Suzu gata tsuba

[Mark T]

I saw this sell on eBay recently: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... NA:AU:1123 (Pics attached)

 

Tsuba Size:97mm (to the handle) x 78mm x 6mm　196g

Nakago Size: 25mm x 7mm

Material: Iron

Signature : Unsigned

Technique: Sukidashibori Nunome zogan

Decoration: Oka chirash zu (cherry blossom)

 

This is a very rare Daito big Tsuba with shape of bell, depicts cherry blossom by fine carving!

 

The small handle top of the tsuba can move.

 

Questions:

1. Would a tsuba of this size, shape, and construction (eg, the handle of the suzu) have actually been used, or been for decoration/display?

2. Do we know of other suzu gata tsuba?

 

Thank you for whatever reflections you can offer,

 

Mark T

[Guido]

This is the most awful Nunome I ever saw.

[Ford Hallam]

I have to agree with Guido ...as much as it pains me

 

This is modern amateur work and I'd hesitate to call it a tsuba.

[Bugyotsuji]

Maybe awful, but a great illustration of how nunome 'works'. The secret spills out! :lol:

[Mark T]

Thanks for those replies. No need to be apologetic - I didn't purchase it!

 

Back to the original questions: do we have other examples of suza gata tsuba, and would they have actually been used, or just used for display?

 

Cheers,

Mark T