Exclus1ve

Hello! I came across such a tsuba as a bonus, I would like to know more. What are your thoughts?

Greetings to all once again! Yes, these are different parts. Firstly, the metal is different, and secondly, the technique is too different. However, I also found a pair for Fuchi from this set(as I realized, it was lost). Kirill, I can understand why it resembles the Hamano school. A really similar technique on Fuchi. I found a more interesting example by Hamano. https://ginzaseikodo.com/product/fittings/shozui/ At the same time, it became clear with the theme of the New Year. Does anyone have any examples Ukiyo-e with this theme?

Thank you very much, Andi! Useful information, it will also be interesting to compare it with Japanese production.

I must have expressed myself poorly. The materials are standard, with no changes to the traditional design. The question is about the construction of the base(lodgement) of the case itself. I just need someone who has a box with a similar structure to take a photo of the case from the inside.

It’s not mine, I just used a photo. If anyone has a similar Kiri box with the same insert, could you take it out and show the back side?

The original iron tsuba. Just poor quality, maybe someone's initial work)

Have a good time, everyone! I would like to make individual inserts for a kiri box for some of my fuchi/kashira sets. I have no questions about the menuki and the tsuba — I found old threads where everything is described and shown in detail. But could someone show the insert of this sample from the inside? How is it constructed and from what materials?

I can’t help but agree with Colin. You definitely shouldn't do anything, especially in such an “indelicate” way. Firstly, rust removers completely “eat up” the top layer of the tsuba metal, and patina no longer forms on it. Secondly, you should not use oils like WD-40, as they are hygroscopic and contain aggressive additives. And if you remove the natural plaque around the inserts, the tsuba as a whole will look much less attractive…

This copy doesn’t have a signature, but it’s nicely aged)

The theme that I have attached above, in my opinion, gives an idea of what and how it was done. To be specific, it's a fake, a copy! At least because this product has nothing to do with the Soten school and its followers, the manual work here is minimal, as a rule, only fine-tuning and refinement. The exact date and place of production will not change its essence in any way, because the production process itself and the quality are distinguishable from manual labor. Just a cast coloring…

Everything has already been said correctly here. It's from the same series, I think: Sometimes they were even cast, and then they were finished manually. It usually has no value, they were made in large numbers with minimal labor costs. An imitation of the Soten school, but in this case the signature does not play any role.

I can only see gilding, not inlay. However, the feathers on the belly look like shakudo inlay. Is it possible to take clearer photos from different angles? Here is a good example of gold inlaying on the spots on the body. At first glance, it seems simple, but it is actually quite elegant. However, I can see that the eyes are covered with gold, especially on the second pair.

The question of the high content of gold in this alloy is still open. A similar "black" color can be achieved with a gold content of only 0.5% in the alloy (the effect is provided by arsenic). Usually, there is a little more gold in a dark, rich black-blue color.

Jack, Kirill, thank you for the comments! I think it's a gimei because the quality of the artwork could be better, and the signature is particularly crooked and unexpressive. Otherwise, it seems to be a popular theme among artists, and maybe someone has more examples?

And Soten School with same theme

Signed Sekijoken Taizan Motozane https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-tsuba-signed-sekijoken-taizan-motozane-and-kao

A more famous and high-quality work by Hagiya Katsuhira

Hello! Recently, I had the opportunity to see and examine F/K works by the Mito school in person. The work is of medium quality, but I would still like to know the name of the artist. Additionally, someone could provide detailed information about the depicted scene.

The quality of the nanako is quite good at first glance on your kozuka. If possible, take better photos from different angles and in larger sizes.

Hello! I found a similar signature(mei) https://asahitoken.jp/contents/02_tosogu/details/tosogu-KZ/KZ084.html The author of Nao Kinao is Shoji Nara. According to the gold engineering book, Masatsugu is apparently a doujin with Masashiki, a disciple of Nara Masanaga, and is a metalworker in the mid-Edo period.

In this case, gilding is used. A gold emulsion is created, which is then heated until it turns red and hardens. This is a common method of gilding, as it uses less precious metal. Smaller elements are often inlaid. Large gold inserts are usually inlaid in exceptional-quality works. Sometimes, a thin gold plate is inlaid, and then the carving is applied to it. Often, you can distinguish the gilding from the pure insert by its color, as the patina on such parts, especially those that have been worn, is different and gives it away. I also recommend watching more Ford Hallam videos to gain a better understanding of the manufacturing processes for various Tosogu parts.

Although, considering that this is a ko-kinko, you must be right! https://www.bonhams.com/auction/22248/lot/1207/a-ko-kinko-tsuba-edo-period-18th-century/ In any case, it was interesting to compare!

Hello! I've also done some research on my Soten tsuba set. I'm inclined to believe that your tsuba was made by a follower of Soten with their own unique style. There are noticeable differences in the way the pine tree is drawn, with its more elongated needles(with an Italian accent)) joke), which is not as common in the Soten school. Additionally, the tops of the waves have a concave point, whereas Soten often uses a round point, and the overall style of the waves is different. A similar plot, I suppose) The precise depictions of the clans are also not typical of Soten, and I really appreciate this detail on your tsuba! I also found a potential pair that is slightly smaller in size, both in appearance and in terms of the additional seki gane insert. Best regards Viktor