Lacquered Tsuba

[Okan]

Wanted to share a swordsmith tsuba(Igo no kami Kinmichi) that was once covered with urushi. Luckily, we can still see some remnants of the old lacquer. 

 

 

[Dereks]

Quick question, what makes / swordsmith tsuba special? It is pretty plane as i would expect from a non artist but why would anyone ask tsuba from a swordsmith instead of tsuba artist? Are these rare?

[Toryu2020]

Not especially rare. What makes them special is the metal used is often the same as found in their swords so plain iron is most often seen, sometimes you get mokume, sometimes you see a more elaborate design and of course you often get the same signature as on one of their swords. Originally we are told there were few tsuba makers and so swordmakers had to produce a tsuba, usually a plain flat plate (Tosho), once we enter the Edo period we see more elaborate work and the swordmakers signature (Toko)...

 

-t

[Dereks]

40 minutes ago, Toryu2020 said:

Not especially rare. What makes them special is the metal used is often the same as found in their swords so plain iron is most often seen, sometimes you get mokume, sometimes you see a more elaborate design and of course you often get the same signature as on one of their swords. Originally we are told there were few tsuba makers and so swordmakers had to produce a tsuba, usually a plain flat plate (Tosho), once we enter the Edo period we see more elaborate work and the swordmakers signature (Toko)...

 

-t

 

Gotcha! Thank you very much.

[Dan tsuba]

Somewhat off topic here.  But just as a side note for those that are interested.

A lot of information about those two holes on a tsuba (udenuki-no-ana) can be found here-

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14733-udenuki-no-ana-two-holes-near-edge-of-tsuba/