Muromachi heianjo Tsuba?

[kaigunair]

This one appears to have been ultrasonically cleaned (not by me). I was thinking early due to the long and and flat shap of the kozuka Ana. The "worm eaten paths" once held brass inlay and I've seem this pattern in a few examples labeled heianjo. I do wonder if the straight lines also were inlayed.

 

Wonder if my observations are inline with the general consensus. Any help appreciated.

[RocklockI]

I would like to respond with a question. I could not offer an opinion on your post as I am a noob !!!

Do you think the worn spot on the top photo From about 12:00 to 3:00 is from the left thumb of the wearer of the sword bearing on the tsuba? I've seen this on several tsuba and that was an explanation....?

 

I am looking foward to the answer to your question as well as my own.

 

Gary

[kaigunair]

hope these photos are better for identifying the "thumb wear". definitely something I think about when looking at soft metal and iron tsuba and the wear patterns.

 

I do think there possibly some indications of the tsuba's edge facing away from the body having more wear than the side towards the body, but not sure if tachi vs kanata mounting may apply for an early tsuba which I think this is...

[Ford Hallam]

I'm just curious as to why you think it's been (specifically speaking) ultrasonically cleaned....?

[kaigunair]

Well, it's definitely is too clean to have received only rubbing in the pocket work.

 

It could have been chemically cleaned, but I have no basis for comparison.

 

I've used an ultrasonic cleaner on rusted gun parts and it seems to have a similar result. Also seen pics where owner has stated "ultrasonically cleaned" and it appears similar.

 

Final method I can think of is rust removal by electrolysis. I don't know of know examples of that. So maybe it's this, but would there be more patina loss? Also is a bit more time consuming and involved than a dip in an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

Did I guess incorrectly?

[Ford Hallam]

The reason I queried that idea was that unless some sort of metal stripping solution is used in the tank ultrasonic cleaning won't remove the patina. It only loosens surface dirt. It will, along with, that remove any wax etc. and a degree of reasonably loose rust but any remaining real patina will not move. It may leave the surface looking quite dry but revealing the true state of the metal. My point is ultrasonic cleaning isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's merely a first step to reviving or recovering a piece.

[Rich S]

I have one of exactly the same design, metal work, etc.

I also think it is Heianjo on a Saotome plate. I think Saotome

plate as I have several tsuba of the same design and style

of metal work but without the brass inlay. The daisho set

has NBTHK and NTHK origami to Saotome. See my Saotome

tsuba page and the daisho tsuba page on my website for pics.

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/saotome.htm (tsuba a lower right)

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/tsubadai.htm (daisho set/3rd row/left)

 

Rich S

[kaigunair]

Ah, thanks Rich. That's definitely the same base design. That's really interesting to know of such an interesting combo designation of saotome with heianjo.

 

So it is a later piece then?

[Rich S]

The Saotome were a long lasting school, but I would think the Heianjo tsuba would be

contemporary with the same style Saotome plate; i.e., Muromachi. As you know, the

Saotome supplied plates to a number of other schools for adornment.

Just my $0.02 on it. No hard facts.

Rich S