Spartancrest

Thomas this is a strange one, to me at least, a totally undecorated tsuba but still signed and with a seal - Seiryuken Eiju a form of 'Branding' ? "I own a Seiryuken Eiju" even if it is just plain? Or was it supposed to be decorated later?

Well Stephen has declined a "Trio" so this one has turned up- https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1053623395 The auction has ended but may well get relisted. A little worse for wear and overpriced for the condition. Yes the auction has re-listed it. 8 hrs later.

Bob - worthy of the drool emoji

The tsuba has lobsters and shellfish but could it be a representation of a Shachi? [If so I have put it in the wrong thread! ]

These fish are giving me nightmares! Lucky I went for the "Tree change" and not the "Sea change". We just had a mass stranding of Pilot Whales here in Tassie - maybe they were trying to get away from the fish!

It sort of reminds me of the "Langoliers" Or another Stephen King creature from "Dreamcatcher"

Has anyone got any idea what this 'fish' is? Goblin shark? a species of Sawfish? I was going to guess Ratfish but the tail is completely wrong.

What is it with anchors and no faces? https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1044191727

Thomas, that is not a miniature tanegashima, this one is so small it is on a fuchi.

Hi Alban, an identical tsuba to your first post has turned up here - https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1064724176 no doubt also on Buyee and Yahoo. Identical but with more rust and the face is again missing. So my guess that these are cast [possible reworked] and with applied [glued] "inlay" is looking more and more likely.

One symbol in the middle of the diagram looks similar?

Ian most of the elements are the same as most of the others [not the window versions], just missing the ladle/dipper. It is amazing how the basic design is maintained with the kettle on the left. Nice uncomplicated piece.

Sorry David I am not disparaging the guard - it really is a beautiful piece and does look delectable, I do wish it had been a thicker 'roll' and we all could have a slice!

Reminds me of this! Delish!

Hi Bruno, I think this design is getting close to the third most common one ever encountered. They are everywhere - mostly in iron - I like the one in kinko you posted. There are 21 examples here from my utsushi book.

Colin, the only 'dumb' question is, one that is never asked. - [Quote from Confucius or me? ] There has been a long running thread on cast guards and within it there is some information on how the Japanese were able to 'soften' their cast iron works by a process of annealing. This allowed fast production of metal work [including tsuba] and allowed fine details to be carved into the softened metal as a secondary treatment. It also allowed the tightening of the guard to the blade by means of Tagane-ato [punch marks] around the nakago-ana. [personally I would still be nervous doing this] The spacers you mentioned are 'sekigane'. Glen and Dan De Rooy and others have amassed a great deal of evidence based information in this thread.

I think Glen has nailed it. The cavity can be explained thus: "Cold shuts are caused by premature solidification of the melt during casting, e.g. caused by insufficient casting or mold temperatures or insufficient casting height or casting rate. Cold shuts preferably occur at level surfaces with relatively large thicknesses. The result may be separation of coherent material so that holes, unfilled areas, as well as rounded edges and overlaps remain." https://www.giessereilexikon.com/en/foundry-lexicon/Encyclopedia/show/cold-shuts-3854/ Being an avid fan of "Forged in Fire" as well, I know that Cold shuts can also occur when forge welding is done without 'clean' metal surfaces but there is generally no large void as in this case.

Seeing things once or twice is usual, but when they show up in numbers you have to wonder? From Henri Joly's image [1908] these are not a new phenomena, though the first examples paint job looks new! Anyone got any more images of this design?

one of mine by Munenaga, Iwamoto school - I think 8th generation?

I am guessing it is not the pattern like these?

Alban a Woodblock to add to your collection. Battle of Dan-no-ura. You will notice the type of low sided ship. https://wasenmodeler.com/resources/glossary-of-Japanese-boat-terms/

The features are hard to see, not great quality, hitsu cut in later [really hate the lighting] https://www.ebay.com/itm/294849989720

Another variant some elements changed around but related to the fourth guard in the original post. https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1063676067

They sure made a few of this design - https://www.jauce.com/auction/g1055737662 One that got away https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1060869808 will find its home with Steves87. In we hope, a short time.

Just for fun I bought a 'pole, ropes and bucket' tsuba - see what you have done Grev! The one I purchased makes four of them that I know of - One being in the Cleveland Art Museum, I am certain they are all cast and possibly reworked to varying degrees. Facinating variation in cost - I can now say I have a 'museum worthy' piece [not] Still looking for that elusive first test piece!