Fire Scale

[Steves87]

Hello All,

 

I keep seeing Tsuba with what people describe as fire scale.

I know what fire scale is and I know how to create it and0 I know how to remove it.

What I do not know or understand is why so many Tsuba have it? I mean, it is mostly the lower value Tsuba anyway, but why or how are Tsuba so frequently exposed to fire or such extreme heat that so many have it?

If I could please be enlightened, I really feel as though fire scale seems to be on every second piece

Cheers

[ROKUJURO]

Stephen,

scale on TSUBA might occur as fires with the related damages were not rare in old Japan, but I didn't see many TSUBA with scale. Do you have some samples to show? 

[Steves87]

Hi Jean,

I guess Im still surfing down in the lower value Tsuba more than i should, so it seems like a lot have it. One of my personal problems is I cannot relate to ancient times and way of life easily, so when I think of the rarity of fires nowadays, I automatically think of it as the way it's always been.

I own one example attached here, but I was reading through old posts today and came across fire scale being mentioned a lot.

Edit: so in short, i think you quite simply answered my question

[ROKUJURO]

Stephen,

your TSUBA has indeed suffered from heat! Amazingly, most of the applied soft metals are still in place! 

You are right; if you look at TSUBA lots offered actually at cheap prices in the internet, there are probably more fire damaged TSUBA among them as they cannot be sold elsewhere. 

[MauroP]

I have several tsuba in my collection with fire damage. Of course the obvious bias rely on my attitude to buy cheap pieces (at least in my early times). But there are really a lot of burned tsuba out there.
The popular expression "flowers od Edo" refers to the frequent fires that plagued the ancient Tokyo when most of houses were made of wood. Possibly an explanation.

Bye, Mauro

[Steves87]

Thank you Mauro, I had not heard this expression before, ill be googling this shortly!

Jean, it is a wonder, I agree! It seems only the moon has fallen off. Im fairly selective with my purchases (always have a reason to buy) and for the first time, in this particular case I actually bought this for the fire scale!? I like the locations and edge shapes of it, but more than that, the colour really threw me...