Tsuba with gold inlay.

[bmoore1322]

Okay, i recently purchased a koshirae set, and this is the Tsuba that is with it, i took it to a buddy that owns a pawn shop, he tested it, and it does test positive for gold.

 

Is there any information anyone could tell on this.

 

Thanks

Brian

[Pete Klein]

What karat weight?

[bmoore1322]

He did the scratch on a special plate, and did a drop of acid on it, just to very it is gold.

 

He said to find out the Karat weight he would need a special machine, or send it off, and Im not sending it off to anyone, as it is not stamped, no way to tell he said.

 

he said it does look to be very heavy karat weight gold, for sure above 14, and higher.

 

Brian

[Pete Klein]

Looks like Onin brass work which has been cleaned. Perhaps get a second opinion.

[bmoore1322]

I don't want to do that, as then any more testing could damage it, I didn't want him to do the scratch on it, but the only way to tell.

 

I'm happy with knowing that it did test positive for gold, its a great Tsuba, and looks good with the Koshirae.

 

Just thought i would share it with other members in here.

 

Brian

[Soshin]

Hi Pete and Brian,

 

I was going to say the same thing. The tsuba looks like a late Onin school tsuba. Keep in mind that a late Onin tsuba are still fairly old circa the Momoyama or early Edo Period. I would say little and it would be mixed with brass and used in the flat inlays. Overall I like the tsuba. Thanks for posting Brian. Can we also see photos of the other parts of the koshiriea that look really nice as well.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[bmoore1322]

Here are the other pics for you, and I had someone email me, saying this about it;

 

That is looks like "HEIANJYO" style with gold inlay, with possibly some brass mixed into it also.

 

The Sageo is newly added to it, by the previous owner, everything else is original to it.

 

He wanted to test the Menuki, but I would not allow him to do the scratch test on them, as they seem to be gold also.

 

Brian

[Soshin]

Hi Brian,

 

Keep in mind that there is fair amount of late Oinin and Heianjyo Shinchu Zogan school overlap within Kyoto. With all brass inlay work by the mid Edo Period becoming a pure Heianjyo school style. This style had brass inlays that was more complex and naturalistic. The iron plates were also more refined and homogenous.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Brian]

As per your other post..this is not gold.

What he picked up is likely a surface flash coating on the mimi or inlay, which would yield enough gold to put on the head of a pin.

Heianjo likely.

 

Brian

[Ford Hallam]

I don't think it's gold either. The oxides, easily seen on the rim, tell me this is brass.

 

It is actually quite simple to establish the carat fineness using a touch stone and acids. In fact the basic jewellers testing kit comes with everything needed to do this. Have a look at this one as an example.

 

  Quote

he said it does look to be very heavy karat weight gold

 

Karat, or carat, is a measure of fineness not weight. Where the term is used to designate mass (weight) it's use is confined to gems and pearls.

 

I wouldn't place too much faith in your friend's expertise.

[runagmc]

12 carat gold is 50% gold, 24 carat gold is almost pure... The carat is relative to the purity or fineness as Ford already said...

[bmoore1322]

Either way, to doesn't matter to me, as I love the looks of it, it has such great details, and is absolutely beautiful to me.

 

 

I just wonder what kind of blade would have been with such beautiful fittings.

 

Brian

[Mark Green]

Hi Gang,

 

The fittings look like they have all been "cleaned" to me. All the patina is lost.

 

I would feel pretty sure the tsuba has brass inlay. I like it though.

 

It's a shame everything got cleaned.

 

 

Mark G

[bmoore1322]

I didn't clean it, it was in this condition when i got it, I know better then to mess with the patina, and age on parts.

 

I still like the looks of this.

 

Brian