Ko? Kinko? Tsuba!

[Higo-san]

Dear gentlemen,

 

I would very much appreciate your opinion on this tsuba (it came from that source: http://www.nihontoantiques.com/archive/gallery.htm- I am thinking about selling this one in order to find a matching one for the koshirae). 

 

Facts first:

 

- measurements: 7.8 cm x 7.1 cm x 0.5 cm (on the raised rim)

- the nakaga ana has been reshaped recently (clearly visible due to (i) the lack of patina in comparison to the kozuka and kogai ana and (ii) the different filing)

- the kozuka and kogai ana do not look like they have been reshaped recently or have been added later

- the kiri mons have been stamped on the tsuba (most probably the very same stamp was used for all twelve kiri mon)

 

And now my thoughts on this tsuba:

 

The tsuba seems to have been cast, then hammered and finally stamped. We find this kind of casting technique on early soft metal tsuba (e.g. Kagamishi tsuba); also, many schools used stamps for early decorations on tsuba (like theTenpo tsuba though these were made of iron). Therefore, one may think that this tsuba is rather old - e.g. Momoyama period.

 

On the other hand, the finish looks somehow "made to look old" to me (hard to describe...). So this tsuba could as well be gendai.

 

Finally, I will be happy to hear your thoughts on this tsuba!

 

Best,

 

Chris

 

 

 

[Higo-san]

A few more pictures intended to show the different colors on this tsuba:

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Chris

 

I don't think there's any reason to think this a cast piece of metal. The coarseness on the plate is merely a forged texture applied with a rough hammer. I do it all the time

 

I think your instinct as to it possibly being Gendai is spot on though. The biggest 'giveaway' to my eyes is the poor quality of the stamped mon. The carving of the actual steel dies that were used suggests to me they were made by someone with only a very basic ability with a chisel and hammer. The kogai-hitsu doesn't convince me it was shaped by someone who made these things for a living.

The surface of the metal is also very 'hard' in appearance. This tells me it's not been subjected to the mellowing effects of age, it feels a little too crisp and harsh.

 

And your reasoning here,

  Quote

"many schools used stamps for early decorations on tsuba (like theTenpo tsuba though these were made of iron). Therefore, one may think that this tsuba is rather old - e.g. Momoyama period.

 

is flawed I'm afraid. Goto Ichijo and his students used exactly this technique extensively in the Bakamatsu period. In fact this tsuba is a fairly obvious imitation of the Ichijo-ha type. One like it was discussed only recently here on the NMB.

[docliss]

Dear Chris, in spite of the reservations expressed I like it.  Please p.m. me if you decide to sell it.  Regards, John L.

[Rich S]

I had one just like this; was on a civilian mounted Showa blade.

Rich

[Higo-san]

Ford,

 

thank you for your analysis - this confirms my feeling! Rich confirmed it even further!

 

John,

 

thank you for your kind words.

 

Best,

 

Chris