Does this constitute a tsuba?

[Spartancrest]

Whilst looking through a museums collection this - "odd tsuka" turned up. The text stating "Tsuba with Flowers and Insects"  "Three medallions depicting flowers and insects appearing along each side of the tsuka. On the kashira end, a butterfly is shown. The fuchi end has an unusual flared edge decorated with chrysanthemums. This is part of a mounted set."

Though the word tsuba is used  - does one exist on this handle? The mount is reminiscent of a Chinese sword to my eyes and even though the blade of the weapon is not shown I believe it to be of "ken" style, given the shape of the saya. This "tsuba" seems to be a flared out fuchi and is in no way discoid, so should it be clased as a tsuba?

[Geraint]

Dear Dale.

 

Sweet!  You are right, it's a ken koshirae, here's another one but in carved wood, the tsuba on this is a separate piece just as your example appears to be.  Is it a tsuba?  Well it's not a million miles away from a shitogi tsuba and a distinct component from the tsuka so I guess that would do it.

 

 

 

All the best.

[Spartancrest]

Thanks Geraint it is always helpful to have another example. The museum also includes koiguchi and fuchi on Kaiken and Hamidashi as "tsuba" even though there is no "guard" as such. Yet it also has one Hamidashi tsuba that it describes as a fuchi - If we are confused imagine what the general public would think!

[Spartancrest]

Just getting back to what is being described as a "fuchi"  by the Walters Art Museum. Excuse my ignorance but it looks a lot like a Hamidashi tsuba to me - a bit of both?   https://art.thewalters.org/detail/20562/fuchi-with-gold-rim/

[vajo]

Its a tsuba for me. But the rim inside looks like a Fuchi. It think its both.