New Tsuba, and fittings.

Hi Gang,

Went scouting today, came back with a new sword, with wonderful fittings. If anyone knows the maker. Please fill me in. Thanks.

Mark G

Hi Mark, I think this tsuba may be by Shozui Hamano, a student of Toshinaga Nara. It is a nice tsuba. John

Thanks John,

Yes indeed it is.

Mark

The signature doesn't match exactly with Kinko Meikan examples, so am not sure if it is the big guy or not. John

Mark.

I believe the copper plate is a later addition. The person who applied it obviously didn't want to destroy the original patina of the iron by cutting a mei directly into the steel so they opted for this approach. The area immediately surrounding the tanzaku can be seen to be "disturbed" and is no longer perfectly flat.

Still, it's a perfectly appealing tsuba as it is

regards,

Ford

Mark, Whilst I cannot even make a guess at the maker, the subject of your fuchi / gashira seems to be the incident in 1180 when the Minamoto pulled up the planks of the bridge over the Uji river and the Taira rode onto it in a fog. The guy standing on the bridge timbers is Gochin no Tajima, a monk who challenged the Taira to shoot at him and cut the arrows with his naginata.

Ian Bottomley

Thanks guys,

Yes Ian, I was thinking the same thing.

Ford & John, It is a copper inlay for sure. I guess there is no telling who made it without paper. But, it is very nice work.

I have looked at over a hundred of these signitures. There were very few the same?

The quality, and skill of the carving seems very good. The patina is wonderful.

I may softly clean it up a bit today, and take some more pics.

Thanks, Mark

A few more close ups.

Wonderful use of mixed alloys, and to my eyes, very good detail.

Shibuichi, Shakudo, gold, silver, copper. cool. I love the expression on this guys face.

Inlayed mei. Not sure wht is up with that?