Another day another tsuba

[Ian]

Hello gents

 

I would like your opinions please

 

Kind Regards

[Ford Hallam]

I'm fairly certain it's a tsuba, a Japanese sword guard.

[Ian]

Thanks for that. I guess I asked for it !

 

Do you think it's Soten?

[Ford Hallam]

Couldn't help myself :D

 

So, what do you want to know?

 

I suppose you know the school? and have translated the mei...

 

Yes, pretty much classic Soten style/school

[Ian]

Well with so many fakes now on the market, and a much copied smith. I have seen so many variants of this signature. My question would be . Has anyone got a papered example?

[Brian]

Gimei.

But a better than average example imho. The shoshin ones are really good. If you don't see that outstanding quality, assume gimei. Still a nice Soten example better than many.

 

Brian

[Ian]

I have seen so many over the years and 90% seem to be gimei.

 

Kind Regards

[Jean]

I have often seen worse. It is, in quality, above the average one often sees. Now, the good ones can be identified by the quality of the warriors faces.

[docliss]

Ian,

 

Not a papered example, but probably as good a one as you will see.

 

Ref. Inami: Collection Farenhorst, Nihon Tōken, Tokyo,1969, pp.62-65.

 

John L.

[nagamaki - Franco]

http://www.mfa.org/search/collections?keyword=soten%20tsuba

[Ron STL]

This is a shakudo Soten, unsigned, that I was considering using for the 2013 KTK catalogue publication, but decided to go with something else. This tsuba has wonderful detail which has survived time. Sages in bamboo theme. Just sharing...comments always welcomed.

Ron STL

[KORSH]

great details! Wonderful work of art

[Ian]

the good ones can be identified by the quality of the warriors faces.

 

I am still not convinced, 95% of the signed ones I see seem to be gimei to me

[kunitaro]

江州　彦根住

藻柄子　宗典製

NBTHK Tokubetsu-hozon 2003

 

Just one example.

[Ian]

Perfect,

many thanks!