kaigunair Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Picked this one up recently (probably seen by many), which is in need of a good cleaning. Probably opening up a can of worms, but am looking for some opinions on what I plan to do to clean it up. This is a very large tsuba, which I believe is properly described as a hamamono tsuba - made for export and usually placed with important edo era names (so gimie?), named so b/c a great quantity of these came from Yokohama. Signed 菊岡光政, mitsumasa kikuoka, and also what I believe is 文化三貴初秋 . The 4th kanji (in combo with 3rd) is throwing me off, at it might be 寅(tiger)? I don't quite understand the meaning, but its something to the effect of culture ??? early autumn. Not sure if its 3 tigers, or "Miki". Looked for Japanese artwork about a tiger hunt but can't match it. I know I'm missing something here.... Since this is hamamoto and signature is most likely gimie, I feel ok about trying to do some light cleaning. I bought it because I enjoyed the fine details of the copper figures and the moon scene in reverse. I'm guessing it was stored with the main scene up and then covered by something which trapped in moisture. I didn't realize how large this tsuba would be! Most pressing part is the presence of verdigris which I want to get off asap. Initial Proposed steps to clean: (plug nakago ana with candle wax first) 1) Distilled water in ultrasonic cleaner (holds approximately 2 quarts ) 2) Distilled water plus 3 tablespoons of white vinegar in ultrasonic cleaner (very light acid) 3) Distilled water plus baking soda in ultrasonic cleaner (very light base) Anyone with experience cleaning brass and copper tsuba that can offer helpful comment would be much appreciated. Will try to have thick skin for all the rest.... Quote
kaigunair Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Many of the cleaning tips I've come across are aimed at iron tsuba. Does ivory/bone scraping apply to brass and copper or are these metals too soft for that sort of treatment? I need to find some old brass door knobs or pipes to experiment with.... Quote
Alan Morton Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Junichi DON'T Touch IT With Any Thing, what ever you do will remove or change the patina such as it is at the moment. Brian did an excellent post recently on his shinchu/brass tsuba restored fabulously by Ford Hallam. Your very good tsuba needs the best of care Alan Quote
Alan Morton Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Junichi sorry it was a copper tsuba ,same differance about destroying patina Before and after - Ford Hallam repatination Al Quote
kaigunair Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Posted January 20, 2013 Hi Al, Will search for that thread. I totally understand about not wanting to restore this to a shiny new brass/copper look, but I think it looks pretty horrible with the current level of corrosion. It makes it really hard to appreciate the workmanship with the current level of discoloration. The verdigris will also cause damage if not removed.... ...read the thread. very nice repatination work and being katakiribori work probably make it alittle easier. My understanding is that the somin tsuba had electroplated gold which needed to be removed, hence also the need to repatinate, but would this hamamono also need to be repatinated....? -Junichi Quote
Ford Hallam Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 Thanks Alan, for the kind recommendation Junichi while this is clearly a tsuba made for display only and not the domestic market I wouldn't rush to dismiss it as 'hamamono'. The mei is probably 'wrong' but it is fairly well and confidently cut. It'd need a bit more scrutiny to make a more definite judgement. You can compare it to the sample below, from an NBTHK Hozon certified kozuka. There are some clear differences but a broader sample range would be more reliable. The workmanship on the tsuba is reasonably good, not at all the work of a dock-side hack. The condition, on the other hand is pretty poor. There is in fact no trace of original patina remaining. The discoloration of the shakudo leaves and the remaining copper is merely tarnish. Judging by the quite severe outbreak of verdigris and loss of original patina I'd suggest that it was at some point completely stripped of colour by means of a mild acid pickle. Residual traces of the acid readily cause verdigris to develop. I've seen this too many times on Meiji period export ware where, after many years of neglect and a build up of grime and tarnish, some ill advised person has sought to revive the metal work by getting it all shiny and bright again. It is possible to restore the tsuba to close to it's original condition but it might prove impractical to completely eliminate all traces of those unsightly spotted blemishes. What has happened there is that the alloy has selectively corroded leaving behind a dissimilar composition to the unaffected ground. Typically the zinc is more readily sacrificed leaving a more copper rich alloy behind. This difference in make up will result in a difference in patina colour to some degree, depending on the depth of the corrosion. The copper figures may have had details electroplated in gold and silver. Anyway, hope some of that is if interest or use. regards, Ford Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 20, 2013 Report Posted January 20, 2013 文化三貴初秋 The three literary treasures of early autumn. What are they? Fresh water, spring moon, blossoms?? John Quote
kaigunair Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Posted January 21, 2013 Ford, Thank you very much for the explanation regarding the oxidation problems. It is very helpful. I am trying to figure out how to proceed, but will probably drop you a PM . I did come across several examples of the signature, and am waiting for my copy of wakayama. It would be nice if it wasn't gimie, but I'm happy with the design. I can't believe how detailed the copper figures are. I think I can make out a form of a menuki on the sword (or a very conveniently placed raised line). All the robes have designs. The bit in the horse's mouth, the reins, mane, details on the part of the saddle peaking out from under the noble, texture on the hats, all this is there in detail. The only wear (shiny copper) on the copper figures I can see is on the nose tips of both the mounted rider and the page, alittle on the reins, and on the tips of the right front robe of the page and possible on the mounted rider. I actually hope that this wasn't at one time electroplated with more color....what a loss that would be! John, Thanks so much for the translation...don't think I every would have arrived at that. Will do research... Quote
kaigunair Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Posted January 21, 2013 John, looks like these are kigo references! And this is possibly a scene depicting a momijigari! From Wiki: Kigo (季語 "season word"?) (plural kigo) is a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry. Kigo are used in the collaborative linked-verse forms renga and renku, as well as in haiku, to indicate the season referred to in the stanza. They are valuable in providing economy of expression. For Autumn (early autumn being August): 1) Moon (tsuki): all autumn (August–October), and moon-viewing (tsukimi) mid-autumn (September): the word "moon" by itself is assumed to be a full moon in autumn. (Moon-viewing and leaf-viewing (momijigari) in autumn (along with snow-viewing (yukimi) in winter and cherry blossom-viewing (hanami or sakuragari) in spring) are common group activities in Japan.) 2) Colored leaves (momiji): late autumn (October)—a very common topic for haiku along with related topics such as the first colored leaves (hatsu momiji) mid-autumn, shining leaves (teri momiji) late autumn, leaves turning color (usumomiji) mid-autumn, and leaves start to fall (momiji katsu chiru) late autumn. Leaf-viewing (momijigari) is a common group activity. 3) Grapes (budō) are examples of fruit that are used as autumn kigo. river could represent the milky way: Milky Way (amanogawa, literally, "river in the heaven"), because in the autumn it is most visible in Japan. It is associated with Tanabata. Looking at the leaves closely, I see that there are lots of little dot clusters next to the leaves...i.e. grapes! Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 21, 2013 Report Posted January 21, 2013 Makes perfect sense. Grapes indeed! John Quote
Brian Posted January 23, 2013 Report Posted January 23, 2013 Junichi, For the low cost of EMS postage...I would really send it off to Ford for a closer opinion, and if it were me, I would leave it in his capable hands for a quote. Looks worth the effort to me. Nothing you can do yourself on this one. Brian Quote
kaigunair Posted January 23, 2013 Author Report Posted January 23, 2013 Junichi,For the low cost of EMS postage...I would really send it off to Ford for a closer opinion, and if it were me, I would leave it in his capable hands for a quote. Looks worth the effort to me. Nothing you can do yourself on this one. Brian wise advice already ahead of you with details worked out yesterday. great minds... I am suprised at how expensive EMS is relative to USPS 1st class (x5), and yet our postal system is still on the verge of bankrupcy. The blame should go squarely to the management and marketing, not the lowly postal workers, since it was the top brass who probably blew a lot of $$$ sponsoring so many athletes, including the likes of lance armstrong...I never knew why a monopoly needed such high profile sponsorships but I digress.... Quote
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