Spartancrest

Yes sorry, Grey is correct, that tsuba was mass produced - they come in two sizes, with either cast in tagane-ato marks [see red arrows] or plain. A great number are "signed" but a few are not. Unfortunately yours has extra faults both sides top of the seppa-dai and either a cracked mimi at the bottom, casting fault or corrosion damage. It is an interesting fact that even cast tsuba came out of the factory in different 'grades'. I have seen a few so bad it is near impossible to see any details at all, I can only guess they didn't go back into the melting pot because they looked incredibly 'aged' or dug up from a battlefield and were probably sold on as such. No great drama you can always put a better guard on the koshirae and perhaps have the bonus of an interesting talking point or paperweight?

No worries Jean, it went to someone else's home so they will have to work it out. It would have been difficult to display and I really didn't like the decoration - but it is a strange one!

Yeah but there are more than three sizes possible! How about a royal flush, or quadrella. [yes there is such a word] Maybe I could name them after the Marx brothers?

Hi Brian you are right I just completed a triple set myself last night - as a bonus I get a lot of rust to correct but hey it is all fun. Anyone seen a really big [over 90mm] version of the design? Preferably with this seal. For any who are interested this is not how to 'clean off rust' https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/tetsugendo-school-tsuba-floral-532919159

Darn - I could have sold the stone and made a profit, also improving the look at the same time!

Rich, I like the term Trisho but what happens when you add in a nodachi 野太刀? Yon-sho or Shi-sho?

I have asked this question in another thread but it went unanswered - what is a set of 3 matching tsuba [or other fittings] called? 大小と 小さい Daishō to chīsai ? There must be a name as they certainly exist. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/3-signed-antique-Japanese-sword-tsuba-fuchi-kashira

It must be a day for Shiachi https://www.jauce.com/auction/n1042986975 Described as Nanban

Brian, I must agree on the decoration, it is actually something that put me off, I don't like that aspect of it at all. The mokume was enough - gilding the lily does not make it more attractive.

Jeremiah I think the width of the tsuba makes it too narrow for the pegs (prongs?) to go over the hand. The sharp hooked ends would be a bit fist unfriendly. I think the designer had aspects of a Jitte (十手) in mind. The size would be consistent with a Wakizashi so it may have been used like a Main-gauche. Or may even have seen something like these Chinese weapons?

New one just listed - https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1042980375 79.2 mm x 77.7 mm x 5.2 mm Weight : Approx. 116.0 Gram

I would be interested in the opinion of whether these are Shiachi or just dragons? The image is from Louis Gonse's book "L'art Japonais" (1883) and appeared later in "The Sword of Japan and it's Ornaments" by the Countess Annie De Montaigu (1895) The guard is described as 'Silver-Bronze, Dragons Affronté: by Seidouzi' [Seidzu?]

The daikon is a remarkable plant, the entire plant is edible and used not just for food. There are even recipes where daikon is used to patinate iron. It is a popular theme on tsuba in almost all schools. If a particular design is popular many 'utsushi' will be found trying to emulate the design - not direct copies but a different take on the original as a form of homage to the design. Another one here - not as nice as your example. https://www.antiquesreporter.com.au/index.cfm/lot/241260-a-large-mid-edo-period-pierced-iron-tsuba-for-katana-18th-centur/ This one is probably Shoami - Another very fine sukashi is found here [images are copyrighted] http://nihontocraft.com/Tanshu_Sadamasa_Tsuba.htm

I do like the strange ones - but this is super strange. https://www.jauce.com/auction/f1041590625 At first glance it looks like a simple mokume with gold and silver decoration with the addition of a jewel/ red stone/ glass?[not important] But it is what is on the other side that is just plain weird! It looks like two railway spikes have been incorporated into the guard. - Just speculation but could this be a sword catcher/breaker? The two spikes would be pointing toward the blade of course or you would never be able to hold the tsuka otherwise. Has anyone ever seen anything similar before? 65 mm across by 4 cm high

Another aoi and screens https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1042781098 this one looks pretty good. What started as a fairly obscure design has blossomed into quite a few variations.

Ebay is having a run on these! https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/165381229071 Some without the eye makeup! But still ten times the price. on ebay also, there is a Katamenuki https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/255413766945 looks genuine to me.

I don't usually promote cast guards but this one is at least reasonably priced for what it is - https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1042552782

Very expensive drink coaster - that will likely spill your drink into the bargain ! https://www.jauce.com/auction/u1042220390 50,000 yen - yeah right!

Hey these are starting to come out of the woodwork! https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1042202823 This one looks cast to me, I don't like the look of the hitsu at all.

Well it is not this Katsunori = 勝則 Katsu-hō = 活法 Looks a better bet. Katsu-hō = "How to live"

Roger you might be correct but how then is it that both sides of the tsuba have identical images, wouldn't that require enormous precision indeed, much much more work than hammering into a form? Not that I am an advocate for both sides being identical, it is rather boring. Surely there are examples where each side was made as you have described and they would have the freedom of two similar designs but not identical. There must be examples out there so please show us. [meaning the members] Is it once again a story of two 'levels' of construction, custom pieces and cheaper mass [but hand] produced?

A nice one in Yamagane? Shibuichi? Looks like it was cleaned with steel wool? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/125189054246

There is a another guard on ebay right now. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/373967970257

WOW!