Spartancrest

Perhaps it might be a generalization but I think tanto sized tsuba are underrated - they require as much [or even more] work to construct, but most collectors tend to concentrate on larger guards. Bigger is not necessarily better. Maybe we need a magnifying lens mounted over these little fellows to give them the credit they deserve?

They made a better deal than this one https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18307/lot/6093/a-nagatsune-tsuba-by-minamoto-nagatsune-edo-period-19th-century/ Sold for US$976 https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-tsuba-depicting-oni-kneeling-before-abe-no-seim-220-c-19f4a14bbb This one had an estimated auction valuation of Est: €700 EUR - €1,400 EUR - it passed!

What type of bird is this supposed to be? I don't know of any that look like this in reality.

An inlay design to add to your group of images - the birds face right and left "outward" to the rim

https://www.jauce.com/auction/s1224988813 a close look at the left hitsu and you get another "cat face" - a bit chubbier maybe we can classify a whole new style of hitsu by the type of feline species? Perhaps Dobby wearing some cat ears on the right? And yes there is a cat called "Dobby" he has FOUR ears -

Well maybe a Cheshire cat amongst the karigane!

An "Owari" you might notice the birds are inverted - pointing towards the seppa-dai rather than the mimi. https://www.choshuya.co.jp/senrigan/抱茗荷雁金透鍔（鐔）　無銘　尾張/鍔/尾張 Afew in this older thread https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/44479-wild-geese-in-the-clouds/

Well not this one anyway! https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/188197194660 big money! $47

Well no surprise there - I have compiled my own book with dozens [at least 62] of tsuba designs replicated over and over [and not all cast copies] One particular pattern of the rain dragon has now reached 162 individual examples. A question better asked of Grev Cooke as he did the book - but yes I would say it was iron. A great number of guards were copied between schools so once again it is very possible for a design to be attributed to more than one school.

Hi Tim - I went through my books - - all 98 - - and found another utsushi in Greville Cookes book - "The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - Tsuba collection V2" You might like to ask Kissaki for a better image. I don't suppose it was in that book where you first saw it? You might notice the bird has lost some of its tail in this example.

This one is also odd - found in the Ashmolean museum - 75 mm x 72 mm Notice the "niku" [raised trimmings] around the whole of the opening - the hole was made that way

Not sure of book but this is an utsushi from Mauro's post https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/42631-tsuba-identification-help/#comment-437050

Is this the same guard as from the Michael Tomkinson collection? Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Come on you know you need some "new" sizzle plates! https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/287169240470

Well that is a great price for something of historic value. As a talking piece alone I think you have done well. [I have an overly large collection of "tsuba" paperweights myself - still interesting things ]

An example from the Ashmolean museum EA1978.250 The size of the hole may have been altered even more, to be used as a maedate "crest" but I think it was first used for a practice sword. Another opinion of the useage here: http://www.nihonto.us/ONIN NAGAMAKI TSUBA.htm But I think it more likely these were used on wooden practice swords as others have stated This one - is anyones guess - not suitable for a practice sword - maybe a maedate. [or a bottle opener ! ] one in this group of twenty https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1224304881 [probably the only one of any interest!]

I hope you didn't pay more than these? https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/Japan/tw/auction/yahoo/input/e1017827423/ or https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1017827423 SOLD 2,000 yen or you could pay ten times the price! https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/Japan/tw/auction/yahoo/input/h418421872/ or https://www.jauce.com/auction/h418421872 still running BIN 20,000 yen [OUCH!] Something similar https://www.myday.com.tw/a_myday/product_view.php?apiname=api_japan_yahoo&itemcode=k1119341799 or https://www.jauce.com/auction/k1119341799 SOLD 32,100 yen!

I like the history inherent in this piece, the hitsu was cut after it was made, then that hole was filled possibly with a smaller hole or as a solid and then re-cut even later. Only to be filled once again. The difference in metal colours certainly suggest there was a big time difference between each alteration. The fukurin? At what time was it added? Intriguing to me. PS. I am not sure the kanji in the thread title are correct - still can't trust google trans!

Shachihoko with perforated mimi - NICE!

A glorious piece of workmanship - but the material itself is just not up to the task. The fukurin is the only element keeping this piece together. https://www.jauce.com/auction/1224137596 I have to wonder if it was altered to be used as a tsuba? The seppa-dai area does not look as you would expect.

Your Koshirae looks to be missing a metal koiguchi, a tsuba, a kurigata and tsuka is missing the menuki from under the wrap - a big list of replacements. I think you will have some trouble finding enough pieces to fit correctly. I think the tsuka can be rewrapped fairly easily and finding some appropriately sized menuki should be easy enough to find. The Koiguchi is a big problem to get the fit correct, you could make one from horn or even bone if you have the time.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167116012345 leather pouch with tsuba clasp https://www.ebay.com/itm/167923793099 and another with a fabric case! https://samuraimuseum.de/shop/en/tsuba-necklace-orange https://samuraimuseum.de/shop/en/scarf-tsuba-blue-gold

I think, as Jean has stated, the first is either Hotei's sack [sometimes also Daruma] but may also represent a "furoshiki" wrap. [but these other designs are not to the same standard of quality - - that is for sure!] I love the wave and cloud sukashi

I hate the look of that signature and what is this "spot"? - a raised dot on an area that is supposed to be carved down - - does not compute! You could get a much better piece for much less and with more assurance that it was legit. Familiar "copies"? Looks like a pattern that should be added to "Please avoid at all costs - or it really will cost you!" A missing link to the Bonhams auction mentioned in the 2022 thread [below] is here: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/17816/lot/25/an-iron-tsuba-by-katsurano-sekibun-19th-century/