An Ebay pick up

[Chriso]

G'day all. I picked this Tsuba up off ebay a while back, and while I took a fancy to it the seller simply listed it as Asian, around the Edo period. Does anyone have any ideas. I suspect that it is probably fairly new.

Any comments would be greatfully received

 

Regard Chris o

[docliss]

Dear Chris

 

You have requested comments upon your recently acquired tantŠtsuba and, in the absence of any other replies — possibly because of a wish not to cause you any offence — here goes.

 

Your tsuba is an example of poor quality work called Nagoya-Mono, which was manufactured in large quantities in Owari during the C19. The image of figures with a bell, water and a bridge may represent the story of Hidesato, who was presented with a number of gifts, including a bell, by the Dragon King after slaying the giant centipede.

 

The features which point me toward a Nagoya-Mono attribution are as follows:

• the pigmentation of the metal, which lacks the black colour of shakudÅ and which many believe not to be shakudÅ, but to be treated with a black pigment which wears off over the seppa-dai;

• the irregular shape of the kozuka-hitsu;

• the indifferent quality of the nanako, most clearly seen in the lower part of the tsuba on your first image;

• the presence of the circular punch marks around the nakago-hitsu, which are a common feature on this group of tsuba;

• and the rather crude depiction of the figures.

 

I hope, however, that you continue to get pleasure from your purchase, and that this note will help you to recognise tsuba of this group in the future.

 

Regards, John L.

[Brian]

John,

And they say I am the diplomatic one :lol:

Thanks for that. It's true that many don't want to reply if the news is not good, however as you have pointed out, we need to to get over that in the interests of education. Well put.

 

Brian

[Chriso]

John and Brian

 

You shouldn't be worried about causing offense, this is the type of feedback that I'm after, I can get the condescending stuff anywhere.

 

I really do appreciate your comments, how else am I going to learn, mind you I still like the piece.

 

I intend to post other bits and pieces to the forum as they come to hand, and I hope you will take the opportunity to comment honestly as I value your input. Hopefully though I will make better choices regarding quality.

 

Regards, best wishes and thanks

 

Chris