Spartancrest

David, I think the thickened rim is just a design element framing the bamboo, it isn't carried through on the ura or the bottom of the guard as a Dote-mimi would be. Pretty sure it isn't 管耳 Kan-mimi - Thicker rounder raised rims. (Thicker and rounder than Dote-mimi )

Jean is KARAHANA OR KARABANA the right word you are looking for? "Chinese Flower" [most have five petals but as a kamon some have four.] Karabana (or karahana) design on Japanese printed fabric featuring mon heraldic crests Also seen as a squared off version. The actual flower “Four-petalled” leaves attached to the persimmon

David I just found what is missing from that patch at the bottom omote side of your guard - an inlay of a bird. Three of a kind must have been a popular design, likely others out there. No further along with who made it or when - sorry. http://ancientpoint.com/inf/13134-large_tsuba___bird__bamboo___mokko_style_tasteful_86mm_box.html Popular design indeed - if they like it enough to make cast copies! https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1040148320

A super rusty one makes five! https://www.jauce.com/auction/f1068140619

Okan - not so fresh [just a better image. ] Book - Serious Suriage Damage? [your idea] Damnedest Cut! or how about "Leave the bloody things alone!"

Luca, you would make a good detective! Colin, "Synchronicity" [it happens to me all the time. ] The double even has those "dimples"(?) on the semicircular side panels - no idea what they represent?

Or three? This one with inlay! https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1067947541 - Uniique NOT.

Well I found the original shape of that cherry branch one. There are some slight differences with the decoration so it is unlikely they are cast. Might make a "forced" daisho? https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1067356293 https://www.jauce.com/auction/h1056992179

I have seen many "everyday" objects with tsuba designs,- trivets, beltbuckles, coasters, cake molds/moulds and candlesticks most are made of course in Japan. These Zippo lighters are branded "Made in USA" It seems a strange subject for a firelighter. https://www.jauce.com/user/nudmr48674?search=tsuba https://jp.mercari.com/item/m64078098798 https://jp.mercari.com/item/m93002899452 No great shakes as far as design or execution but hey if a samurai needs a lighter who is going to say no? Who knew?

Kosuke-tagane [worm eaten] around the rim something a few smiths used including Nobuiye, Saotome or even Jingo amongst others. Not much help in narrowing it down. Reminds me a little of one of mine - maybe just the wide rim? Still no help as I can't put an attribution on mine!

Okan, I would say it comes from something original not too dissimilar to these perhaps?

Piers -

Just looking at the nakago-ana I would say modern cast fake. It is in with three other guards that also don't look correct- I like the description by the seller - " Sword accessories Items like sword guards." https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1067617040 The question still remains was it based on a "true" guard and did that guard originally have a rim?

I think it represents 'Fundo'- weights or as this link says "counterweights" https://www.aoijapan.net/tsuba-mumei-ko-shoami-fundocounterweight-patterns/ You will see the small weights on the edges linking the rim - also the inner design is similar to the kogai hitsu outline. The small quarterfoil shapes are seen here with 'flying geese' and they may also represent Karahana [Chinese flowers] Sparse symmetrical openwork of four voided quatrefoils joined by groups of karigane [EAX.10012] to form a lozenge-shaped device Hope this helps.

Late new entry- https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1067356293 They do show the side view of the 'stems' but the patina [or rust] hides any cut marks. I strongly believe this guard was not made without a rim, it is just too jagged.

Jason!

Maybe the last guy drowned!

Beware of the "Blue-Bat of Unhappiness" he can really crap on your roof!

Mauro - do you think it could symbolize blood? Or a clan colour?

The lady is the Aoi, screened from prying eyes.The whip is the man, strength and dominance.

Hi David I am trying to get a much more interesting book out before Christmas, the complete collection of tsuba in the Walters Art Museum - about 800 pages in two volumes, in my opinion they have a better collection than the Metropolitan. I have changed my style a little and where possible I have added associated items from the mounted examples such as F/K, tsuka kozuka and kogai with a few umabari thrown in. In other spots I have added legends or woodblock prints dealing with the subject matter on the tsuba. I must say the Walters Museum has been very helpful and has supplied several "hard to get" images not found in their on-line collection. You might find the Met book a bit disapointing because of the print quality, the glossy paper option would have been very expensive costing around $200 which I thought was excessive so it is only available in 'economy colour' to keep the price within reach. You can always contact me with a personal message, I very likely can get any of the books sent much cheaper than the book dealers. Regards.

Late post, it took me a while to find the image. Nowhere near as nice as the Hamano but the same design by a less skilful maker. [The cicada could do with a diet!]

Hi Roger The business end of town [close to the river] was flooded for a few hours yesterday - I am 24 m further up in elevation, if we get flooded please send a submarine because half the state will be under water! Hate to say it but it is a bit of a news beatup for us, but more serious inundation for smaller centres like Deloraine [central North of Tassie] Sorry David for highjacking your thread I am actually struggling to find another guard like yours - which is not a bad thing, but 'unique' pieces are difficult to to assign school or period. Jean is very likely correct in it being Hizen or made somewhere around Nagasaki(?)

I was wondering if the large symbol on the cross piece might be a Vajra? But it looks like some archaic Chinese symbol. The 'spiral square' is what is called "greek fret" but obviously not Greek and not Manji pattern as it would have a swaztika like pattern I hope someone can come in with some more helpful information. I like the shape of the guard not a common shape at all, it has the look of wooden fretwork seen over temple doorways. Kumiko patterns -

David, another with the same pattern [crude]. https://www.jauce.com/auction/k1067110802