for people who like old iron thingies

[Bungo]

I am not totally convinced it's snow. What other alternative could it be ( the thicker one with outline, tsubako forgotten to finish the sukashi ? )?

There are traces of lacquer on the flat surface and mimi.

 

I think the tsuba could be either Kyo-Shoami or ko-shoami, early edo or Momoyama ( a similar theme, kasa , tsuba is listed in Sano Museum catalog as muramachi period Shoami )

 

 

milt the ronin

[John A Stuart]

Hi Milt, Combined with the parasol definitely precipitation (snow), I would suspect the left side is finished as the kogaiana is fully formed. I believe that it is the desire to be unbalanced, that is why the snow flakes are different, that motivated the tsubako. John

[Rich T]

tsuba Milt, and I agree with John, I think also it is snow with the Kogai Hitsuana being the actual only hitsu ana, the other snow flake is a balanced decoration, just as John said. This looks like a large ish tsuba ? and if for a katana, then possibly only ever carried a Kogai.

 

Old Shoami sprung to mind as well but then I remembered that style of parasol on a tsuba in the Mr Aotsu Yasutoshi catalogue (see below)

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/image/00018_01.jpg

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/html/00018.html

 

It is attributed to Kyo Sukashi but when I held it in my hand, I thought Owari immediately, heavy in tekkotsu and a rich and dark glossy patina.

 

Still, the carving on yours makes me feel Shoami, but the iron has a soft and pleasing look that makes me think of one of the Owari groups. I think though at the end of the day, with the bori on the parasol, and the raised edge on the hitsu ana, I would settle for one of the Shoami groups. I may be wrong of course, but it is very nice Milt.

 

Cheers

 

Rich