Very faint name(?) on guard

[KungFooey]

Hi again,

 

Everyone's been so helpful with my other questions, I thought I'd ask one more!

 

This guard is square and heavy and has really faint writing on it - no idea what it says. Help!

 

Thanks a million

Dee

Edited November 15 by KungFooey

[uwe]

Play with the angle of the light. Maybe you can get a better shot?!

[KungFooey]

11 hours ago, uwe said:

Play with the angle of the light. Maybe you can get a better shot?!

Thanks for replying, Uwe!

 

I've tried different angles in the sun but it is just SO faint.

[KungFooey]

[KungFooey]

[KungFooey]

The back has a kind of swirly metal (a bit like ice cream😳). Don't know if that helps with who made it?

[uwe]

Hmm,

classic approach is right side province/ place and left side maker. In this case supported by the last characters on each side, jū “住” and saku “作” (at least that’s what I think to read 💭). Let’s see what we can get for the “rest”…

[KungFooey]

28 minutes ago, uwe said:

Hmm,

classic approach is right side province/ place and left side maker. In this case supported by the last characters on each side, jū “住” and saku “作” (at least that’s what I think to read 💭). Let’s see what we can get for the “rest”…

Thanks again, Uwe!

 

I was looking at all the kanji guides, guards on this site etsetra and I thought I saw Akasaka ju on the right - but then I couldn't. 🙄 Wishful thinking I guess.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Deanna,

The swirl effect is called mokume gane and is a product of folding the metal as used in the manufacture of sword blades but it's not a process confined to any one group or school of makers so it's hard to kantei it based on that alone, however, this type of tsuba are quite desireable and I think you've got an attractive piece there.

 

You could try sprinkling a little talcum powder over the signature to see if that highlights any of the strokes, but without something to make it a little clearer it's too vague for me.

[KungFooey]

2 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Deanna,

The swirl effect is called mokume gane and is a product of folding the metal as used in the manufacture of sword blades but it's not a process confined to any one group or school of makers so it's hard to kantei it based on that alone, however, this type of tsuba are quite desireable and I think you've got an attractive piece there.

 

You could try sprinkling a little talcum powder over the signature to see if that highlights any of the strokes, but without something to make it a little clearer it's too vague for me.

Thanks John!

I'm learning more each time I post.

I'll try the talcum powder later today.