tsuba info

[Guest nickn]

please may i have some information on this tsuba its 2 1/4"x 2 5/16"

[Guest nickn]

2

[docliss]

Dear Nick

 

The tsuba that you have posted is an example of what are incorrectly called in the West gomoku-zÅgan tsuba, and are more correctly called hokori-yoshirÅ (dust or dirt inlay) tsuba.

 

There are two main types of these, the first consisting of tiny snippets of brass wire affixed, at random, to an iron base and considered by some to represent twigs in a stream. The second type, of which yours is an example, consists of irregularly plaques of brass similarly treated, and these may represent clouds or melting snow.

 

Most of this group of tsuba were produced at Yokohama for export, and are little more than 100 years old.

 

Regards, John L.

[Guest nickn]

thanks john

the tsuba came on a gemei masayuki (kajihei) dated 1848 nodachi ,33" cutting edge, the fuchi kashira had a similar motif with the inlayed brass looking like snow flakes the saya had one pocket for a kogai which was present silver with gold swirl patterns the sword had the look of being together for a long time could the tsuba date to the 1850`s?

[docliss]

Possibly yes Nick, but the nakago-hitsu does show very little sign of prolonged use. Additionally, the tsuba was intended to be worn with a kozuka and kogai, although it was probably an 'over the counter' purchase that happened to have both ryo-hitsu present when bought. John.