Restoring A Tsuba

[Kanenaga]

Hello All,

 

Hoping not to re-open the preservation-vs-restoration debate, but I thought the group might be interested to see another example of what can be accomplished when an expert metalsmith (FH) "touches-up" a soft-metal tsuba.  The tsuba is signed on the backside [ichinomiya] Tsunenao with kao.

 

Les

 

 

[Teimei]

Hi Les,

 

looks great! I see no problem in such a restauration. Nothing was changed, the piece just looks now like the smith wanted it when it was produced.

[Moley]

OK ...Well done Ford. Nice job... But

They are........ RATS !

Yeaugh

Please explain... Why are they a feature on tsuba ??

[Geraint]

Rats are regarded in a different light in Japan and often feature in works of art.  Quite often with a frustrated rat catcher.

 

This has revealed the true quality of the tsuba and wow!

 

All the best.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Wow! Excellent work and a great example of why one should consider tsuba restoration.

[b.hennick]

Amazing work!

[Kanenaga]

As you can imagine, I was very pleased with this outcome. Pre-restoration, I could not even recognize that the pup was silver, and the big fellow at the bottom shibuichi.

 

I've read that rats were considered auspicious, because their presence indicates that you must have food in your storehouse.

 

Les

[SAS]

That gorgeous tsuba would look great on a Hattori Hanzo sword, used for killing huge rats (Kill Bill reference) jk Nice job to the owner and Ford.

[John A Stuart]

More proof that an 'expert' can do a restoration worthy of the piece. John

[Stephen]

Outstanding as always Ford san, and Les good eye, and congrats on taking this where it should go.       

[Henry Wilson]

Rats are one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac. However, the tsuba has a few of them frolicking about. I think for this tsuba they are generally an Edo period thing and back then auspiciously associated with abundance. The tsuba theme in my opinion is suggestive of Daikoku (the brother of Ebisu) and his rats are associated with his rice bales he stands on, hence the implication of prosperity, wealth and security.

 

 

I can also second Fords skill of restoring tsuba. He has done some magic on a few of my hopeless cases which I tend to gather.

[Ford Hallam]

Thanks very much for all the kind words and votes of confidence, Gents. This has made my week.

[Katsujinken]

Magnificent.

[TETSUGENDO]

Elegant, beautiful tsuba.  Fine restoration, sensitive and intelligent work. 

 

-StevenK