A Tsuba That A Friend Gave Me - Rough Age?

[Daddy Cool]

We received a parcel from a friend from Japan today - together with the usual sweets and curiosities he send us at Christmas time, he included this tsuba for me! (having only owned my first sword for a few weeks, I don't know how he even knew I would like this!)

Anyway, he enclosed a note saying that "maybe this is Edo period".

 

Could anyone hazard a guess to the age? And what does it look like that's represented - some leaves?

The diameter is about 65mm by the way.

[MauroP]

The tsuba represent a daikon (大根), a kind of horseradish. Probably middle to late Edo period.

Bye, Mauro

[Daddy Cool]

Thank you!

 

Looks like the same design here, although this is better executed/more delicate:

http://www.trocadero.com/stores/zentner/items/1328088/Japanese-Iron-Tsuba-Daikon-Raddish

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/auction-catalogues/thomas-del-mar-ltd/catalogue-id-srthomasd10001/lot-616b092e-bbc1-4bdb-8658-a41f0107f68c

[Brian]

Hope I'm wrong, but I keep getting a cast vibe in that seppadai.
Hmmm.

Also, pics are upside down. Tsuba always pictured with the edge up
Could be a low level late Edo piece, I would like to see another pic or 2 in brighter light.

[Gunome]

Same feeling as Brian, looks cast for me too.

[Daddy Cool]

Also, pics are upside down. Tsuba always pictured with the edge up

 

Whoops! Every day's a school day!

Heres a couple of pics in natural light, not sure if they are any better though.

 

The fact that this one looks a lot more "basic" in execution than the links I put up - does that suggest casting? What else is a tell-tale sign?

 

And if we agree its cast, what does that mean - that its a modern copy? Or is still Edo-period but just for decoration use rather than fitted to a sword that would see service?

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Chris

 

sorry to be the barer of bad news but I'd confirm what has already been suggested. This is indeed a cast  copy. This means that it's relatively modern, certainly no older than 30 years. The type of technology needed to replicate a tsuba in steel by casting, (making a mould of the original etc.) simply wasn't around in the Edo period.

 

As Brian pointed out the seppa-dai (the oval flat form in the centre) looks 'wrong'. I'd describe it as appearing ever so slightly over inflated, if that makes sense. And the finish on the flat is pretty crude, it ought to be a neat and level plane suitable to be a platform for the seppa and to provide a secure and stable assembly.

 

The edge of the nakago-ana (the tang opening) on the front, left side, shows that the mould didn't fill properly. That 'lumpiness' is a give-away. A similar effect can be seen on the narrow edges of the ryo-hitsu (the two framed opening on each side of the seppa-dai) too.

 

There are other, less easily described, features of the metal surface that add the the overall impression of it being a cast copy.

[Daddy Cool]

sorry to be the barer of bad news but...

Not at all! Thanks for taking the time to explain, its all useful knowledge.

As I said, it was a present received, so I wont tell my Japanese friend all this

[ROKUJURO]

Chris,

if your Japanese friend is not a collector or expert in the vast field of NIHONTO and its accessories, he may have bought the TSUBA in good faith at a very low price. Take it as an empathetic expression of his interest in your hobby! 

[Bazza]

> sorry to be the barer of bad news

 

Beautiful neologism for stripping away the confusion and untruth (noun)!!!

 

BaZZa.

[Ford Hallam]

wittier than I thought.