School?

[svarsh]

Any ideas regarding when it was made and what time/school?

It was sold under Heianjo school, but I have doubts: iron tsuba with shakudo fukurin and gold zogan... Sukashi swastika.

75.5x73.5x4.5 mm.

Thanks in advance.

Sergei

[sabi]

It certainly has the look.

 

Thickness and size are in the wheelhouse as is the rim shape. If it is a true heianjo i would guess it's later on. i could be wrong but from here it seems to lack the finesse of the earlier pieces. It could also be a mass produced look-alike but i don't know enough to be able to pin that down.

[svarsh]

I've got the paper. What does it say? Anyone can help?

Thanks in advance.

Sergei

[MauroP]

一。 卍繋文鐔

無銘 (武州)

鉄地 丸形 小透 象嵌

赤銅覆輪

 

Bye, Mauro

[John A Stuart]

Tsuba with a decoration of connected (linked) manji, no signature, Bushu, iron, round shape with small patterned copper inlay. John

[MauroP]

Hi John,

I think the inlay could most probably be gold nunome-zōgan rather than shinchū hira-zōgan (the paper say just ko-sukashi zōgan).

Bye, Mauro

[Kevin Adams]

I think the inlay could most probably be gold nunome-zōgan rather than shinchū hira-zōgan

Agreed. Is there a chance we can see a closeup of a portion of the inlay? Evidence of a chiselled "cross-hatch" pattern would be evidence of the technique.

[Geraint]

Hi all.

 

At about 6 o'clock, (make that 7), there are one or two missing sections of the inlay near the lower sukashi and as far as the image will let me enlarge I would say they indicate hira zogan.

 

All the best.

[John A Stuart]

Yes, I put the order wrong, the 赤銅覆輪 is the shakudo (the copper alloy) fukurin. John

[Alan Morton]

Hi Sergei,

I wish to direct my question to Kevin, could you repair this gold

wire inlay easily and match the tone of the gold ?

 

Alan

[Jean]

Gold or brass wire?

[Kevin Adams]

At about 6 o'clock, (make that 7), there are one or two missing sections of the inlay near the lower sukashi and as far as the image will let me enlarge I would say they indicate hira zogan.

I see it now, thanks!

 

Regarding repair, Ford would be The Guy to ask since he's got years of restoration experience.

 

But if it's a student's opinion you're wanting, I think this would be a reasonably straightforward repair, the trick being not disturbing the surrounding patina. If it's gold wire, it's probably 24K so colour matching shouldn't be an issue.

 

I would however ask the question "why" - this is a nice-looking piece as is, with papers. The missing inlay doesn't detract from its appeal, to my eye (but we haven't seen the other side).

 

I think this is gold wire based on the colour, the fineness of the inlay pattern (the malleability of the metal being helpful in its manipulation) and the seeming lack of oxidation. This is difficult to confirm without examining it in hand, however.

 

But there are many folks more knowledgeable than I that could offer more experience and data.

[svarsh]

I am not thinking of any repair. Actually, there is nothing to repair: zogan is in almost perfect condition. My question was about time and school.

Any thoughts on that?

[Kevin Adams]

Sorry for the confusion, my response was directed to Alan.

 

I'd say mid- to late-Edo. The paper apparently says Bushu, but I don't see anything about the design or execution that points to that or any specific school/label.

 

Anyone else?

[Soshin]

I am not thinking of any repair. Actually, there is nothing to repair: zogan is in almost perfect condition. My question was about time and school.

Any thoughts on that?

Hi Sergei,

 

Bushū is a province not a school. A province attribution is the only thing that is given on the NBTHK Kicho paper. It terms of time period of production I agree with Kevin mid to late Edo Period.