Scarlet

[Scarlet]

Need help in identifying this Tsuba. Have looked online and I’m unable to find something similar.

[SteveM]

Hello, the tsuba says 宗典 (Sōten). No doubt it is trying to be the famous maker/school of the same name, but I think you should assume it is a false signature. 

[PietroParis]

The "soft" contours of the decoration suggest a cast piece.

[Spartancrest]

Welcome Katie to NMB.

Sorry to say I have seen a few like it, the signature does not match the style of Soten. For what it is worth the quality of your piece is better than average.

 

Hope you didn't pay a fortune, I think most collectors here on the forum have bought something similar in the past [I know I did!] Something to study and learn from - I still have mine 40 years on!  

PS. They are still antique - over 100 years old

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/155554001232

[Larason2]

I don't think its cast, but the soft contours of the strokes of the signature and the lower quality of the  carving suggest a lower quality copy. So I agree with SteveM probably Gimei (false signature). Dale, I like yours!

[Spartancrest]

17 minutes ago, Larason2 said:

Dale, I like yours!

That one isn't mine, it is on ebay as we speak. Just an example. 

 

It is considerably cheaper over on Jauce/Buyee/Yahoo etc. https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1075947131  or  https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/d1075947131

[PietroParis]

I can clearly see casting bubbles on the eBay example, and I have no reason to believe that the one in the original post is any different.

[Larason2]

I agree with you I see casting bubbles on the ebay one. However, that doesn't mean the other one is cast! You have to examine each piece separately, in my opinion. I don't see any casting bubbles or sprue marks on the first one.

[PietroParis]

The pictures of the first one are blurry and show only one side, they might mask the most obvious defects. The overall impression is of a cast piece, and it is reinforced by the fact that Dale could quickly show an identical piece (one out of many, it seems) that is even more obviously cast. The owner can of course cling to the hope that hers is the only original, or she can make 2+2...

[Spartancrest]

I was wondering if that tsuba was based on "Shoki at the bridge"?  Most designs are taken from known pieces.

 https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/inlaid-iron-tsuba-depicting-shoki-at-a-bridge-dia-1137-c-dc88492dd3

[Geraint]

Dear Dale.

 

I'm sure you are right, you can see the ken on each of the pieces in the post held downward against Shoki's leg.

 

All the best.

[Larason2]

Pietro, I don't want to call anything cast if there's no evidence. It has evidence that it's not a high quality piece, and I think that is enough to say.

[Spartancrest]

27 minutes ago, Geraint said:

the ken on each of the pieces in the post held downward against Shoki's leg

Now I know the theme there are a few designs - I don't know what specific part of Shoki's story it portrays though?

 

[Spartancrest]

On 5/16/2023 at 4:48 AM, Scarlet said:

Have looked online and I’m unable to find something similar.

I found these from past auctions on Worthpoint - https://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/search

You need to know what you are looking for - Shoki in this case. https://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/search?offset=0&query=tsuba+shoki&sort=BestMatch&saleLocation=WORLDWIDE&restrictTo=worldwide&_searchByTitle=true&_img=false&img=true&_noGreyList=false&noGreyList=true   it comes out with 109 possibles. Just asking for tsuba you will get 83,841 to sort through, a task I don't recommend!

 

 

Two more turn up under "bridge" search along with some of the others already seen.

 

[Spartancrest]

Add one more "Shoki" https://www.jauce.com/auction/f1093333549  or  https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/f1093333549