Fire Scale Or Just Rust?

[Stephen]

[Brian]

Rust. Fire would have melted the gold more?

 

Brian

[Pete Klein]

I would agree.  What I am finding most interesting is that the rust on the seppadai is similar to that of the rest of the tsuba.  If it was stored on the koshirae there would more likely be a border of differentiation.  Perhaps it was stored off the koshirae and rusted there?  The omote sekigane is also 'clean' while that of the ura has patina.  Where's Cumberbatch when you need him???  LOL!

[manfrommagnum]

Maybe corrosion from an attempt to clean it by an ignorant former owner.

[Davis]

I also picked up on the points made by Brian and Pete.  My initial thoughts were rust+oil+buffing.  Are there any hairline cracks in the iron adjacent to the copper?

Mick

[Stephen]

Mick dont know yet

 

Cast repo or just new

[Pete Klein]

'Repo' is short for repossess, as used in the movie title, 'Repo Man'.  'Repro' is short for reproduction, as used to describe any movie based upon a comic book... (lol)

[Stephen]

ok ok now that we split the hair...any call?

[Pete Klein]

Tsuba old, sekigane new.

[Brian]

Patina 6 months old. Paint or shoe polish?

 

Brian

[Stephen]

says has nthk paper

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B8593-Japanese-Samurai-Edo-Antique-NTHK-Certificate-Excellent-Signed-Daito-Tsuba-/381208097688?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c1c5f398

[Pete Klein]

I don't believe this has been re-patinated.  It's just that the patina has oxidized which gives it a dull appearance.  I've seen these before with that look and it's probably just an anomaly of that finish. 

[Bazza]

I get a feeling that the tsuba was clear-lacquered (urushi) long ago...

 

BaZZa.

[Davis]

Some thoughts on the original question.  The appearance of a fire damaged tsuba might depend on a number of varying factors.  Was the tsuba placed in a fire intentionally under controlled conditions?  Was it involved in a fire accidentally?  What was the duration/intensity and maximum temperatures reached?  Where was the tsuba located within the fire and how was it positioned?  How do different metals behave in a fire, what are their expansion rates/melting points?  Did the tsuba anneal slowly or was it quenched rapidly?  Was there corrosion/rust present before the involvement with fire?  Was it allowed to rust after the fire?  Was it re-patinated?  What were the mediums used?  Was re-patination done well/badly? Etc., etc.,

 

Re sekigane.  Omote side, it has more exposed surface area and seems to stand proud - so easily buffed.  Ura - less surface area and appears recessed - difficult to buff - patination or discolouration remains.  Sometimes it's seems clear cut, sometimes not.

 

Mick