A TSUBA - School unknown to me

[Brian]

Excellent thread

Mariusz, I would be tempted to see if Ford would be willing to repatinate it to the original shakudo colour.

Is there any non-destructive way to ascertain for sure what alloy is used in a tsuba?

 

Brian

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Brian,

 

yes, x-ray florescence analysis allows for a fairly accurate and non-destructive analysis to be made.

 

I was involved with some such research, with Susan La Niece, at the British Museum (1996) on early shakudo and Yamagane pieces. The patina on the sample will naturally be somewhat different from the body of the metal but I was able to provide pre-patination samples and post patination samples to establish the degree of difference to better asses the discrepancies.

[Geraint]

If I am seeing things aright the latest tsuba posted has pins/rivets through the plates at thee seppadai to secure them. \Someone asked about the reason for sanmai construction and seeing this reminds me of some tachi tsuba that I have seen. I am wondering if the sanmai construction perhaps came about as tsuba craftsman produced early uchigatana stuba in the way in which they were used to creating tachi tsuba, ie a main plate and two o-seppa. Any thought on that anyone.............anyone?

[MauroP]

Hi everybody,

Provided that a shinsa origami is just an opinion written in Japanese, nevertheless nobody can challenge a formal statement without the support of well documented evidences. Moreover the concept of shiiremono does not necessarily mean modern simulation/copy. My little contribution to the discussion is just the following link: http://www.shibuiswords.com/awase.htm

Bye, Mauro