Thoughts on Tsuba, Age/School *Pics now attached*

[max_levy]

Hi everyone and thanks for having a look,

I'm a bit of a newbie in my knowledge, but I have the passion! Just wanted any opinions on age or school, or terminology for techniques used on this Tsuba? As you can see from the images it is iron with, I think, a silver fukurin

Many thanks in advance

Max

[John A Stuart]

This is a replica isn't it? John

[max_levy]

Hmmmm, I kinda hope not lol, was sold to me as Edo, which was a bit vague. What in your opinion makes it appear new? here's a side pic if it helps (not me holding it)

Thanks for any advice

 

[Ford Hallam]

I'd like to have a look but can't be bothered to register at Imageshack

 

Just a thought, if you'd like people to comment on your images at least make them easily viewable

 

I won't even register on a site that promises images of scantily clad nubile women.....so some vague description of a tsuba is hardly enticing

[max_levy]

I'm a bit confused, from my computer and phone the pics are embedded and viewable within the post :s

[Jamie]

Max,

it looks like they are linked from image shack. I also can't see them.

Just save them to your system and upload to the board in your post.

Hope that helped.

[max_levy]

Thanks for that john, only just figured out I could add files like that, always been guessing at which code to put and hoping for the best! guess attachments are a safer bet if everyones running different browsers!

 

Thanks for looking everyone! If you're going to disappoint me, do it gently!

[Henry Wilson]

The theme seems to be 猩猩 SHOJO. Have a look under Joly "Legends in Japanese Art" entry 863.

 

http://ia600201.us.archive.org/14/items ... lyuoft.pdf

[John A Stuart]

My first impression is Nara school work, but, very young, which makes me feel a copy, I didn't mean a Chinese replica. Meiji, Taisho?? John

[max_levy]

Hmmm,

Thanks for the thoughts, does anyone else have any views on the potential age?

What do you think the purpose would have been for the copy john? for mounting on a sword or simply an early Japanese ''fake'' as such?

 

Thanks

Max

[John A Stuart]

The school I mentioned has an amazing range of work, in that, some is very well carved etc. and some is very bad and everything in between. The bori seems off as does the patina. The nakagoana form??? The silver fukurin seems rather thin and crude. I may be nit picking, so, don't put too much into my opinion alone. Why do I feel the whole tsuba has a fresh patination? John

[Soshin]

I would agree with John I have a few late Edo Period Nara school tsuba and the plate isn't as clean as this tsuba is. The all silver fukurin (rim cover) also indicates a later production as well as sliver was rare in Edo Period Japan. I would say that it might be a modern (i.e. Meiji Period) copy of a Nara school work. With these Nara school pieces the quality for which there is a great range is clearly determined by the soft metal inlays and the overall composition. I was reading in the most recent book by Bob Haynes that tosho ( Japanese swordsmiths) would often forge the iron plates for Edo Period Nara school tsuba.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.