Mark C Posted March 15 Report Share Posted March 15 Hi All, This tsuba is from my latest sword buy, Would be nice to try and identify it. As I know very little regarding tsuba, Could I please ask for a little help? Material - soft (Copper?) Width - 2.5" Height - 2 7/8" Subject - I believe it is a heron over waves with sea shells. The nanako isn't the best I've seen. Thanks in advance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauroP Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 Hi Mark, your tsuba looks legit to me, possibly a ko-kinkō piece made in nigurome. Unfortunately the golden coloring seems an amatourish attempt to revitalize a weared gilt. All the best, Mauro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartancrest Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 The bird reminds me more of a Mandarin duck. But what would a duck be doing at sea? I am not sure what this bird is, duck body, seagull head? Mark does your guard have a fukurin or is it all the same material with carved integral rim? Also is the opposite side the same design? Could it be Sanmai? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C Posted March 16 Author Report Share Posted March 16 Thanks Dale and Mauro, Tsuba does have a fukurin and is non magnetic. I have looked at the inside of the Nakago ana and can see evidence of three layers so i would say construction is sanmai. Opposite side below: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartancrest Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 Thanks Mark, the ura view gives me even more confidence the bird is a duck - short legs, upturned tail and wing tips. I wonder if other examples with this pattern will turn up? Maybe not this particular one [Hokusai might not be impressed!] 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauroP Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 鴛鴦図鐔 - oshidori no zu tsuba from https://blog.goo.ne....1d33ed38de37dc7ff5ed 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 The first ‘mirror-image’ sanmai tsuba might be by a Kagami-shi. Oshidori are almost always shown in pairs as a symbol of marital fidelity. A loving married couple might be described as ‘oshidori fūfu’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodenbacher Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Here is my very similar San Mai Tsuba with a pair of ducks on one side. On the other side there is only a single duck shown. Also note the rather worn gilding at this one. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodenbacher Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C Posted March 17 Author Report Share Posted March 17 Thanks Everyone, I have learnt a lot regarding this tsuba. On the subject of ducks, could the other shape be a Diving duck? I only say this as I have read that normally they are in pairs and on my tsuba I only have one complete duck on each side plus one of each shape?. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodenbacher Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 I don't think so. As you can see on the one side of my Tsuba, it was unusual but not completely impossible to depict a single duck. I can't see any proof of a diving duck in your Tsuba. The other shapes shown there are depictions of clams, shells and mussels. A very common topic at this period for describing a seashore, like at this one here: 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Peter, when you say 'at this period' do you mean a specific time, or generally within the Edo Period, for example? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodenbacher Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 I mean the Momoyama and Muromachi period, later in the Edo period the depiction of mussels etc. became more realistic. (But there are exceptions, as always...) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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