RobertM

Hi chaps, would you consider the design of this tsuba to be hanchiman-za (opening at the top of kabuto?) It's signed kunihiro, any ideas on school and what the design near the rim represents? 6.5 x 6 X 0.5

I would say an Edo period functional tsuba thats been modified to fit a slimmer blade. Not much else to say really other than it's not modern.

Nice pics and write up ????

Ryusen (Japanese Maple)

One of my tsuba with same design signed bushu tamagawa nobutsune at the age of 64

What's strange is that the cut is not very "clean"?

I'm just trying to understand the tsuba prior to restoration. Is that copper plating that's worn away from an iron base?

Hi Florian, whats the design?

Hi Grev, have pm'd you

Thanks

Just wondering if there is an agent in the UK so can get tosogu papered? I presume the costs involved would be prohibitiv but just wondering.

So nice! How would that crack have formed? Was it there from the start and just developed?

Nice detailing, what's the mei?

Thank you so much ????. Stupid question, I presume they are attributing to the kinai school or are they not being specific?

Would someone be kind enough to translate this hozon paper for me?

Rob M

For the first one, the centre design a helmet crest?

I think a kite is plausible.

Thanks for all the comments, very interesting.

Hi George, after a bit of research i wonder if the shield shaped object is in fact a Dharma Wheel. I can just make out what could be tomoe shapes in the center which could represent the circle of life. The dragon toes are hard to make out but looks like 3. Perhaps all imagery on the tsuba is buddist related. 

thanks

I have one of the same design

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/19193-new-purchase/?fromsearch=1

Better pic attached

Hi George, closes ups attached. Would the dragon motif be a page turner?

Would anyone be kind enough to identify the theme? Appears to be a dragon? Flowers/plum tree, a book and a plate/mirror of some kind? The tsuba appears to have a almost black coating, thick and heavy around 8cm.

I like the bottom bonsai pot 

Nice and short article on repairing broken pottery: http://mymodernmet.com/kintsugi-kintsukuroi/

Looks good to me