My first Tsuba... need Help

[ThomasP]

Hi everyone
I am looking for help identifying this iron Tsuba regarding, age, school, style, etc.

Any information or resources would be greatly appreciated.
Purchased in Kyoto but didn't receive much info about it.

No markings

70,8mm x 69,2mm x 5,7mm

 

Or even a copy?
Thank you

[Dan tsuba]

Hi Thomas!

Your tsuba appears to me to be an authentic hand forged tsuba, not a fake.

Age is difficult to ascertain.  Your tsuba is not rusted so it was taken well care of or is a more recent tsuba (made in the later Eco period?).  I don't know!

I also don’t know about the school; I am sure other members will tell you about it.

Oh, and when photographing and displaying tsuba, you should photograph the tsuba so the more pointed side of the nakago-ana (center triangular tang slot) is facing upwards.

Onward!

[Shugyosha]

Hi Thomas,

I'd take a guess at Owari school, Edo period. I can't see anything to suggest a copy, it looks like it has been mounted and I don't see evidence of it being cast plus there's some tekkotsu on the mimi which doesn't suggest modern iron. There's a discussion of the possible motifs in this thread, a little way down from the top.

 

[ThomasP]

2 hours ago, Dan tsuba said:

Oh, and when photographing and displaying tsuba, you should photograph the tsuba so the more pointed side of the nakago-ana (center triangular tang slot) is facing upwards.

Onward!

Ah OK, next time I'll do it right. I'm still learning. Thanks!

[Spartancrest]

An Owari of a very similar design https://www.papilio....e-auction/5/item/206

  Myōga [ginger plant] a very popular design.  Many slight variations.    

   https://www.seiyudo....10717.htm#movepoint1

  

 

  https://bushidojapan...ith_Myoga_Motif.html

 

The Akasaka school and others also used the Myōga motif in their sukashi designs.

[GeorgeLuucas]

13 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

 

 https://bushidojapan...ith_Myoga_Motif.html

 

The Akasaka school and others also used the Myōga motif in their sukashi designs.

 

Hi Dale,

 

Sorry to steer this a bit off topic, but do you know the significance or meaning behind the “S” shape on this tsuba?

 

Im intrigued and interested because the double S is my initials 

 

Cheers,

-Sam S

[ROKUJURO]

Sam,

usually the S is for SHAKUDO TSUBA. In this case, the maker made an error. 

[Spartancrest]

6 hours ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

The significance or meaning behind the “S” shape on this tsuba

Well lets give AI a chance - The "s" shape in Japanese legend may refer to the katakana syllable "sa" or "shi".   Well "Sa" = カ  & "Shi" = キ 

The translations are "mosquito" & "tree" so extrapolating that, it must mean "When picking ginger look out for the mosquito in the tree" - Always good advice!   

[Score: AI zero out of one hundred. . . . again!]

[GeorgeLuucas]

Haha, you guys crack me up! Usually when an item speaks to me, it’s more subtle than this 

 

Im thinking it means a Christmas present for myself 

I couldn’t ask for a more trustworthy seller. 

Cheers! 

-Sam 

[Spartancrest]

   Got it, masonry/brick wall brace - keeps the rim of the tsuba from falling away.  

[KungFooey]

Ikkansai Shigetsugu made a blade for Hitler - maybe this is the matching SS guard? 🤔

 

Dee

[GRC]

If I had to put a label on that one, I would have to agree with John J's Owari style (which is a a whole province by the way, not a singular school), can't pin down a date for certain, but the surface and edges look a little too "refined" to be an early one, so it's likely an Edo period piece (and who knows when in that 400 year period ).

 

As for the S shape... I would suggest it could be a classic blacksmith's "S hook" for hanging a tea kettle on a chain over hot coals.

The S motif is not something that is seen too often on sukashi tsuba. 

 

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, for a water kettle.