Guan Yu Tsuba

[Jake6500]

Just picked up this Guan Yu Tsuba from JAUCE, looking for opinions on this piece!

 

I bought it for the historical associations in the design/theme more than anything else but I'd be curious to learn about the style of craftsmanship or how you guys would value this piece.

 

Probably overpaid for it a bit if we're talking strictly financial value but I ain't mad at it...

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1105115244

 

[Bazza]

Modern???

 

BaZZa.

[Jake6500]

  On 8/14/2024 at 10:24 AM, Bazza said:

Modern???

 

BaZZa.

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If this is modern-modern that will be a bit painful. Some of the copper work reminded me of Late Edo works I have seen in the 1800-1850 range.

[Bugyotsuji]

My immediate thought on looking at the soft metals was modern, but it could be over-polished. There are some really nice details in the chisel work though.

[Spartancrest]

Far better example than this ebay one :

 

Not near the same quality though as this Meiji?:     

https://www.sellinga...ted-chinese-scholar/

 

I think you paid top end price, was it a "Buy it Now" or an open auction?  Sometimes an open auction can relist at a lower price second time through - just depends how seriously you want to take the risk of a late minute bid by someone else.

It will look much better if you can clean some tarnish off the face but probably not worth the risk. I don't mind it at all.  If it is 'modern' it is very well done and has not come out of China! JMHO

[Jake6500]

  On 8/14/2024 at 11:18 AM, Spartancrest said:

Far better example than this ebay one :

 

Not near the same quality though as this Meiji?:     

https://www.sellinga...ted-chinese-scholar/

 

I think you paid top end price, was it a "Buy it Now" or an open auction?  Sometimes an open auction can relist at a lower price second time through - just depends how seriously you want to take the risk of a late minute bid by someone else.

It will look much better if you can clean some tarnish off the face but probably not worth the risk. I don't mind it at all.  If it is 'modern' it is very well done and has not come out of China! JMHO

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This one was an auction. As I said in the initial post I had thought I had paid higher end price but am OK with that. 

 

The vibe I'm getting is possibly late production or possibly higher end modern fake, but no conclusive way to tell for sure...

[Jake6500]

Another question to anybody who could answer, I have no idea what the rabbit-like thing on the back is supposed to be. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Bugyotsuji]

Check out the usagi 兎 rabbit Kamon family crests here: 兎家紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com)

[Spartancrest]

It is a rabbit!     

 

   They really like the long ears  

[Jake6500]

About 2 minutes after posting the question, I remembered something!

 

Guan Yu's horse was named Red Hare, so I'm wondering if this is a veiled reference to his horse. This would explain the seemingly unusual decision to pair the two!

[MauroP]

関羽図鐔 - Kan'u no zu tsuba.
Nikubori + suemon-zōgan + nunome-zōgan = Shōami (or better Aizu-Shōami), late Edo period.

 

(for future reference)

[Jake6500]

  On 8/14/2024 at 9:59 PM, MauroP said:

関羽図鐔 - Kan'u no zu tsuba.
Nikubori + suemon-zōgan + nunome-zōgan = Shōami (or better Aizu-Shōami), late Edo period.

 

(for future reference)

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Thank you Mauro for your attribution,

 

I have had a look at a few Aizu-Shoami tsuba per your suggestion and I think there are some stylistic similarities there. The use of multiple metals including copper, gold and silver (the last of which is not featured here) as well as their elevation above the base feels fairly similar to this piece.

 

Thank you also for uploading the image for me! I would have done this when I made the thread had I not been writing from my phone and struggling to upload it.

 

Regards,

Jake