Likelihood one is a copy?

[Spartancrest]

I am doing some research on a "pair" of tsuba, but the way the mei has been cut strikes me as very odd in comparing the two.

Both these guards are from the Walters Art Museum and are described as a pair - what opinions would you offer?

The guard on the left is  77 mm and the one on the right 65 mm in Diam.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Matsunoki]

Hi Dale

I’ve no knowledge of school etc but simply looking at them I would say they are not a true daisho pair but more likely an “associated pair” from the same school. Would help if we could see the other sides. From this image the Katana tsuba has far more work on it than the Wakizashi. 
Just a casual observation.

[Spartancrest]

Thanks Colin - I am of the same opinion, as the chisel used for the signatures is very much thicker on one than the other. There is a big difference in the quality of the 'worm eaten rim' and I would have thought the Wakizashi would have the more 'showy' display. The signatures also translate slightly differently - not what you would expect if they were made at the same time?

[Signature and Place] 越前府住　廣次作; [Transliteration] Echizen fu jû/Hirotsugu saku; [Translation] Residing in Echizen (province)/made by Hirotsugu

 

[Transcription] 越前府住　春田廣次; [Transliteration] Echizen fu jû/Haruta Hirotsugu; [Translation] Residing in Echizen (province)/Haruta Hirotsugu

[1kinko]

I had hoped help this question as I just drove 4 hours to get to the Walter’s Museum. My primary intention was to examine their Ishiguro collection. But alas, the entire collection has been boxed up and is moving to a different location. No knowledge of this on their web site. The curator doesn’t respond to phone calls or emails. C’est la vie.

[roger dundas]

Darrel- don't things like that test your good temper.

Not much else you can do but say what you wrote-'c'est la vie',   or maybe 'just what the hell are you bxxxxxxs up to with no notifications etc?'

But you showed better than that, many of us wouldn't.

Roger 2

[Spartancrest]

Darrel I have been talking to the Walters Art Museum for a short while, they have been very helpful with supplying images and information on a book I am about to release on their collection - specifically their tsuba collection. The person to contact is  Laura Seitter   lseitter@thewalters.org

 

The museum sometimes takes a day to answer any enquiry but that is complicated by the time zone differences for me.

Give it a try I am sure she will put you through to any relevant curator.

 

Laura Seitter (she/her)

Imaging and Rights Coordinator

(410) 547-9000 ext. 245

 

 

[1kinko]

I finally got a reply from the Asian art curator at the Walter’s, Danny Chan. The Asian portion of the museum will reopen in April 2023 ( and 1 Ishiguro school tsuba will be on display). He is open to actual examination of the tsuba. For photos, Laura is the right curator to contact.