Tsuba Help - Owari School?

[Iain E]

Hello all,

 

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this Tsuba, I've been told it maybe Owari school, possibly 17th Century?

 

is there any significance to the pattern / design.

 

Quite a straightforward Tsuba compared to many on here, but it would be nice to know something about it. 

 

thanks in advance..

 

Iain

 

 

[Pete Klein]

Looks cast to me.

[christianmalterre]

Yes!

this exemplaire is cast!

 

Christian

[Iain E]

Thanks guys - out of interest what gives it away in the photos ?

Just had a close look with a magnifying glass and think I can make out what may possibly be small casting flanges on the really small holes, although the rust in there make it hard to be sure without cleaning it out.

 

Any thoughts on date - modern piece, or Meji / Showa etc ?

[ROKUJURO]

Iain,

we have quite a number of posts about cast TSUBA here on NMB, so there is much to read. Concerning OWARI TSUBA, I recommend this article as a first read:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/owari.htm

I hope you did not pay much for this item; as you will find out, cast TSUBA were not meant for use on a weapon but were just souvenirs for tourists. As tourism started by the end of MEJI JIDAI, you can assume the earliest production after that time up to today. I bought such a TSUBA for about 800.-- Yen in 1979. 

P.S. TSUBA are shown with the 'edge' up except TACHI TSUBA 

[Iain E]

 

Thanks Jean,

Picture corrected. should have realised that.... The Tsuba came with a sword, so no real big financial outlay for it. Good learning experience though as I'd like a few good ones in my collection one day.