Steve Waszak Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 Offered is a maru-gata tsuba whose motif is the Chinese Zodiac expressed in beautifully-rendered kanji. The characters are manifested via an etching process in the iron. The skill required to manipulate the etching in order to achieve such classically expressive calligraphic characters in so sensitive a fashion is truly remarkable. The Zodiac motif is present on both sides of the sword guard. The plate itself comes across as quite dense, as the tsuba is heavy for its size. The etching process also reveals subtle ripples in the surface of the plate in some areas, indicating the construction method (see close-up photo). The hitsu-ana are carefully crafted, being well-placed and sized. Measuring 7.6cm and 3.5mm in thickness, the tsuba boasts a deep blue-black color. These etched sword guards have not received sufficient study, even in Japan, it seems. Many of them, such as the present example, are of a quality that invites focused scholarship. The lack of such scholarship makes it challenging to estimate a period of production here, but I believe this guard fits into an early-Edo Period (17th-century) dating. $350, plus shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Waszak Posted February 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 A few more images in different lighting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Waszak Posted February 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 And the close-up of the rippled plate: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christianmalterre Posted February 24, 2021 Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 PM from me Steve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Waszak Posted February 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 Tsuba is SOLD. Congratulations to the buyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissakai Posted February 24, 2021 Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 Missed that one Steve (still in bed) I have a Namban version but mine has two constellations on the back Nice tsuba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean Posted February 25, 2021 Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 Congrats to Christian👏👌 Steve is a fantastic early iron tsuba collector and his tsuba are first rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Waszak Posted February 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 Thanks, Jean. Grev, sorry you missed that one. But there is more to come, as I am rearranging my collection a bit, so be on the lookout! Cheers, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissakai Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Lets hope I'm not in bed again It went to a very good home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christianmalterre Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 Thank you! yepp....good home i think...thank you Grev- those are very kind words!....and do hurry you for the Sadahiro before i will hurry myself again.... Steve is a good old Tsuba collectors friend...since many years....and i just do second Jean here in full heart! me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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