Square Tosho School Tsuba?

[vfox]

Hello all,

 

I came across this square shaped Tosho school tsuba (according to NTHK certificate), which caught my attention because we don't see square tsubas all that often.

 

Also, Shibuiswords states that Tosho tsuba are round with a standard diameter of 9 centimeters:

 

http://www.shibuiswords.com/toshowork.html

 

 

Would this piece be considered an oddball?

 

Thanks,

Jay

 

[vfox]

Here's a few more pictures

 

[Guido]

Hmm, looks more Higo'ish to me than tōshō. Anyhow, square tsuba aren't really that uncommon.

[Jean]

Except on Ninja swords Guido, except on Ninja swords...

[Peter Bleed]

This may sound like semantic hair splitting, but I think Tosho (and even most Katchushi) tsuba should best be attributed to a "style" rather than a "School." By that i mean that most swordsmith guards were made by independent artisans rather than by craftsmen who worked in groups that shared a vocabulary of motifs, techniques, and forms. Swordsmiths who made tsuba certainly referred to some regular features. They also met the needs of their customers and patrons, but they seem to have been less confined - and probably less refined - than the groups of fittings makers who operated from specific workshops.

Oh, and BTW, I wouldn't call this a Tosho guard.

Peter

[John A Stuart]

Toushou 刀匠 as the paper indicates are so wide ranging in design, but, quality of iron/ steel is usually pretty good. Maybe that is the telling factor. John

[Toryu2020]

nice piece

[ROKUJURO]

How thick is that TSUBA? It is probably not made in the classical KO-TOSHO style, but elements of these have been used much later in EDO JIDAI. The surface looks indeed a bit like HIGO or some JINGO TSUBA.

[vfox]

Thanks for the responses. It seems like the tsuba could be Higo, but made with high quality steel so it resembles Tosho?

 

The thickness is 4mm.

 

I've added a closeup of the texture. Hope it helps!

 

 

Jay