MauroP

Hi David, You are perfectly right about the function of keshō-tagane as a sort of signature, usually when the characteristic shaped marks are placed around the nakago-ana (Markus Sesko in his “Handbook of Sword Fittings related Terms”, p.33 call this occurrence kakushi-tagane i.e. “hidden chisel”). On the other hand simple chisel marks (i.e. without any characteristic shape) are probably better described as tagane-mei (鏨銘) if their disposition is peculiar of a particular artist. In suggesting the term keshō-tagane (化粧鏨) I was thinking of a simple decoration like the image I’m posting here: Bye, Mauro

Hi everybody, I wish to post the pictures of two tsuba that show designs similar to the tsuba by David: I think that those designs could be consistent with jigami (地紙), i.e. papers cut in a fan shape. The fine texture made by a specialized chisel (which I can hardly appreciate from the pictures posted by David) can be probably described as keshō-tagane (化粧鏨). Please take the above statements as a contribution to discussion, since I'm far from being an expert on tosōgu. Bye, Mauro

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

ありがとうございました grazie mille! Your help is invaluable. I promise to work harder next time. Bye, Mauro

Hi everybody, I would be very grateful if someone could help. It is about the mei carved on ura side of a presumably bronze tsuba of Showa period. Here it is my tsuba: My best guess is 成壽軒寛利 (+kaō) i.e. Seijuken Hirotoshi, but I am quite doubtful about the first kanji. 寛利 may refer to Kanri of late Iwamoto school. Thanks for reading. Mauro

Hi, Piers I think your tsuba is very interesting, nevertheless probably has nothing to do with Christian influence. In my opinion it depict an umpan (雲板), i.e. a cloud-shaped gong which was in use in Zen monasteries. I have a tsuba shaped almost in the same way, but neither mine nor others I found on the Internet have nikubori sukashi carvings which resemble Namban school tradition. Here it is my tsuba: and some links to similar items: http://www.klefisch.com/index.php?page_ ... temid=9758 http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/t ... gong-11696 http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/tuba_guard654.html Bye, Mauro

Dear Grev, my little collection of tsuba is quite similar to yours (and I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought also some very bad fake pieces). Anyway I have learned so much, and sometimes even from fake tsuba. Otherway what's the merit to collect museum grade tsuba? Provided one can afford much money, everybody can put together a remarcable collection, but true satisfaction, for me, is finding a pearl in the mud, and grasping knowledge even from marginal objects. Bye, Mauro

Hi Henry, my guess is Ko-Tosho (Muromachi era or even Momoyama). My opinion is based on thin plate of even thickness, elongated hitsu-ana and small open work decoration. I'm not sure but possibly a tekkotsu can be seen on the rim at 7 o'clock of omote side. Difficult to say what is represented in ko-sukashi shapes (may be rice grains?). Bye.

Very nice website, wonderful tsuba and really a brilliant way to illustrate the technical data. Thank you very much for sharing the results of your research. Best regard, Mauro Piantanida

Hi Denis, I have no idea what's the subject of the tsuba is, but I found probably the same "ship propeller-like" pattern in a sukashi tsuba from Ford Hallam's blog (http://followingtheironbrush.blogspot.i ... tsuba.html) Bye, Mauro

Hi, Malcom I believe that habōki means just broom (箒) made of feathers (羽). See the image taken from http://www.finesword.co.jp/sale/okaidoku/index.htm which is described as ” 羽箒（炭道具）透図 “ Here it is a site where habōki kamon (羽箒家紋)are displayed. http://www.taimouhude.com/webcatalogue/kamon/kamon/kamon23.html Bye, Mauro

Now I remember where I previously saw a similar tsuba. Have a look at the link, maybe can help your search. Bye http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/tsuba/F08091.html

Happy of being of some help. I’ve gathered some other pieces of information: the kamon (家紋) was used by Takaoka clan (高岡氏)and Takahashi clan (高橋氏), which ruled over Nobeoka Domain (延岡藩). Have a look at this very interesting link: http://www.Japanese-castle-explorer.com/castle_profile.html?name=Nobeoka Bye, Mauro

Hi, Denis I think the pattern represented in gin-zōgan (銀象嵌) is called shippō tsunagi (七宝繋) and was a popular textile pattern in Edo period. Shippō tsunagi has something to do with “the seven treasures of Bhuddism” (but the relation is still unclear to me). The pattern was also used as kamon (family crest); see the attached image. Bye, Mauro

Hi, Gary The tsuba you have posted represent a pair of habōki (羽箒) or feather brush once in use during tea ceremony. A pair of habōki are also depicted in some kamon (family crest). About the style of your tsuba I can’t give a reliable opinion since I am really a newcomer, but I’d guess Echizen-Kinai or Shoami school. Bye, Mauro