Help Identifying Old style Tsuba

[Utopianarian]

Don’t know much about tsuba. Any thoughts on this style, age or school. 

[Steve Waszak]

19th-century Tembo tsuba, in all likelihood.  

[Curran]

ditto

[Spartancrest]

Hi George, I think Steven and Curran have got it pegged. Is there a nakago-ana liner [full sekigane] on that guard?

Some information here regarding the 'Hot stamps" seen on Tempo/Tembo or also spelled Tenpo/Tenbo guards.  [Sorry I have lost the source ref.]

 

The Tenpo (天保) stamped Tsuba are a part of late Saotome (早乙女) school production.

These stamps, 'Kokuin', are made on hot tsuba, when steel is still soft.

- Hana (花), the flower

- Kaze (風), the wind

- Haru Kaze (春風), springtime wind

- Ten (天), Sky / Heaven

- Kin (金), Metal / Gold

- Ki (木), Wood

- Dai Tsuchi or O Tsuchi (大 土), Big Earth

- Dai Shi (大 士), Big Warrior

- Namu (南無), from buddhist sutra 南無阿弥陀仏

- Kotobuki (壽), good fortune/chance

Besides the kanji, stamps are also often found in the form of crossed lines. This pattern represents barriers and fences arranged around sacred places or water wells and are called 'Kakine' (垣根). Kakine are draw with two or three intersecting lines. Some Tenpo Tsuba are also inlaid. Inlays are often made of brass with surface coating or made of golden nails (dots), called 'Ten-Zogan'. 'Ten-Zogan' is a sign of superior quality production.

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by Spartancrest
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