tsuba - original & copy at the same time on crime-bay

[werner]

Hi,

 

If I'm not mistaken than there is a genuine tsuba and its copy on ebay at the same time. Please compare:

 

 

3rd picture

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

 

 

 

1st picture

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Samurai-sw ... 41556b0418

 

I can see the same kanji trace on the 2nd one as on the first....

 

Opinions appreciated..

 

Jock

[drbvac]

Looks very similar - funny the fake cost more than the real one!

[jason_mazzy]

wow. that was like night and day between the 2.

[JamesH]

In my humble opinion, both are cast copies... one just a little more elaborate.

 

I could be wrong but aren't they copying a really famous tsuba from one of the museum collections

 

 

 

James

[jason_mazzy]

I thought the other was a copy also, but didn't see enough evidence to call it cast. I think it may just be a later copy of a tsuba, hand done tho? but if it is cast, then that is even more impressive the quality of the 2 casts of the same tsuba. (not that the tsuba is impressive, just the same type of mold and such a differance in the cast)

[JamesH]

I think it is cast as I do not see any evidence of strokes in the mei, I think the signature is actually part of the mold. Also, I think the more expensive tsuba is an iron cast copy, while the other is mentioned to be copper.

 

I doubt either are modern copies, I think both are showa or older, but certainly not the real thing. Someone once told me that the most famous tosogu themes/pieces were printed or copied into catalogues, available to other tosogu makers, hence why often you will see different workmanship on identically themed pieces.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

 

James

[raven2]

I am inclined to agree with you, James.

[Soshin]

I would also agree with James. Both tsuba are cast copies one is iron and the other is copper and likely date to the Showa period and are therefore vintage and not antique.

There are frequent motifs and themes copied in antique tsuba as well. I have a Owari Sukashi tsuba from the Momoyama period that is of a sun family crest motif that I think is a antique copy of a similar sun family crest motif done in a Muromachi period Ko-Katchushi tsuba. I have also seen real antique tsuba that have the same motif done in different school styles as well. Just my two cents. Thanks for the interesting topic of buyer beware eBay (aka. crime-bay).

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.