A friends tsuba

[Jim Manley]

A buddy recently acquired this tsuba. I took this one photo and would much appreciate any insights members could offer.

thanks much Jim manley

[Spartancrest]

Sorry to say it is a paperweight souvenir, it might be as old as 1980? - not made in the Muromachi [1336 to 1573]  - a time when they didn't sign tsuba as far as I know.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/186730994595   I do hope your friend did not pay very much. The seller is either ignorant or a conman.

[Okan]

“My friend bought this, and I took a picture of it.”

 

Did you mean, “I found a s**t tsuba on eBay, took a screenshot of it, and am now fooling some idiot forum members so I’ll be the first to buy it in case it’s a treasure?

 

Go ahead, buy it, it's an authentic treasure. 

 

Here is the link:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/365186018162

 

 

 

 

[Spartancrest]

If my friend Okan is correct [very likely ] - give that thing a big miss - try this one it is more interesting, genuine and a lot cheaper https://www.ebay.com/itm/296351643175

[Jake6500]

As Dale has already said, you don't find signatures on authentic pre-Edo pieces. Dale's link is also to a reliable seller in Matsukaze, I have purchased things from that seller before.

 

If you're new to tsuba and want assurances, buying from him is a safe bet.

 

In any event, the item you've posted appears quite expensive for a dubious tsuba that may not even have any historical value.

[Steve Waszak]

4 hours ago, Jake6500 said:

you don't find signatures on authentic pre-Edo pieces

Hmmm... Not sure where this idea came from, but it is quite inaccurate.  There are a good handful of pre-Edo tsubako who regularly signed their works.  Among them are the two Nobuiye, the two Kaneiye, the early Yamakichibei smiths, Hoan, Sadahiro, Umetada Myoju, Umetada Mitsutada, and Koike Yoshiro Naomasa.  So, not only were there pre-Edo smiths who regularly signed their tsuba, but each of these artists is generally regarded as one of the very finest tsubako of any era in Japanese history.  This doesn't have much to do with the OP's concerns, but I did want to respond to that statement for educational purposes...