Info on a Tsuba

[Mikevorn]

I was hoping someone could give me some assistance identifying a tsuba. I acquired this tsuba in Japan from a reputable antique dealer. They said it was from the late edo period. Unfortunately I can only speak a little Japanese and I couldn't find out any other information on it. I was hoping to get confirmation on the approximate age and what school it might be from. Also does anyone know what type of flower is pictured on the tsuba?

 

I am a new collector and this was kind of an impulse buy.

[christianmalterre]

Sorry-i but definitely can not help you here!

Late Edo-Yes,maybe even Showa?....

 

all the rest of your´s question-Sorry.. (mine favoured Dummy again )

 

Christian

[Mikevorn]

Thanks for the info you do have and taking the time to post

[Soshin]

Hi Mike V.,

 

To me it looks like Meiji Period or maybe early Showa work before World War 2. My best advice is to stop and purchase books on Japanese sword fittings or go to some of websites listed at the top of the forum. Check out my website (link is no my signature) it has many examples of antique Japanese sword guards from different historical periods.

[Mikevorn]

Thanks David,

 

Your site is very informative.

 

Books on fittings are on my reading list, but for the time I am trying to work through the massive amount of nihonto info out there. It seems like the more I read the less I know and the longer the reading list gets....

 

I am a little disappointed it appears to be a Showa period tsuba. The people at tozando assured me it was late edo. Oh well live and learn besides its still a pretty cool souviner.

[Mikevorn]

I thought perhaps the design was a clematis vine. The flower looks like a clematis I have seen on other tsuba, but not sure about the leaves being correct for clematis.

[ROKUJURO]

Mike,

 

maybe your TSUBA will look much nicer as soon as the copper colour of the plants decoration is gone. Someone has messed around with it and polished the surface so it is no longer original. All soft metals with the exception of silver and gold were usually patinated, and probably this TSUBA will gain back a decent look with time (or with a little help from an expert like Ford Hallam).

 

If this is your first TSUBA then it was good for studying and learning. Nothing lost!

[Soshin]

Hi Mike V.,

 

That is also a possibility that the tsuba plate is antique and was cleaned and the decoration were added at a much later date. Either way the tsuba isn't something very collectible in terms of antique Japanese sword fittings. Keep studing my website and others and buy a few books.

 

 

P.S. I recommend the following website: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm. It has a great amount of information and with many fine examples.

[Marius]

And a great site by Richard Turner, with many very fine tsuba:

 

http://kodogunosekai.com/