Two New Daisho Tsuba Found In Shimane

[Christophe]

Hi every one,

I found yesterday this two daisho tsuba, the first dragon pattern, the second philosopher or thinker watching a constellation. both are signed.
The seller told me they were silver plated. How do I clean them? The products found in stores make me a little afraid, the traditional method with lemon + salt ............. is it not too aggressive?
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanking you all in advance.
Christophe

 

[obiwanknabbe]

No acids... EVER!!  Warm water and mild soap. Use your fingers or a super soft cloth... lightly.  No abrasives of any kind. Doing so guarantees a messed up tsuba and money down the drain.

 

Kurt K

[Guido]

Sorry for being so blunt, but that six year old Ford mentioned in another thread seems to have a younger brother who also makes tsuba.

[Christophe]

Thanks Kurt

Guido, could you develop ?  (Edit Admin - I think he means elaborate)

[Guido]

Christophe, the mei looks like it was scratched on with a sharp tool, and the Chinese sage (?) like made from play-dough and glued on. The workmanship is simply awful, and I even wouldn't be surprised if they were cast in China. Sorry.

 

I know that Shimane is as inaka as it gets (with the possible exception of Tottori), but living in Japan, you should have ample opportunity to look at quality items, and compare them with what you posted here.

[Thierry BERNARD]

the first one is signed seiryuken eiju ( you can make a search on the board or google it ) but it's not a great one!

 

for ref http://www.espace4.com/en/collections/nagamarugata-iron-tsuba-dragon-among-clouds/

[Christophe]

Thanks Bernard.

[Christophe]

Guido,

I agree without be completely with your opinion. The signature on this stuba look like scratche with a sharp tool, I agree, it's appears to be a poor attempt to emulate someone's name, and as you can see, it differs from the second tsuba .Regarding the fact that it's a cast chinese tsuba, I do not agree. I begin to clean it and the character is neither glue or weld but inlay on the plate, as the constellation.If you look more carefully to the rest of the pattern,  the work for the Matsu is thin and well made, hand make like the waves. But I agree with you again  when you say that it's not the finest piece I see in Japan.
The 10, I will see a Japanese friend to examine it with me and let you know the verdict.
 

[SteveM]

The set with the Chinese sage: April, 1976 

 

 

[Christophe]

Thanks very very much for the help, Steve.