Some help please

[lonesomeagle1]

This is the Tsuba from my Dad's wakizashi that was brought back from Japan in 1945.

Any help in identifying the smith and approximate year of manufacture is appreciated. I will post photos of the sword in the nihonto section.

Signed Yoshiharu ?

It is 2 5/8 inches in diameter and about 1/8 inch at the edge.

 

Greatfully, Peter

 

[cabowen]

Yoshiharu is a correct reading.....

[Mike]

I think Yoshiharu is the correct reading of the mei. I have no reference of this tsubaco. I also think the tsuba is mid-Edo Bushu school, but of course I might be completely wrong about the school attribution as I have still a lot to learn.

 

Mike

[Mark Green]

Nice tsuba Peter.

The roped ox. Can we see the other side?

Thanks, Mark G

[lonesomeagle1]

Thanks all

here's the reverse side. Is there some significance to the design? And how should I clean it?

 

 

Pete

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Pete,

A search of the Board for tsuba clean or something like that should give you lots of answers.

Here's what I'd do if it were mine. Start with hot water and a soft brush (tooth brush, use the wife's) and see what comes off. If there is still rust standing proud of the ground, I would put some sword oil on it and let it sit for a day or so. Then I would rub it with an ivory piano key, piece of deer antler, or piece of bone, being careful not to touch the shakudo plug or the soft metal eye of ox. The ivory/antler/bone is hard enough to break the rust but won't harm the patina. Do not, for any reason, use metal to clean it; you'll only do damage. It will probably take a few applications and rubbings but before long the tsuba will look much better. Once there you can spend a few hours rubbing the tsuba with soft cloth (flannel works well).

Grey

[Henry Wilson]

A roped-ox is a Buddhist teaching.

 

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/mzb/oxherd.htm

[Mark Green]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the pic. I love that tsuba!

As for cleaning, what Gray said!!!

Way cool

Mark G

[christianmalterre]

Dear Peter,

 

Chris is correct-the Mei is Yoshi-Haru.

Henry did give you an excellent Link so to see a bit the "meaning or intention" behind.

Yoshiharu was active in late Edo-Period.

Bushu/Country work-no negative interpretation here-did come from Shoami ancestors.

Very nice workmanship and excellently preserved-Do not worry about the "Rust"-it is just on Surface.

 

What is much more interesting is the still excellent preserved Tsuka-Ana walls in your´s piece.

This Tsuba was a kind of especially intended in older days due naturally today unknown reasons on fact the former person who did wear it may had an specific interest it was fitted.

This Tsuba was most likely well kept/preserved due unknown reason before it was finally fitted on the sword you mention.

Do you have an intact Koshirae,too?????

Perhaps here you will find an suitable answer.

 

Concerning cleaning i disagree completely!

This is amateurish and will destroy more than you intend to preserve!

Please ask for specialised cleaning-as far as i am active on this board-why not asking Ford Hallam(equally active) if he would be ready and interested to clean and preserve it professionally for you?

(Also he could fix you the plug correctly again,too)

Reason i say this is that this Tsuba is despite the visible rust spots(which by the way are no intriguing)is in an very excellent state of preservation-and if cleaned professionally would come out in nearly same estate as Yoshiharu did pass it out of it´s hands!

Such preserved Tsuba are extremely seldom!

Good Luck!

 

Christian

[Soshin]

  christianmalterre said:

Concerning cleaning i disagree completely!

This is amateurish and will destroy more than you intend to preserve!

Please ask for specialised cleaning-as far as i am active on this board-why not asking Ford Hallam(equally active) if he would be ready and interested to clean and preserve it professionally for you?

(Also he could fix you the plug correctly again,too)

Reason i say this is that this Tsuba is despite the visible rust spots(which by the way are no intriguing)is in an very excellent state of preservation-and if cleaned professionally would come out in nearly same estate as Yoshiharu did pass it out of it´s hands!

Such preserved Tsuba are extremely seldom!

Good Luck!

 

Christian

I would agree with Christian this tsuba at it's level of quality would warrant a professional touch to help restore it's condition. In my past posts I have discussed cleaning of iron tsuba but these tsuba(s) in question was not at the level of quality or importance as this tsuba appears to be. They also did have anything else wrong with them besides superficial rust on their surface. The problem with the shakudo plug in the kozuka hitsu-ana will require a professional touch and understanding to fix.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S. (Soshin)

[lonesomeagle1]

Thank you all for your suggestions. A friend of mine who is a museum director is looking into his contacts to find someone here in the NY area that might be of help. I will post as I get further info.

The sword that this was mounted on is in pretty rough shape. It looks as if someone tried to clean it some time back.

The koshirae fittings show dragonflies on the fuchi and kashira. The menuki are horses. The habaki is "rain"? and is 2 piece

Here is a photo

[Grey Doffin]

Peter,

Don't know your friend the museum director, of course, but be very careful with anyone he recommends. Museums that don't specialize in Nihonto are famous for destroying them, either through neglect or well meant but misdirected amateur restoration.

Grey

[lonesomeagle1]

Thanks Grey. He is affiliated with The Museum of Natural History in NYC as well as Sotheby's.

I will be careful as I can. No one will work in anything until I am satisfied with their expertise for certain.

Pete