Kaneie-Like Iron Tsuba...

[Steve Waszak]

On offer here is what I think is an intriguing tsuba.  It is mumei, but the shape and style of the piece strongly recall Kaneie.  The condition of the iron plate is clearly far from ideal.  However, I have not laid a finger on this guard in terms of attempting any sort of cleaning or removal of the surface "stuff," and there does not appear to be much in the way of actual rust here.  Beneath the material on the surface is some beautifully-hammered iron.  With proper care applied, this could turn out to be a truly striking tsuba.

 

There are several motifs present on this piece.  Of course, the hitsu-ana has been modified into a gourd-shaped aperture.  On the omote, there appear a hat at the bottom of the plate, and what seems to be either a riding crop or a brush of some kind.  On the ura, stylized clouds are present at the top, and a broken branch, I believe, is depicted at the bottom.  A rich black shakudo fukurin envelops the rim.  When tapped, even with all the stuff covering so much of the plate, the tsuba nevertheless responds with a clear, resonant ring. 

 

This swordguard measures 7.8 cm x 7.3 cm.  It is 3mm at the nakago-ana, 3.5mm at the shakudo fukurin. 

 

$390 plus shipping. 

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Steve Waszak]

Big-time Labor Day price drop.  Now $290... 

[Steve Waszak]

Final price drop to $225.