Soten or not Soten ?

[Kurikata]

I need some help, tosogu experts:

 

I have this large tsuba (8,5 cm) for a while and if we can detect some soten influence (faces of the two wise men) , as it is unsigned, I have my doubts.

 

What are you views, please ?

 

thank you

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Hikone would be my guess - check this link, the guard shown even has the same mimi type.

https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-tsuba-t-69/

Hikone often have slightly larger figures than Soten and less inlay - they are both forms of Maru-bori literally “round carving". The style was so prevalent that it was also called Hikone-bori

[Spartancrest]

Bruno, there is a remarkably similar guard in the Cleveland Museum of Art, number - 1919.258. Theirs is described as "(Soten type)" which is not very helpful as it too is not signed.

[Kurikata]

Thanks a lot Dale. Your capacity to find specific similar exemples of all kind is really intriging me. You are a magicien.

[sabiji]

21 hours ago, Kurikata said:

 

 

... (faces of the two wise men)

 

 

These are Hanshan and Shide (Kanzan and Jittoku). Both with their attributes, Hanshan as a scholar the scroll, and Shide as a servant the broom.