FUNNY SHAPE TSUBA

[Kurikata]

Hi my friends,

 

please let me know your views on this very funny shape tsuba. I guess it is quite old with an Onin style. But all information on this very specific tsuba are welcome

[Kurikata]

[Jorgensen]

Well... its more rare than its pretty...

 

My first thought was it have been cut, but rim seems intact. I do not have any suggestions for this one, but would like to see if any has

[ROKUJURO]

Too much SAKE while working? 

[Spartancrest]

Frank from the movie "Cliffhanger" with his painting of a banana eating a monkey? Or just a long tail monkey ?

[1kinko]

Cast iron bottle opener?

[Rodenbacher]

I think this Tsuba is mocking the complicated hand guards of European Rapiers. I think for a Samurai these must have been very exotic and maybe funny objects. I add some pics of such swords I saw in Italy. Just imagine that you are used to a very plain handguard design as a Tsuba, which is basically a simple disc - and then you see foreigners with such complicated cage-like constructions on their sword. In my opinion this Tsuba is a reflection of an encounter with such an European style. 

 

 

 

[Kurikata]

Peter 

 

I had this tsuba in hands and this shape has been done on purpose. My personnal opinion would consider this tsuba as a tachi one. I really like your opinion of a kind of Namban interpretation of a european rapiers.