Yves55

My guess... Masanobu Anyone?

Yes Dale! That's what I mean with "Never seen before... Anyone?" Thanks!

And another new one: Iron tsuba with silver and golden rats. Dimensions: 6,53 x 6,07 x 0,54 cm Weight: 112 gr. Never seen before... Anyone?

New in my collection: A small "Miboku"-signed tsuba. Dimensions: 6,14 x 5,35 x 0,38 (rim) - 0,36 (seppadai) cm Weight: 76 gr Any information is welcome!

No initials on the backside 😅 But... what is the front or backside on this tsuba? 🤔

Is this Namban tsuba 'that' good...?

Hey Glen, Thanks for your new post. The hitsu-ana in the tsuba shown in https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/Japanese-tsuba-canton-style are cut out later on. In mine, the tsuba design is made with hitsu-ana, without their usual form. The Seppa-Dai is not decorated and the cut corners of the Seppa-Dai leans towards the normal oval 'Japanese' form. For me, the only thing not Japanese is maybe the way the gold is added (2 in stead of 3-way). By the way, are hitsu-ana a typical Japanese feature? A picture with another background:

Just to show the only 'separate' fuchigashira I own. Any comment and / or information will be highly appreciated Fuchi: 3,76 x 1,74 x 0,73 cm - 13,08 gr Kashira: 3,50 x 1,36 x 0,63 cm - 8,90 gr Mumei

And here is the anwer: The feet of the flying bird are inlaid with red copper. Is this practice known and can the mumei tsuba be identified by this feature?

I bought this tsuba in 2016 and handled it from time to time. Today I looked at it again and had a real surprise Here is the iron tsuba: Dimensions: 7,92 x 7,90 x 0,54 cm. Weight: 88 gr. You found the surprise? I'll send the answer below.

Hi John and Curran, Thanks for the replies. I suspected something like that. Greetings, Yves.

Thank you Barry. I suspected something like that. Still learning every day. Greetings, Yves.

Hi Glen, I suspected something like that. I completely agree with your result. That is also the reason I put "..., or..." in the title. Thanks for the research.👍🏻 Greetings, Yves.

Thank you Glen. Here's the cross-hatching:

As I promised in "Japanese Nanban Tsuba, or ... ?" Here are the Fuchi (3,83 x 2,23 x1,27 cm) and Kashira (3,32 x 1,74 x 0,8 cm): Possibly one of the Goto Seijo's ... (?)

As I promised in Japanese Nanban Tsuba, or ... ? This is the link to the auction: http://loeckx.be/en/2022/01/25/12676-Japanese-wakizashi-sword-lotus-scroll-and-mother-of-pearl-74cm- for the moment... The blade was covered with a thick greasy substance... I gave it a rapid clean with warm water en some soap, but it remains stained. Cutting edge 53,1 cm Total length 67,9 cm Curvature 1,7 cm Moto-haba 3,1 cm Here is the mei: Hizen Ju Musashi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro.

Hey Grev, Another picture:

I recently bought a mistreated wakizashi at a live auction. You will ask why I bought it... Well, the tsuba intrigued me Shortly I'll send pictures of the tang (Hizen Ju Musashi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro) and the Fuchi (signed 'Goto ...') & Kashira. The question now is "Is the tsuba Japanese or not" ! I am looking forward to your replies 🧐 Dimensions: 7,07 x 6,75 x 0,47 cm - Seppa-dai: 3,75 x 1,86 > 2,02 cm Weight: 73 gr.

On january 7th I wrote "I think there are no real hitsu-ana, only a layer (x4) on top where the hitsu-ana should be!" but I'm completely wrong. I tested the metal under the hitsu-ana with a strong magnet and it jumped away to the iron around. Still don't know what the upper layer is... Can it be an 'Iwata Norisuke' copy?

Surprise... (?) I think there are no real hitsu-ana, only a layer (x4) on top where the hitsu-ana should be! Anyone seen such way of decoration? Dating tsuba?

Just acquired this tsuba. Posted more information and pictures on topic: Yamakichibei Tsuba By svarsh, April 17, 2018 in Tosogu where some similar tsuba were showed earlier.

And the other side:

And with another exposure:

And another one! (just got it) 😁 Yamakichibei is back... Fake, copy, real...? Dim: 8,53 x 8,09 cm Rim: 0,47 > 0,52 cm Seppa: 0,31 cm Weight: 143 gr Now I'm reading "The Yamakichibei Group of Tsubako" bij Steve Waszak. Very good 👍🏻

Beautiful in his simplicity 👍🏻