Tsuba Identification

[RobertM]

Hi all, picked this tsuba up and was wondering on the school and theme? My guess was Shoami, late edo, Balls of silk? 7.8cm, thick and heavy.

 

Many thanks for your opinions

 

Rob M

[b.hennick]

It might have started life as a katchushi tsuba with decorations added later.

[RobertM]

Another pic

[Peter Bleed]

What Barry said.

Peter

[RobertM]

Thanks for your imput chaps, any ideas on what the inlay represent?

 

Rob M

[RobertM]

Sorry to repeat but would the design be bales of silk?

 

Many thanks

[Peter Bleed]

Not bales, I think, more likely spools of thread ready tp be put on weaving shuttles.

Peter

[b.hennick]

What Peter said! 

[ROKUJURO]

As far as I know KO-KATCHUSHI TSUBA are mostly quite thin and can be large. The DOTE MIMI might be a hint for a KATCHUSHI design, but in this case the plate seems relatively recent and not as old as KAMAKURA JIDAI where the beginning of KO-KATCHUSHI TSUBA manufacture is located.