FlorianB

Robert, The piece was made irregular intentionally. However, I’m not sure, if there are inlays missing. Needs cleaning which can be easily done with the usual means. What about the back side? Florian

The lattice is depicted fractional to allude to transientness. Florian

Thomas, Yes, they did - remembering Your fantastic pieces! First of all I wanted to correct the Kyo Sukashi imputation (my personal favorite) without daunting a young collector. I thought also of Kinai but didn’t dare to write it down because of my limited knowledge. Florian

Doesn't look like Kyo Sukashi (or Heianjo sukashi). It might be based on their composition, but it lacks their elegance and such modelled sukashi is untypical. What about Shoami? Best Florian

Fish bones indeed, there was a detailed report on this topic some time ago in the Token Bijutsu magazine, alas I don't know which issue.

Dimensions?

https://www.aoijapan.com/set-of-tosogu：tomei：tsuba-kozuka-fuchi-kashira-menuki-ura-gawara-kurikata-nbthk-juyo-tosogu-65th-millet/ Wonderful set - alas, not for small pockets! Florian

Agreed, one of those abstract motives which were made with the intent to confuse the viewer. Personally I tend to recognize a floral motif. However, there are some Higo Jingo Tsuba with an abstract design called butterfly. One of these here: http://world.seiyudo...m/product/tu-040415/ Maybe there's a connection? Best, Florian

My humble contribution - a classical Kyo-Sukashi with bamboo and iris. Florian

That’s right generally, but I can imagine, that there were also warriors who chose more showy pieces because they could afford them and/or want to boast. Especially in pre-Edo times when social rules were not as strict as under the Tokugawa bakufu. Florian

For me it is the art itself, the combination of design and workmanship. In all those years I saw a lot of Tsuba and interestingly most of them don’t appeal to me. I flip through the dealer’s sites or look at the offerings at meetings, but only a handful catch my eye. If I buy pieces it is out of interest or for studies. But every few years there’s one which arouse the ambition to possess them in a flash. I can’t tell why, maybe they look perfect to me. Those I esteem especially. Best, Florian

Dan, the sawastika is called manji 卍, the pattern on the second one is called sayagata 紗綾形. There are many Tsuba with this auspicious pasttern. Here's one of mine with some kind of manji: Best, Florian

I know only round nanako grains. Maybe the remark refers to the arrangement itself? On Tsuba these are usually round, on Fuchi or Kozuka they are linear. Example I showed recently in another thread. Best, Florian

Who knows - maybe it's a start! Enjoy and learn, Best, Florian

Next time it seems wise to trust the suggestions of Your dealer. If the depicted blade is the content of Your sword it looks O.K.. Not much to be recognized on the pictures, but there seem to be no faults. I think it's Shinto but You said Showa-to...? Florian