Show me your Sanmai tsuba

[Dan tsuba]

I just received this (what I consider). a beautiful sanmai tsuba!  Purchased from Japan for $63.00 U.S. (which included shipping!).  It makes a great addition to the collection!

Just wanted to share!  Show me yours, and let's have some fun!

 

With respect,

Dan

[Spartancrest]

[Kurikata]

HO H0 Birds....

[zanilu]

Dragon in the waves

 

[Dan tsuba]

Another one of my sanmai tsuba.  Bridge, water, and mountain scene.

Onward!

 

With respect,

Dan

[MauroP]

I like sanmai tsuba, and I've just realized I got more than I remember.

 

Here below some more examples papered as ko-kinkō:

[Spartancrest]

I think this link could be added here - nice Mandarin duck and waves sanmai  https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/48181-tsuba-help/

 

[Rodenbacher]

An unaltered Muromachi or Momoyama period San Mai Tsuba. 

[Rodenbacher]

[Soshin]

Here is an early one I think, I have submitted for NBTHK shinsa this year. The surface has a nice layer of black lacquer applied to it. The design is a plain textured surface with copper and lead inlays. The plate construction is made up of three layers with rim clover holding everything together very tightly.   

[Iekatsu]

For the last two, do you have an images from an angle showing the plates in the Nakago or Hitsu-ana?

[Soshin]

4 hours ago, Iekatsu said:

For the last two, do you have an images from an angle showing the plates in the Nakago or Hitsu-ana?

 

Unfortunately, I don't have the tsuba in hand or I would try to provide photos of inside surfaces of the nakago and hitsu-ana. I remember seeing a distinct three-layer construction to the plate. The texture you see was applied to the surface of both thinner outer most plates. All three plates (the two thinner outer and one thicker inner plate) are I think held together by the rim cover.  An interesting design to what I think is an older pre–Edo Period soft metal tsuba.       

[Rodenbacher]

It's a bit difficult to see the three layer construction here, I guess

[Spartancrest]

      Thick core with thin sheets. What is the line at the bottom of the nakago-ana?

[Rodenbacher]

8 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

      Thick core with thin sheets. What is the line at the bottom of the nakago-ana?

Honestly, I don't know... 

[Iekatsu]

Hello Peter, thanks for the additional photos. As I suspected, I don't think your Tsuba or David's Tsuba are San-mai, both are nice Ko-kinko Tsuba though. The area you have highlighted at the back of the Nakago-ana appears to just be minor delamination.

[Ron M]

Here are my only two sanmai tsuba. Thanks for the thread to see others

[Rodenbacher]

12 hours ago, Iekatsu said:

Hello Peter, thanks for the additional photos. As I suspected, I don't think your Tsuba or David's Tsuba are San-mai, both are nice Ko-kinko Tsuba though. The area you have highlighted at the back of the Nakago-ana appears to just be minor delamination.

The more I study this Tsuba the more I think you are right... 

[Kurikata]

Another one in my collection I had forgottten... 

[ROKUJURO]

On 3/24/2024 at 10:43 PM, Iekatsu said:

.......The area you have highlighted at the back of the Nakago-ana appears to just be minor delamination.

There are no laminations in soft-metal. The core is always cast.

[Iekatsu]

You are correct, flaking material might be a better description. It can happen when force is applied.

[ROKUJURO]

Thomas,

could you show an example of it? 

[Iekatsu]

No problem, you will have to excuse the poor photography, I do not have a macro lens. All of these are Ko-kinko, none of them are San-mai in construction.