Have I bought a brummy

[Chriso]

G'day all,

I've just picked up what I think is quite a nice looking tsuba from ebay, yeh I know, but I couldn't help myself. The details from the seller suggest:

SIZE : Width 2.8" × 2.8" : Length of NAKAGO 1.0" : Weight 250g

This is a Japanese Sword guard TSUBA of iron ware and was made about 200 years ago.

There is sign of "HIKONE-JYU-SOTEN-SAKU."

It means what SOTEN of HIKONE (Shiga) made. SOTEN is very famous TSUBA artist

 

While I don't expect this to be an original early Soten, which I understand are quite difficult to find, I would very much appreciate the opinion of the brains-trust on this piece and a view as to the mei.

 

Cheers and best

 

Chris O

[Brian]

Chris,

Very gimei I'm afraid. Quality doesn't even come close to good Soten work imho.

If you look at the signature, and picture it as a fluid signature done the same way someone signs their name, you will see how chunky and un-fluid it looks. The strokes don't look natural and flowing, and I think you can call this one without looking at shoshin examples.

 

Brian

[Chriso]

Thanks very much Brian, I guess the mei is as expected, although I do like the tsuba itself and would be interested in discovering if it follows any particular school and time frame or if it is in the same category as the mei?

 

Regards and thanks

 

Chris O

[Rich T]

Hello Chris, I believe this style of work is referred to as Shiiremono. Have a look on the following glossary. Brian is spot on in regards to the mei. The tsuba is not Souten work, it may be on a really good day some form or late low end Aizu Shouami or similar.

 

http://www.jssus.org/nkp/kanji_for_tsuba.html

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Chriso]

Thanks Richard,

Should make a nice placemat, oh well, back to the books.

 

Cheers Chris O