Mokume tsuba

[sanjuro]

Hi Guys.

 

I thought perhaps you may be able to help me firstly to identify this tsuba and give me some idea of what sort of quality it may be. I recently 'inherited' it and have utterly no clue about it. I had intended to list it in 'for sale' but since a price has to be nominated, I'm left completely at a loss.

From the preceding you may have gathered I am not a tsuba dude, at least not tsuba of this apparent era. My guess is that its Edo period. No idea of school etc. All input greatly appreciated.

[Mark Green]

Wow, that is pretty spiff.

 

I would think that the Mokume pattern was carved into the iron. Very nice. Looks like a bunch of work! Very cool!

 

I have no idea about the school, sorry, but I sure like it.

Thanks for sharing,

Mark G

[watsonmil]

Dear Keith,

I'd have to agree with Mark, .... very nice. It would be of interest to know it's dimentions. It appears to be wakizashi size. Personally I think it is a very elegant looking tsuba. I would add it to my modest collection any day ! Thank you for posting. .... Ron Watson

[sanjuro]

Hi Ron.

 

Sorry.... forgot measurements

 

Flat to flat across the tsuba is 72mm (2 and7/8 inches).

 

high spot to high spot at the inome piercings 77mm (3 inches). In other words the tsuba fits into a three inch circle.

 

The plate is 5mm thick at the nakago ana, and at the mimi where the edge has been hammered back it is 1cm.

 

The nakago ana 28mm (1 and 1/8th inches).

 

In hand its more katana size than wakizashi. The wax sheen in the photos has since been removed in order to reveal the natural patina of the tsuba which is a rich deep brown, a much more pleasing finish. (The removal was done with denatured alcohol). :D

[Steve Waszak]

Hi Keith,

 

Mokume has almost a default association with Myochin tsubako of the mid-to-late-Edo period. However, in the several pieces I've seen, the mokume treatment has not been so pronounced as this. The "ringed" perimeter of the hitsuana also are suggestive, I think, of later-Edo period work, as is the continuation of the mokume pattern fully onto the seppa-dai. My guess is 19th-century Myochin work.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[watsonmil]

Dear Keith,

I would never have guessed it was Katana size ( which it is obviously ). I too think the removal of wax or old oil film brings out the best in the end. The cutting/carving appear sharp, and the quality appears excellent. I will be interested to see what our experts have to say, ... my guess is mid Edo. Although tastes will vary, ... it is one of the nicest I've seen posted in sometime. ... Ron Watson

 

PS> There we go I was just about to post when Steve stepped in to clarify, explain, and attribute.

[Ford Hallam]

While Steve's comments regarding the association of mokume work and the Myochin are certainly valid points I think that in this case they may perhaps not apply. As was pointed out earlier on, this is not true mokume steel but rather an elaborately carved pattern.

 

That it's a simulated mokume would, in my opinion, suggest that it is not Myochin because the "real thing" was is/was what they were justly famous for.

 

regards,

 

ford

[Steve Waszak]

Good point, Ford...

 

Of course, there's no knowing for sure. It's possible a Myochin tsubako sought to "experiment" with effects... The rim-work is certainly reminiscent of the Myochin, but again, as you say, it could be some "non-Myochin" artist looking to create a "Myochin-esque" tsuba... Frankly, I would expect a mid-to-late-Edo period Myochin tsubako to be sure to sign his work. Whether it is or isn't actually Myochin, I do think it is a 19th-century guard...

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Steve,

 

I agree, we're almost certainly looking at a late 19th cent. work. I think it will be extremely hard to attribute a particular group seeing as how it is so derivative of true Myochin work. It looks to me to be a case of simply meeting market demand.

 

best regards,

 

fh

[Henry Wilson]

Any chance it could be Namban? Just a thought.

[Mantis dude]

I know the dreaded shoami attribution is hated but I have seen several pieces (I think some papered ones even) attributing similar type guards to shoami school. Aizu shoami is another one that may have done some work like this as well. Just trying to input what I think I remember. All the best.