Help On Tsuba

[Jorgensen]

I cannot figure out anything about this Tsuba regarding to school or similar - its not what I use to see - and would love to have some comments from you folks.

 

Think its 1800eish and obviously in Shakudo...

 

Measures 8.1 cm x 7.9 cm x 0.5 cm (at nakago ana)

 

It look fantastic in hand, very beautiful - pictures do not do it justice.

 

Thanks in advance.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello, pardon, like the tsuba but not obviously in shakudo to me???  Bishu would be my guess.

 

edit: have you tested the tsuba with a magnet?

[Ron STL]

Looks shakudo to me. You can see some "copper" color showing on the seppadai on the second tsuba. Looks fresh, but again I think that's because it is shakudo. Nice tsuba and Bishu seems a good call. Ron STL

[lonely panet]

would I be wrong to quess this is modern

[Brian]

 

Dunno if late Kinko stuff like this really has a "school" but it is lovely.

[Ed]

Something about it bothers me, gut reaction is either modern or over cleaned.  It shows no signs of age.  Over cleaning could account for the lack of age, and the loss of patination in the high spots where the copper is showing through.  Could be blackened copper, especially if modern.  The nakago ana bothers me also, no seki gane, and the punch marks appear unnatural to me.  

 

Or it could be the photos, just my opinion.  It and $5 will get you a coffee most places.

[Brian Ayres]

I like the tsuba. I don't think it's modern. Looking at all the pictures what at first appear to be wear spots on the shakudo look to me purposeful after a closer look. Look at the 5th picture. The flower's petals are all evenly "worn".

It is possible the tsuba was lighltly patinated on purpose for this reason.

[Bazza]

Hmmmm, everything that Ed M said.  This tsuba has bothered me from first look.  My take is that it is modern.  The thin patina and wear on the high spots clearly suggest this.  And to me it does have an obvious lack of age.  Shinsa???

 

EDIT: A second look reminds me that the dewdrops have been individually inserted, so Stephen (below) I don't think a cast copy, but still modern IMHO.

 

BaZZa.

[Stephen]

being fooled more than twice .......cast copy

[ROKUJURO]

I am no expert, but while the basic TSUBA plate might have been cast from SHAKUDO, I see quite a number of gold 'dew drops' which have been inserted later in the production process. Some of them are kind of worn down, but the SEPPA DAI shows no signs of much use. Together with the thin patination, I think this is a well made TSUBA of very late manufacture, that has been pushed around on tables and in boxes by collectors, but was not mounted for a long time.

Casting such an elaborate SUKASHI design would mean a lot of meticulous work with the molds, and even then, there would remain a lot of filing and polishing for a nice finish.

I am interested in Ford's opinion on this one. 

[Stephen]

Oh id love to be wrong and most likely I am, still licking wounds from last one that burned me. 

[Jorgensen]

Thanks gentlemen for you insights, as always I highly appreciate your oppinions. 

 

When looking in hand / under magnifying glass, the tsuba is way to well made to be a cast copy. Also its clearly visible that dewdrops are individually inserted. It shows some signs that it has been mounted for a short time I think. Also when having in hand, it shows some very slight patina/wear, not much.

 

My conclusion is that Tsuba is about 1850-1899 and have been taken good care of. 

 

However I also would like Ford's opinion... Might will try to send him an e-mail...