Spartancrest

Not really relevant to the discussion but if you try a Google image search you might find four "links" - none of which are real and all end in a nonexisting site. WHY? I agree not Soten - first big thing with the majority of Soten, is they like to advertise the fact with a mei - even the fake ones. I would have said Jakushi, except for the unusual hitsu and the height/depth of the carving as well as inlay, Jakushi do "overlay" as far as I know [which is not much ]. Takada I will give it a look.

Kenjo or Kyo-kenjo? Like this one: https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/Iron-tsuba-Gold-Inlay-Kyo-Kenjo-NTHK-Origami-Japan-18th19th-century/21822197-iron_tsuba-10.11.18-catawiki https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/47750-kenjō-kyo-kenjō-tsuba-and-fittings/ The late Gary Murtha wrote a whole book on the subject. https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Japanese-Sword-Guards-History-Presentation/dp/1532314752

I think this is the first [?] thread that has garnered so much response just from the idea of shutting it down! Non posso lasciar passare questo senza commentare . . . PS. Why do people choose to write in languages that are one click away from Google translate? [You need to be more creative - how about Morse code?] .. / -.-. .- -. - / .-.. . - / - .... .. ... / .--. .- ... ... / .-- .. - .... --- ..- - / -.-. --- -- -- . -. -

https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.90/ Walters museum says Tanaka for their piece, Tanaka Kiyotoshi (1804-1876) They can't afford the lighting bill and so their images are always DARK!

A few "formulas" for rust removal here : :

Please note the cast replica Water-wheel and bridge in the lower right of image - part of a tourist quality display board. https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1189828556 or https://buyee.jp/item/jdirectitems/auction/q1189828556

Similar designs. http://www.nihonto.us/KIRI TOSOGU SET.htm These top two look like a before and after clean.

Two Kiri, but I am not sure if the tagane-ato are real. A river crossing on ebay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/127185994228

Sorry Brian, can you show the other side of the Kiri one? The side we see is the back or "ura" and best guesses would be from the front or "omote" view which is usually the more elaborate design side.

I will stay away from answering that question - but if you enjoy a day reading then see this thread - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/38416-tsuba-casting-molds/ Let's just say these cast pieces do turn up from collections at the beginning of the 20th century and that they are "antiques". But we think they were rarely used on swords other than tourist pieces or swapped over onto older blades. Your other guard I can't be sure of a school or date, but looks genuine to me. There is a solitary Kiri flower amongst the tendrils/branches [paulownia tree?] 1 o'clock position. Piers beat me to it.

Hi Brian, Welcome to the fun! Sorry to say that the first piece is a very common cast "replica" - Samurai crossing the river on horseback. There are two versions of this pattern. I would disregard any signature on it as it will be false. Your second one is more promising and would appear genuine if a little worn - not unexpected when you consider its possible age - 200 yrs? This is the other version to yours, the horses head is further under the seppa-dai This one is more like yours from the following thread. This one also has a cast in "tagane-ato" or punch mark at the bottom of the nakago-ana - both versions also can feature this little addition that was meant to "prove" it had been mounted. So two sizes, two versions.

Interesting finds - well interesting prices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXQ2P8WZ?tag=picclick0f-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 A hard cover copy from Amazon Prime for less than the postage for me of my own book! $16. 90 for 408 pages https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D86MSQK5?tag=picclick0f-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 a soft cover book - likewise cheaper than postage - but they won't ship to Australia! $18.27 for 324 pages I don't care about any "royalties" but someone should grab these two books just to confound the seller who can't actually get the books printed at those prices! Check out the book prices here : https://picclick.com/Popular/tsuba-book This one in Japanese [not one of mine] is also a bargain compared to its normal selling price https://www.ebay.com/itm/405195471617

https://www.messer-spezial.de/tsuba.html Tsuba 76 signed (Nobuhiro), abalone shell motif https://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/834_tanto_ebi/834_tanto_ebi.html "The tsuba is a version of the Kinai motif of an abalone and clam carved out of the plate. Signed “Nobuhiro saku."

Hi Laurent - like Mauro said . . Welcome! I think the first representation shows a tall handled bucket/vase like this one. Used to display flowers in "ikebana" a squat modern version. Ikebana also features on tsuba.

It could be Tanaka school this example has similarities including the large sekigane and inlaid mei plate - not the same artist though https://soryu.pl/products/iron-tanaka-toryusai-school-tsuba-signed-takahashi-toshitsugu-with-nbthk-hozon-tosogu

Aliens with whips - big whips! You can get a lot done if the whips are big enough

I agree with you Curran, . . I was just the messenger. Just supplying more examples for kaze ryu/Gran mike. This papered piece is attributed to Daigorō - does anyone know the differences between Daigorō and Kyo-Sukashi? https://world-seiyudo.com/product/tu-040525/

It does happen - and can even end up in a museum collection or being published.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1139849568

Hi Zac, beautiful authentic piece, age is pretty much correct, so in excess of 200 years and counting. Multiple metals used in the inlay, the birds black colour as well as the filled hitsu-ana is shakudo an alloy of copper and gold. The pine trees in sentoku [brass]? I don't see much silver but it could be there? I do like the box with the hand typed message even with the confusion of the +/t If I were you I would keep hold of it

From an old Japanese book https://www.jauce.com/auction/w1188787484 Tsuba Oshigata Horii Nagaoka Akasaka Tsuba 5 volumes Approximately 800 drawings

These five other examples don't show any marks on the blank faces - perhaps the cuts were made as a "key" to re-attach the face - which once again failed? Your example is the only one I have seen with that feature. I wouldn't worry about the signature too much they tended to vary a lot and are all gimei anyway. You are correct that there are several variation in design I have found one with an iron face - integral or added I don't know.

In Japanese art there is a tradition of "utsushi" which translates as homage or emulation at its basic level. Popular designs were done over and over again but generally not as direct copies but as the new artists interpretation of the original design - at least in the best case senario. Copies have been made, some as "practice" by students/apprentices others as outright forgeries aimed at deceit. Yes there are also cast copies made in large numbers but these would not be called utsushi as they do not celebrate the art and are more about making fast money. From what I have seen almost every school of tsuba artist has had followers who make utsushi of their school or other schools master works. I would not be surprised if on some rare occasions some buyers might put in a request for some change or enhancement, there are rare signatures where the maker has included "made to the order of ... " Some schools were almost production lines producing the same pattern over and over again just to keep up with demand Kinai school was well known for it.

Tell the French company that is selling it.