Ebay Tanto tsuba help

[Lilleskit]

Hello all,

 

Could anyone with more knowledge than me on tsuba types and history (which is just about everyone) help me with this tanto tsuba. I've been unable to find other examples like it.

 

It's well constructed sitting perfectly without any rattle when seated. It measures 5cm x 3.3cm. I liked the design of it and needed it for a project I'm working on but I want to learn more about it.

 

Any information would be helpful. 

 

Thanks,

Ken

[Spartancrest]

Hamidashi tsuba both hitsu are open. It is for a smaller sized tanto, nice raised rim. Wisteria decoration (?). The ura side looks recessed to fit over the Habaki closer into the saya.

There is some information in this thread about similar types. 

An odd one here https://soldiersmuseum.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=97  It says it was fitted with a thick wooden seppa but the one you have has the recess better made.

[Lilleskit]

Very much appreciate your response 🙏🏽

I'm guessing mid edo but unsure.

Yhe inlay seems edo but the robust iron construction even for yhis little tsuba has me wondering if it could have an earlier origin.

[Lilleskit]

8 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Hamidashi tsuba both hitsu are open. It is for a smaller sized tanto, nice raised rim. Wisteria decoration (?). The ura side looks recessed to fit over the Habaki closer into the saya.

There is some information in this thread about similar types. 

An odd one here https://soldiersmuseum.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=97  It says it was fitted with a thick wooden seppa but the one you have has the recess better made.

I uncertain if it is meant to be wisteria.  I was thinking possibly kikyo (桔梗, bellflower) or possibly tachibana (wild citrus blossom)🤔

[Spartancrest]

On 4/17/2025 at 7:48 AM, Lilleskit said:

I uncertain if it is meant to be wisteria. 

It has gone very quiet with responses - it must be Easter.

 

I found these two sukashi tsuba with something close to the design on the tanto. Totally different technique of course but I think the B&W Kiri drawing was getting there.

 

Happy Easter all!  

[ROKUJURO]

The same to you Dale!

[ROKUJURO]

On 4/16/2025 at 11:48 PM, Lilleskit said:

I am uncertain if it is meant to be wisteria....🤔

Yes, I don't think it is FUJI, but what about TSUTA (ivy)? 

On the MIMI I see 'normal' KARAKUSA

[Brian]

This design is almost always Wisteria.

[Curran]

On 4/16/2025 at 5:48 PM, Lilleskit said:

I uncertain if it is meant to be wisteria.  I was thinking possibly kikyo (桔梗, bellflower) or possibly tachibana (wild citrus blossom)🤔

 

 

Errrrrrhhhmmm.  No.

As Brian said, this is almost 99.9% regarded as Wisteria.

 

Unusual and interesting tsuba that you showed to start the thread.

Newbies sometimes come up with interesting items. Nearly 30 years ago, I had some menuki of "drunk gaijin under the streetlamps viewing sakura".

I eventually sold them........

.......and have never quite seen something similar since.  They would never have been considered 'valuable', but they were certainly unique.

 

Your odd configured tanto tsuba is something equally unique.

30 years in, and I don't recall seeing anything quite like that.

Maybe not super valuable, but definitely something rare to unique.

 

[Steves87]

Not too dissimilar in depiction, but the well-known online dealer who I acquired it from described it as Kiri. 

I really like your Tanto hardware, quite rare construction on a few levels.

[Lilleskit]

On 4/19/2025 at 5:48 AM, Curran said:

 

 

Errrrrrhhhmmm.  No.

As Brian said, this is almost 99.9% regarded as Wisteria.

 

Unusual and interesting tsuba that you showed to start the thread.

Newbies sometimes come up with interesting items. Nearly 30 years ago, I had some menuki of "drunk gaijin under the streetlamps viewing sakura".

I eventually sold them........

.......and have never quite seen something similar since.  They would never have been considered 'valuable', but they were certainly unique.

 

Your odd configured tanto tsuba is something equally unique.

30 years in, and I don't recall seeing anything quite like that.

Maybe not super valuable, but definitely something rare to unique.

 

Hello, 

 

Sorry for such a slow response. I missed the notification. Yes, it is quite interesting a first for me. I've never dived deeply into the world of tosogu but some of the items are very fascinating. I've never been the type of collector yo chase value so for me this tsuba is gold. 🙂

 

Kind regards 

Ken

[Lilleskit]

On 4/19/2025 at 6:01 AM, Steves87 said:

Not too dissimilar in depiction, but the well-known online dealer who I acquired it from described it as Kiri. 

I really like your Tanto hardware, quite rare construction on a few levels.

Yepp, you're definitely correct. 😎 

[Lilleskit]

On 4/18/2025 at 5:18 PM, Brian said:

This design is almost always Wisteria.

Sorry, I completely missed the responses. You are very correct, it is Wisteria. 

 

Were iron tsuba very common during tge edo period? 

[Bugyotsuji]

Both Kiri and Fuji are in blossom everywhere right now. Although the flowers are similar in colour and style, from a distance, the leaves are very different. 
Fuji, wisteria has rows of slim oval leaves, but Kiri paulownia leaves are each wide and multi-lobed.

 

Fuji is a vine, somehow endlessly associated with the powerful Fujiwara family, whereas Kiri is a tree with Shogunate and imperial connections.