It Is Real Kikuoka Mitsuyasu Daisho Set Or A Copy?

[Krystian]

Dear Members, 

 

I had this daisho set for some time but I just got an album from Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum and found very similar set attributed to Kikuoka Mitsuyasu. Do you think mine is genuine or a copy? 

 

In advance thank you for all comments. 

 

Best Regards, 

 

Krystian

[PNSSHOGUN]

Do you have photos of the Mitsuyasa examples in the book?

[Ford Hallam]

In my opinion this set is a cast copy. Note the cast in place seki-gane in the nakago ana (image 3) and the crude edge to the ryo-hitsu.

Image 2 shows clearly that the gold 'inlay' is actually not inlay at all but part of the main body (the whole tsuba is one cast object) and the gold is merely plating.

 

Further, I can't see this as even a copy of a genuine Ishiguro school work. So we have a cast copy of a fake Ishiguro tsuba. 

 

Edited to add: a sure giveaway on copy/cast tsuba with a nanako ground is when there is no nanako on the outer edge. Of course some nanako tsuba have plain edges but examine the edge carefully and if you see the nanako is not a neat and distinct row of grains, if that outer edge is a bit 'worn' over, you should suspect that the piece was cast and the outer edge had to be filed to remove the mould line left on the wax model when it came out of the rubber mould. See images 4 and 7

[obiwanknabbe]

Would the Mei be a give away as well? seem unevenly "worn" with no evidence of an uneven surface.. 

[Ford Hallam]

Kurt, yes, in this case I think your observation is correct. The surface had to be smoothed after casting but it looks like the wax model was slightly distorted, this is sometimes inevitable with thicker bits of wax because as they cool from having been molten they can shrink unevenly. Good eye there :-)

[nagamaki - Franco]

Don't recall ever seeing such a mixed shape of nanako quite like this before.

 

Cast or is this stamped?

 

Thank you.

[Greg F]

I think cast looking around the bug on bottom right of tsuba, the nanako is distorted and if it was stamped would that happen?

 

Greg

[Krystian]

Thank you Ford. After your comments I can see it now. But if it is not to much I would like just to ask two more things. 

 

 

 

As Greg said nanako is distorted near the bug. But actually it is distorted all around "inlay". Is it an effect of casting?

 

 

 

Where there any tools used to after casting of it was all cast? Even the small cuts on bugs? 

 

 

 

Once again thank you all for comments. 

 

 

 

And some pictures from the book. I am sorry for the low quality:( 

 

Best Regards, 

 

Krystian