Need Assistance With Tsuba

[cody7]

Am a long term collector of WWII USMC & Airborne but have little knowledge of Japanese swords or accessories.  This Tsuba was included in a small WWII estate that I purchased.  Would appreciate any information related to era and if the letters are that of the maker or ?  Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Bazza]

Unusually (and interestingly) the decoration appears to be lacquer and not metal.  The signature is of the lacquer artisan.

 

BaZZa.

[cody7]

Thank you Bazza, any idea as to era?

[lotus]

Can you provide dimensions (height, width, and thickness) ?

[Grey Doffin]

My best guess: as the lacquer covers part of the seppa-dai (the area that would be invisible under the washers on either side), and because the lacquer would be degraded if this were mounted and because the seppa would be of uneven thickness because of the lacquer, rendering the tsuba impractical for use, this is something that was put together no earlier than late 19th and no later than post war years to be sold to a westerner.  This was a simple iron tsuba that appears to be late Edo at the earliest, that has had the lacquer added later.

Grey

[TETSUGENDO]

Curiously, the combination of the original tsuba, and added decoration, transform it's original purpose from utilitarian object to charm/talisman.  ICBW,  but It doesn't strike me as a tourist item.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[cody7]

Height = 66mm

Width  =  63mm

Thickness = 4.5mm

[cody7]

Thanks for the information, is appreciated.  J