cdrcm12 Posted December 3, 2019 Report Posted December 3, 2019 I've had this tsuba for a short time and have read previous posts on this particular style giving good information. My question on this one is the unusual small cut-out on the lower jaw of the dragon and what the purpose of this may have been? The cut-out is nicely formed with a square base, approx. 1.5mm x 1.5mm. Tsuba dimensions: Height 71.5mm Width 61mm Mimi 4.5mm - 6mm Some images below. Thanks Colin Quote
johnnyi Posted December 3, 2019 Report Posted December 3, 2019 Hi Colin. It might be that the dragon is chasing the sacred pearl, and the cut is meant to depict that his jaws haven't closed upon it? Regards, John 1 Quote
Greg F Posted December 4, 2019 Report Posted December 4, 2019 Colin this ones mine by Toshimasa. Ive seen quite a few tsuba of this design but never with the cut. It may be damage, not sure. Maybe Ford could shed some light. Greg 1 Quote
Greg F Posted December 4, 2019 Report Posted December 4, 2019 Some info from the seller Grey Doffin. Greg Quote
Ford Hallam Posted December 4, 2019 Report Posted December 4, 2019 To me it looks like a repair that's fallen out. It's almost inevitable that when making alloys from scratch or remelting scrap that flaws or voids sometimes occur in the cast slab. If these only become evident towards the end of the processing of the ingot to plate then it's not at all uncommon for these flaws to be plugged or inlaid with the same material. Also, sentoku is not the same alloy as shinchu/brass. Sentoku only appears in the tosogu in the early Meiji period. Sentoku is characterised by a very district crystalline structure in the metal that also quite visible in the patina. This structure can sometimes also be seen in 'as cast' brass but in that case you're looking at a fake. There are some early Edo tsuba made by Mitsuhiro and son that claim to be made from sentoku-gane but analysis of this alloy has shown it to be a marketing gimmick. They're essentially brass with a little bit of arsenic added, quite unlike later Japanese sentoku or the original Chinese Xuande bronze that it is simulating. This is a typical example, with dodgy inscription, and a clearly visible plug repair on the seppa-dai at 11 O'clock 4 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted December 4, 2019 Report Posted December 4, 2019 a very useful discussion, Thank you all! Peter 1 Quote
cdrcm12 Posted December 4, 2019 Author Report Posted December 4, 2019 All Thank you for the responses to my question. A repair or even cut out of a fault seems the logical answer. If I can be bold and say that it's shinchu rather than sentoku, I can't see any of the crystalline structure Ford mentions. Many thanks again. Colin 1 Quote
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