Two Tsuba. Hare Of Inaba Theme.

[MarkB]

Two tsuba for your consideration. I am curious about the ages and the schools.

I believe they both refer to the story of The hare of Inaba. Any other comments or info is, of course welcomed (yes, even the adverse ones)

 

(apologies for the poor photos)

 

The first is 79 mm wide X 81 mm high X 4 to 5 mm thick at the rim and 5mm thick at the seppa dai. Wt is 125 g.

It has been lacquered black and is worn in some places, showing grey steel beneath the lacquer.

 

 

 

 

The second is smaller, at 65mm wide X 69mm high X 4mm thick at rim and 5mm thick at the seppa dai. Wt is 90g.

It is a russet brown colour.

 

 

 

Regards, and thanks for a great board. Mark B

[ROKUJURO]

Mark,

is the first TSUBA magnetic? On the photo I have an impression it could be a black painted copy of a TSUBA, made from a zinc alloy. But that may well be an effect of the picture.

The little 'moon hare' TSUBA looks like iron and will profit from a careful restoration with a pointed bamboo, bone, or ivory tool.  

[MarkB]

Hi Jean,

 

It's very strongly magnetic [edit: actually, it is not magnetic, but a magnet is strongly attracted to it.] . I agree, it's an odd colour. Under the lacquer, it looks grey. I think overall, it's bit of a rough piece of work, but I do like it anyway. The surface displays those large hammered depressions and the seppa dai only has a very little of it's original thickness left, having been struck many times to make it fit either various swords, or a sword which has seen many polishes.

 

Any idea of the ages?

[ROKUJURO]

Mark,

difficult to say from the photos, but as you say, the upper TSUBA looks a bit rough and not really carved with chisels and tools. For a better evaluation, you have to have it in hand. The large depressions are not necessarily hammered as in TEMPO TSUBA; they could have been carved as well. And the 'grey metal' might well be cast iron. If so, the TSUBA is not very old. But as said above, the black paint (not necessarily lacquer) prevents a better judgement.

For me, the little TSUBA is not easy to relate to a school. I would look for one like KINAI who have a tradition of MARU BORI. The age might very roughly be mid EDO, but age is never an aspect of value or quality.

[MarkB]

Thanks again, Jean

 

I don't see any of the tell tale signs of casting on this tsuba. No pinholes and no mold marks in the mimi. I'll post some (hopefully, in focus) close ups of the metal tomorrow if the sun is shining. I thought the waves might be etched and the hare carved, but as you say, it's difficult for others to form an opinion from just photos.

[MarkB]

Jean, please don't wince, but I just tested the surface with a bit of acetone on a tissue. Nothing happened. Not even a slight stain on the tissue paper. Same result when I tried this with mineral turpentine. No change to the surface, either.

[MarkB]

A few close up pics (under arificial light because it's been raining all day here)

 

 

 

I am interested if anyone thinks this is a cast metal or a hand-worked piece.

[MarkB]

I have been reading old threads on this board and searching the internet for info on a feature which has puzzled me for some time, but I still have no answer.

 

The question is, What is the significance of those minute iron spherules I sometimes see on the surface of tsuba? They can be seen in the above close-up of the hare (at least, I hope they can).

I am aware of looking for pin holes and die marks, but the other methods of identifying cast iron I have read about are destructive, involving grinding and observing the colour of the sparks or striking with a hard object to induce a shattering of the metal, none of which I want to try on my suspect tsuba.

[ROKUJURO]

Mark,

a cast TSUBA copy can be worked over. The NAKAGO ANA, the HITSU and the MIMI can be filed and polished so there is no treacherous mark left. Pinholes are a hint to bad quality casting or unqualified molding material. However, as you are asking for the 'minute iron spherules on the surface', these occur when tiny particles of the mold (which mainly is a sand/clay mixture) fall off and are filled with iron in the casting process.

Another hint for casting can be the contour lines which often are kind of soft and less sharp compared to a TSUBA that was formed with chisels.

The spark test or the metallic ringing of a TSUBA are no reliable testing methods! A good magnifying glass will reveal everything you want to know. And of course, the comparison with many high quality TSUBA!

[MarkB]

Jean, thank you for your kind indulgence in answering my questions.

 

I think I must now reluctantly come to the conclusion that my tsuba is a cast metal copy [edit: for copy, read fake]. I have a few other tsuba which I inherited from my father, I'll have a closer look at all of them and see what other shocks lie in store for me.

 

Best regards, MarkB