Is it a daisho ?

[Kurikata]

Hi,

 

I purchased these tsuba with same topic, same school, same signature (Nobu Yuki) and same size (6,8 cm X 6,5 cm). Can I call them a daisho ?

 

Thanks

 

Bruno

[Dan tsuba]

Hello Bruno,

 

What a fine pair of tsuba!  I am envious!  Anyway, I have a set of daisho swords (over 400 years old).  Both tsuba on the set are exactly the same design, but the tsuba on the katana is larger than the tsuba on the wakizashi.  

 

With respect,

Dan

[Kurikata]

Thank you Dan for your very swift answer. It is what bothers me. My tsuba are exactly the same size. Some bushi might have two wakisashi ?

[Spartancrest]

Big and small - you might get away with it, can't see any strict rule why both guards can't be the same size? You can always tell one from the other by the gap in the top wave crests. 

[kissakai]

I think they should be called a matched pair but not Daisho

When selling tsuba I'm often asked is it for a katana or wakizashi so that is a good reason for a suitable size

I did have an almost identical pair s they were only 1mm different in size and that was not good enough as making a tsuba are not all going to be an identical size. Nice tsuba
 

[Chishiki]

Collectors, dealers commonly find complimentary tsuba and put them together and mount/sell them as daisho tsuba.   It happens a lot.   With the Japanese dealers the tell tale sign that they a complimentary pair and not true daisho is the lack of a hozon paper.   Papered daisho tsuba hold a premium.  Mark

[FlorianB]

In my opinion a real daisho should be different in size and corresponding (not necessarily identical) in design, so you can see the artist’s intention in creating the pair.

 

Often a popular design was routinely repeated over and over by tsubako and, as said above, in later times similar ones where put together by dealers to increase the value. Thus often seen in western collections.

 

Florian

[kissakai]

The four seasons/gentlemen is and example. Maybe katana theme = Spring/Summer and the wakizashi = Autumn/Winter

This can apply to any theme