Could this be a cast tsuba?

[historian2]

Here is a tsuba that i am not sure of. Sure could use some help

on this one. Could it be a cast copy?

[Ford Hallam]

Yes, it's a cast copy. The seam lines in the openings are very obvious give-aways. The copper plugs in the tang opening were added after casting from what I can make out. It's quite a decent cast though but unlikely to be antique...yet

[historian2]

Thank you for the help, any other opinions on this tsuba.

[Michael 101]

Unlikely to be cast - the lines visible inside the nakago ana may well be fold lines. A good test is to hold at the centre between finger and thumb and tap it with a pencil, iron non cast tsuba ring cast give a dead sound due to the imperfections. A picture of the mimi (outer edge) would be helpful.

 

Regards

Michael

[historian2]

I did the test with the pencil and it does ring, no dead sound. Here is a pic of the outer rim.

Thanks for the imput, these tsubas can be tricky. I have alot to learn..

[cspage]

And now, inevitably, could we please have a peek at the dragon and vegetation motif? While it probably would not resolve the issue in question, it would be nice to see.

 

Thank you for this question, by the way. I have posed the same a couple of times and the debates between the experts are always interesting and helpful. Not always conclusive, though.

 

Thanks,

Colin

 

P.S. Could you please sign your posts so when replying we can address you properly? (I realize the moderator of the site should be saying this, but I find it awkward to question you without addressing you) Thank you so much. CSP.

[historian2]

ok,Here is a shot of the front.Can anyone tell what school this maybe from.

Erich

[Brian]

Your pic A5 clearly shows a casting seam, and this cannot be mistaken for a fold or anything else. Hence Ford's confident call.

I have a similar (but non-cast) tsuba, but in mixed metals. Is your dragon all in iron and appearing to be part of the tsuba surface?

 

Brian

[historian2]

Yes it is part of the surface.Erich

[Goldy]

G'day Erich,

 

I have a tsuba with a seam as well, check out this post:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2620&p=18656#p18656

 

I think the differenece is that your seam protrudes a somewhat tiny bit into the nakago-ana. It seems (no pun intended) that not all tsuba with a visible seam are cast, I certainly trust Ford's and Richard's (Richard S from my thread) experience and advice.

 

Cheers,