What date is this tsuba? Original? ModernReproduction

[steedyboy]

Interested to know what the date of the tsuba is and how you can tell. Also, the signature only being on one side and only two characters and the other side three characters. is this usual ? meaning of the characters ?Is it a modern reproduction or a genuine antique.

 

 

[Geraint]

Dear Shaun.

 

The date for this tsuba is approximately 2022, it's a brand new Chinese fake!  Keep looking but best avoid Ebay until you are really sure what you are getting.

 

Edit to add:  Sorry Shaun, a bit more time now.  Just to give you something to go on here are some of the signs.  The overall shape is poor, not regular, the seppa dai, the oval in the middle is irregular and the tang hole is bad, on these fakes it is usually rounded off rather than the shape of the tang.  The design is poorly defined, muddy if you like, and the patina corresponds to the typical three colour attempt that seem to be the norm for these, quite unlike Japanese patina.  The signature is very poorly done, normally these would be chased into the metal, these are cast in along with the rest of the tsuba.

 

If you are interested then have a look at some of the commercial sites, here are a couple to start with, https://www.Japanese...tegory/tsuba-kodogu/  and http://www.nihonto.us/TSUBA 1.htm

For educational reading you could also have a look here, https://www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm

 

Feel free to ask about any of the above.

 

All the best.