Matsunoki

Firstly, thanks to all for your observations and pointers. Whilst I know this is not an important tsuba the more I look at it the more puzzled I become. Don’t know why I like it so much, not my usual thing but there is a certain charm in it. Anyway, pondering on your thoughts…..and apologies for “going on” about something rather modest! …and some great smashed seppadai ….difficult decision. Darrel, one side, Kanzan and Jittoku looking at the moon on a cloudy night, the other side crickets in presumably their favourite foliage. Those two kinda go together….crickets singing at night? Quite poetic bearing in mind Kanzan was supposedly a poet? Christian, yes indeed it could be although I have seen creeping verdigris that looks similar. However I wonder why you would apply urushi to a Kinko tsuba that doesn’t rust and when it would cover the inlay?? If it was all over then it has worn off presumably natrurally over a long period as the patina is lovely and dark? Peter, again anything is possible but although the encrustation around the rim makes it difficult to be sure I think most if not all of the design remains and does not go off the edge. One or two places is suspect due to obscuration. It is quite common for details to emerge from the edge or disappear off depending on the intended design??

Possibly done with fine cross hatching rather than a punch??

Curran, that’s interesting but way outside my meagre tsuba knowledge . Can you point me at any or tell me where to look? Meantime I’ll hit Google…. Many thanks. Colin

Some common features. Many thanks.

Continuing its examination I think the very light engraving that (almost) follows the inlay outlines has been done later. It would like much better without it ie just silhouettes.

Thanks for looking Darrel Nope. Definitely a solid plate. Agree it is very “unrefined” but plate and the rim are well made. It’s heavy for its modest size (68x65mm) The design seems whimsical …almost childlike. Also in hand the copper patina is much darker. Someone put a lot of time and effort into it imo

Thanks Lee. That’s interesting info and a thought provoking comparison. Thank you for your views. Anything is possible but I’m familiar with mixed metalwork and “in hand” the ageing does not look forced or enhanced. If it is it’s the best I’ve ever seen. One hell of a gifted amateur! It also looks like it has been genuinely mounted several times. This effect is especially convincing? Hmmmm….. Sorry Dale, my seppadai is far more mangled. Yours has just 8 strikes. Cmon, you can do better 🙂🙂

Recently acquired this from a reliable eBay seller. I loved the crickets and it just fascinated me. I thought it worth a closer look. It was sold as ko-Kinko Muromachi and to my eyes it looks a seriously old piece of work. The inlay is not very refined but very deeply done (see the missing moon cavity on the Kanzan and Jittoku side) It is covered in wear and tear.The rim is applied in heavy shakudo. The actual inlay appears dark shibuichi. The patina miraculously looks totally untouched and the build up of oxidation that is creeping from the rim onto the plate is something I’ve never seen before in that thickness. So, what do you all think? Old? How old? Any school? Anything similar? ….and the competition….has anyone got a tsuba with a more mangled seppadai/sekigane?🙂 Thanks for looking. All the best.

Wow that’s the first time I’ve actually heard border force say upfront that they will X-ray and destroy. My sympathies….the sword shipping situation in the UK has ground to a halt.

Uwe….where is image of tsuba? edit. Ignore. Just seen other post.

I guess it’s the old “practice makes perfect”…..although skill levels, eyesight and patience come into the mix. Another question……if the artist made a bad “strike” ie missed his mark was/is there a way of recovering the situation? It must have happened - resulting in an “OSM”

One of ‘em would have to have three legs and two rear-ends🙂

It would be very interesting to see which variety of the above punches were used by the Goto masters in the creation of their very fine nanako. Anyone have any knowledge on that? The one above with 20 recesses on it would be no good when trying to follow the curvature of a tsuba but would work well on a Kozuka. A single punch would work perfectly on a tsuba, (and maybe the triple? Not sure.)

The only shape nanako I’ve ever seen are round…..owned many examples, looked at hundreds in sales, ….tsuba, fuchi kashira, kogai, kozuka etc etc As Ray says, wear on the patina and even more so actual wear to the surface metal can create different illusions. Can anyone show us anything other than round? (Talking true punched nanako, not indented punching)

Blimey Michael, that’s going to get peoples’ attention! We aren’t heading towards another “green paper” crisis are we? My knowledge of Shinsa procedures is minimal as I am not a “papers man” but I have heard whispers about a drop in the expertise of panel members etc…….

I guess you are not referring to swords for sale on this forum?…..because a price is always required here. So, the reasons for “price on request” are various, as follows… 1. It’s vastly overpriced but the dealer doesn’t want everyone to know he is overpricing things 2. The dealer wants to get you to contact him so he can give you a load of b.s**t 3. The dealer wants to figure out who you are, what you can afford qnd why you are interested so that he can then give you the highest price that he thinks matches your budget 4. The dealer thinks he is more important than he really is 5. The dealer does not to reveal the price in case the person he bought it off finds out 6. Or finally he really is a top end dealer who has wonderful things but simply does not wish to reveal the price to everyone and simply wants to talk only to knowledgeable customers who can probably afford it. There are probably a few more that I’ve forgotten 🙂

Re your original tsuba….I’d bet it’s all the same material with the plate having been treated with some type of colouration….possibly black/dark wax to make it look older. Re the new tsuba…..looks brand new. What’s it made from?

Please do not be misled by the above comment re perfection and cleanliness. Many superb tsuba are perfectly clean and in pristine condition so cleanliness and perfection is absolutely no guide to authenticity. The tsuba you show does not look perfect nor clean and is, as Dale says above, an obvious fake. To see what I mean have a look at the tsuba in this upcoming sale. https://www.bonhams....ion-of-Japanese-art/ You will see multiple mixed metal tsuba of seriously fine quality in fantastic condition (sadly all lumped together in multiples) but pay no attention to the estimates. They will make huge money. It is perfectly possible to buy genuine tsuba without spending a lot if that is the gift you wish to give. But know what you are buying…..you were very wise to post it here. Don’t hesitate to do so again.

Well, to my eyes it looks a 20thC cast tsuba with maybe some hand finishing. Made to look flashy but lacking in quality. I really cannot see it being Edo hand carved. I’d vote Showa. Just an opinion, might be wrong.

That’s a new one!🙂

Is this myoga (ginger?) or wasabi. The root section looks like wasabi. Or are they the same thing?

If you like big flash superb metalwork plus a few lovely aikuchi etc…. https://www.bonhams....ion-of-Japanese-art/

I’d go bear for the first one.

Time for a tiger ….

Ain’t that the truth?