Diamond In The Rough, Or Junk

[lonely panet]

hi guys, cuzzin the Fleabays and a tusba got my attention. (I can hear the groans but hear me out please)

 

its appears to be cast bronze/brass with a coat of urushi, simular to the ko-kinko of the late muromachi.

 

or am I just wanting it to be that. maybe just late edo tourist junk.

 

can I ask for some second opinions please

[Ford Hallam]

well if it's brass it's unlikely to be any earlier than late Momoyama.

 

It might be bronze....but that'd be unusual/rare, especially in such a light openwork piece.

 

I doubt it's even Edo period, imo a more likely pretty recent reproduction. hard to say why in a forum post but it just doesn't look right however it's described.

 

Besides, ebay, apparently ancient tsuba 'treasure' without papers....not likely. And I'm guessing out of Japan too.

[Greg F]

I dont think its a diamond in the rough but for the price its going for you cant expect too much especially when they dont have a proper description. They seem to get mostly modern made stuff thats aged or bad condition.This seller has had some questionable items. Hopefully others will chime in to help you decide. All the best.

 

Greg

[ROKUJURO]

Hamfish,

it is difficult to add anything revealing after Ford has given his opinion, but if the TSUBA in question was not aged artificially, it may have seen some proper use on a sword. If these traces of wear and use, especially on the SEPPA-DAI, are genuine, it may have more years on the calendar than you would expect from a very late production. The design has OWARI elements, but the MIMI is rounded, so together with the fact that it is made from soft metal, it was very probably not made by any of the famous TSUBA schools.