Any Possible Thoughts On School For This Tsuba?

[Alex A]

Best I can come up with is maybe early Edo maybe, tsuba not one of my strong points either.

 

71mm x 71 mm diameter

Thickness 2.5 mm at seppa- dai    3.5mm at the rim.

[Bazza]

I think this may be seriously fire damaged???

 

BaZZa.

[Alex A]

Interesting Bazza, why do you say that?, I suspect it could well be down to the lighting in my photos.

[Bazza]

Note I said "suspect".  In the first photo there is what appears to be at first blush black lacquer over parts of the surface.  However, with its blotchy appearance to me it looks like fire scale I have seen on a burnt sword and on iron/steel that has been in a hot fire (think glowing coals).  Of course, I don't have the tsuba in hand so it is a highly speculative call and it may be your lighting - BUT - that direct sunlight as another member commented is pretty unforgiving...

 

BaZZa.

[Alex A]

Hi Bazza, I did notice the patina on this tsuba was on the dark side, I have added a macro pic to compare to another tsuba.

 

Difficult to take pics at my home, bit on the shady side.

 

In hand, the tsuba surface is a bit on the rough side compared to others, the macro pics blow this up to another level

 

The tsuba looks better in hand, but maybe there is a reason the tsuba looks dark, the rough surface does not help.

 

Maybe your right, maybe remnant lacquer?, difficult to tell, even had the eye glass on it yesterday.

[Grey Doffin]

For what it's worth (not much) this doesn't look burnt to me.

Grey

[Alan Morton]

I agree with BaZZa ,the second set of pics show two colours one a blue hue and a brown iron flaky colour

I would ask for Fords   opinion.

Alan

[Alex A]

As interesting as all this is, would anyone dare a stab at any particular school?, anything?. The tsuba i did not purchase so whether or not its fire damaged, has no consequence.

 

But i suppose if folk want to talk fire damage, may as well let it run its course.

 

I did notice yesterday that Ford had a like with what Grey said, so i take it he agrees with Grey.

 

For what its worth (not much again lol), i dont think its fire damaged either.

 

Thanks

[rkg]

Pretty wild design - between that, the patina (if its actually blackish and not lacquer/fire scale), the seppa dai shape, etc. would make my first guess Ko-shoami...

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[Alex A]

Thanks Richard, appreciated.

[Alex A]

One last effort of photography to try and show this tsuba as it should be, hopefully shows an all over dark patina with tiny bits of oxidation.

 

Photography not a strong point.

 

Cheers.

[Pete Klein]

I believe it's just very old and has not been handled much. I'd go with Ko Shoami or Shoami. Good theme for Easter - Wabbit! LOL

[Alex A]

Cheers Pete, is that what is? Wabbit theme haha

[Pete Klein]

See the big ears? It's an old theme. It usually has the rabbit face in the middle so I'm not certain why the hole. It's always something in this field! LOL

[Brian]

Yep...long floppy eared wabbit!

[Alex A]

Haha thanks very much Pete. peski wabbit, an appropriate ending, thats all folks lol

[Grey Doffin]

I originally thought rabbit but have come to bamboo for the theme.  I like the central vertical as the stalk with leaves on either side and no idea what the circles represent better than I like the circles as rabbit's heads with long ears ending in no idea what the central vertical is.  Anyone agree?

Grey

[Stephen]

Grey...yes

[Alex A]

Hi Grey, not as much fun (ive sobered up now lol) but i was thinking along the lines of bamboo yesterday, the two circles possibly being a cut section of bamboo. Not too sure about the leaves being a good representation of bamboo leaves though.

 

Tricky one, but more like those big floppy ears you see on Kinko rabbit menuki

 

bamboo leaves

[Pete Klein]

[Alex A]

Noooooo! i like rabbits lol

 

Bamboo it is then