Tsuba: Please help with identification

[RandomHH]

I have this tsuba in my possession. It has taken me hours just to research the motif. Now I would like to know more precisely what time it belongs to. Maybe the school can also be specified? Unfortunately, everything is spinning in my head by now.

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Barbara

[MauroP]

Hi Barbara,
I'm unsure about the theme, could be snowflake (雪花 - yukibana) or sea cucumber (海鼠 - namako).

The hammered surface (tsuchime-ji) could suggest a katchūshi or Myōchin school (or Shōami, of course...), early to mid Edo period, maybe.
Just my not-so-educated opinion (waiting some more knowledged people would chime in).

[Ford Hallam]

the copper inserts in the tang opening are very strong indicators that this is Suruga work. I see nothing else to contradict that attribution.

[RandomHH]

Thanks a lot, Mauro and Ford, for your answers.
The motif „snowflake“ i found by myself. „Sea cucumber“ was new to me!
And I am happy with the assignment to a school by such a competent person!

 

Barbara

[Bugyotsuji]

Nothing to do with the price of fish, but if you remember Miyamoto Musashi was famous for his Namako/sea cucumber tsuba creations.