Gion-shoja temple in India, where the guardian deity Gozu was said to inhabit. Chinese characters for "Gozu" mean "cow" and "head", and therefore some say that the Gion Mamori mon represents the head of a cow. The Gion Mamori mon is a rather rare emblem with about 50 known variations.

Value even having a fake mei to compare. Darn it I found a Tadahiro to compare it to - and it is Yours! [I like the giant one that was in that mixed lot!]

I wonder what six inome amid waves means?

Tea room window and a rope! VERY CHRISTIAN - in some other universe! Still if you are trying to sell what are in fact very ordinary and common tsuba for inflated prices as this company is clearly doing, even made up story lines of what they depict might aid in "moving them on". Let us not forget there is BS in the word business. There is a whole thread on the Tearoom window type of guards so I won't bother digging those out, but plenty of rope tsuba getting about also - no mention of any religious context! https://www.aoijapan.jp/鍔無銘-14/ https://page.auction.../auction/u1160512611 https://www.the-sale...9e-907b-ac7c011d611c

Trouble with some information on page 5 of the PDF - Modern studies on “Tsuba” started only from the beginning of the 20th Century In Japan 『刀剣会誌』(刀剣会): 1900 onward  秋山久作 (日本鐔研究界の始祖)  和田維四郎『本邦装剣金工略誌』(1913) In Europe  Hara, Shinkichi, Die Meister der Japanischen Schwertzieraten (1902)  G. Jacoby, Japanische Schwertzieraten (1904)  A. G. Moslé, Japanische Kunstwerke (1909) "Modern studies on “Tsuba” started only from the beginning of the 20th Century" Clearly this is untrue. THE 'ORNAMENTAL ARTS OF Japan' VOLUME II by: GEORGE ASHDOWN AUDSLEY (1884) THE ART AMATEUR : TALKS WITH EXPERTS. no. 2 Heromich Shugio : On Japanese Sword-Guards. Dated 1888 "The Scottish Arts Review" Vol.I Japanese SWORD-GUARDS. By J. P. MacGillivray. 1888-1889 The Portfolio; "SOME Japanese SWORD-GUARDS". by Philip Gilbert Hamerton. published 1889 Japan and its ART by Marcus B. Huish, L.L.B. 1889 Japanese ART by Louis Gonse translated from French by M. P. Nickerson. (1891) CATALOGUE of the COLLECTION Japanese SWORD-GUARDS Louvre Museum, gift of Mr. Tadamasa Hayashi of TOKIO 1894 HISTORY OF ART IN Japan Commission impériale à l'Exposition universelle de Paris, Dated 1900

I think it is a case of "Give them what they want" - 99% of people would not know the difference. Production line on old plain tsuba

Rain dragons, with Ho-ou [phoenix], Cranes + possible other animals? Dote-mimi or Kan-mimi. As Mauro has said Hizen or even "Canton"? Or Chinese working in Japan? https://jssus.org/2018V50_2_Namban.html Auction piece "an iron mokko plate carved with a slightly recessed web banded by a linked border decorated in silver nunome-zogan and decorated with stylized dragons and clouds in gold" Nunome is also an onlay technique. Tom your guard may be constructed with the mimi added rather than the inner border carved down like this example. Something to judge in hand. [Speculation at a distance ]

Not those - this one yes! Some Doctor told me it would relieve stress ....... or was it increase stress?

As much as I like Star Wars - I won't take philosophical advice from a CGI. But I do like the human sentiment behind it. Just as a father hopes his children can surpass his own achievements - it is a truth that many children tend to wither in their parents shadow.

Actually quite a lot of Bi-metal construction - https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34359 https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34366 https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34373 https://wwwhttps://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34460.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/34392 https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34423 https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34452 https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/34459 https://www.metmuseu...ection/search/642492 These are just in the Metropolitan Museum of Art alone. [handy that I did a catalogue of that museum's collection ] The image below is perhaps the closest - iron on one side sentoku on the other. Regrettably the museum has no images of the side view of the mimi. I hope this helps Two different metals fixed side by side https://www.the-sale...23-b4f2-ae8201239793 You can check out the Walters for more https://thewalters.o...erience/collections/ see these - 51.96 51.97 51.218 51.26 51.303 51.369 accession numbers - some are triple metal. [handy that I did a catalogue of that museum's collection as well! ]

I have a problem with the idea that the first to develop a design or style is automatically the "Best" - Why wouldn't subsequent artists improve on the workmanship? After all they have a baseline on which to improve.

I wish this was in colour!

I don't blame you! Bloody ugly workmanship.

Well I guess it is a form of upcycling but really!!! https://www.jauce.com/auction/s1164030021 https://www.jauce.com/auction/p1164014994 The Lobster is a real "Pearler" [Pearler: Aussie slang. Something very impressive.]

Don't go for these either! https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1128823426 https://www.ebay.com/itm/275533181538 https://www.ebay.com/itm/283780856270 Carter's Price Guide to Antiques and Collectables. This would not strike me as a worthy piece to be included in such a guide! These are nice though! https://www.tessier-...fer-a-decor?search=& https://www.tessier-...-1945-mokko?search=&

It is very odd! The seller has a huge range of what appear to be genuine pieces - this one?? [He has a few cast pieces but a lot of sellers do!] https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1114141529 https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1136120953 https://www.jauce.com/auction/k1144835699 https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1145227526 https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1128823426 I will pop this last one over onto "Wild things" thread.

This image is a little better, the patina and colour come across a little less pitted.