School opinion ?

[Mantis dude]

Hi,

 

I picked up this really interesting sukashi tsuba.   My initial ideas of school changed when I got it in hand.  Size is 7.4cm x Width approx. 7cm.  Mimi thickness is approx .8cm & .6 at hitsu-ana. I was thinking possibly Choshu or Bushu.  It is iron but i thought the mimi could be shakudo with its black coloring, however a magnet confirmed iron. Echizan Kinai popped into my head and then i found this "The Kinai made guards only, of hard and well forged iron usually coated with the black magnetic oxide" from http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/.  The bottom of the mimi has some small damage but may actually show the black oxide coating ( tried to photograph it).  Would appreciate  all comments.   Thanks.

Ken aka "The Mantis Dude"

https://mantisdude.com/

[Matsunoki]

  On 4/12/2024 at 1:14 PM, Mantis dude said:

It is iron but i thought the mimi could be shakudo with its black coloring, however a magnet confirmed iron

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I think maybe the mimi is shakudo but the magnet is simply picking up the iron underneath. That is a definite copper alloy colour showing.

[SteveM]

I like it. Very interesting design. I, too, would have guessed Chōshū or Bushū. I am reminded (and maybe too strongly influenced) by Robert Haynes' assertion that Echizen Kinai tsuba are usually signed as such. So, when I see an unsigned tsuba I mentally exclude Echizen Kinai from the field of possible schools.  I don't know if Haynes intended his comment to be treated as an absolute. I doubt it. But it has stuck in my mind. 

[Mantis dude]

Collin- I think you may be correct.   I don't remember seeing an Iron covered mimi like this, perhaps because of the minimal  color difference ( I'm partially color blind and sometimes don't see shades as well). 

 

Steve- interesting tidbit if true.  I will have to pay more attention and see if this is true.  As we all know though, there seems to be exceptions to every rule in this hobby.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

[Gunome]

Hello,

I also think the mimi is in shakudo.

I would exclude Kinai due to the style of this tsuba, but also because of the hitsu ana shape that don't match Kinai production. indeed, maybe a Choshu or Bushu tsuba ?