Some Ideas On This Tsuba?

[Kinnan]

Hi everyone,

I already came to know more about the rest of the sword it came with, in the Nihonto subforum. But given the fact that the tsuba experts most likely are active here, I'll try and get some more information on this tsuba here.

It's unsigned. Is it shakudo? Is it possbile to assign it to a specific school, or is it a rather generic example? And maybe a period?

Many thanks in advance,

Kinnan.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Kinnan,

 

Suspect it may be iron, a quick touch with a magnet will confirm. My uneducated guess would be a Bushu school tsuba.

[ROKUJURO]

Looks like a copper alloy to me. Some better photos of both sides may reveal more of the qualities. 

[Kinnan]

Hopefully this will show it better.

Kinnan.

 

[Kinnan]

Forgot to mention; non-magnetic and reddish copper tone showing at the edges.

[TETSUGENDO]

Kinnan,

 

Your tsuba appears to be made of Shakudo (a copper alloy).

 

_StevenK

[ROKUJURO]

Kinnan,

I am a bit spoiled as far as good photos are concerned, We have some gentlemen here at the NMB who are able to shoot phantastic photos of their TSUBA. Without wanting to be impolite, I have to say that yours are a bit behind those.....  

If it is a SHAKUDO TSUBA, I think it must be a very good one, but I cannot see the workmanship. We would need very well focused, enlarged detail shots to say more.

In the worst case, it could as well be a blackened copper TSUBA from a mass production - very late EDO to SHOWA. 

Show it to an expert so he can see it in-hand! 

[johnnyi]

I like your tsuba, and I too think it is shakudo, having immersed myself in researching something similar recently.  While waiting for better pictures, are we looking at brass (ten zogan), or are these dew drops the same shade as the copper alloy? The former would lend even more weight to it being a well made tsuba I would think.                                                                                                                                                                           p.s. I see after looking again that they don't seem to appear in both pictures.  Looking forward to your better pictures.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Although copper, magnet test, not convinced it is shakudo at this time. Only finished to look like shakudo.

[Kinnan]

I have to admit that my photographic skills still need a lot of work

But I'm not someone who gives up easily, so here's another try....

Btw, the dew drops are yellow in color.

 

[ROKUJURO]

Kinnan,

you are getting better!  

Still difficult to judge by photos, but it might well be a good TSUBA!