Copper Wakizashi Tsuba identification

[TsubaBran]

Hello. First thank you for bearing with me before I begin. I am seeking identification of a copper Wakizashi Tsuba. I am sorry if this is listed in the wrong section. 

Edited November 4 by TsubaBran

[Geraint]

Dear Brandon.

 

Just to get the ball rolling, your tsuba is in copper with a specific technique known as katakiribori describing the engraving.  The first two characters of the signature read Soten, the third is a kao or personal monogram.  If you do some research then you will quickly see that the Soten school has a particular style that became very popular but is very different to your tsuba.  Others with more knowledge of the school will be able to tell us if this is genuine or if the signature is fake.  Either way this is a pleasant tsuba and it will probably have started you down the rabbit hole.

 

Enjoy!

 

All the best

Geraint.

[Nobody]

宗與 – Soyo (Yokoya school)

 

Ref. The Yokoya school in Edo

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Brandon,

If you have a seppa (washer) or, if not, cut a piece of paper to the proper size, place it on the tsuba as it would be if this were mounted on a sword, and ask yourself if you like the tsuba and its design as much as you did before.

Grey

[Geraint]

Thank you for the correction Moriyama san.  That, of course, makes much more sense.

 

All the best.

Geraint

[TsubaBran]

Hello. Thank you all for the thoughtful and thorough replies. I also listed my Tsuba under the Ford Hallem thread with photos concerning this school/artist. I love this brushstroke style. The Tsuba is a near and dear possession of mine. Its definately of the 宗與 – Soyo (Yokoya school) 

[cluckdaddy76]

Here is one of mine with the same style carving

Jason

[cluckdaddy76]

[TsubaBran]

Thank you cluckdaddy76 for sharing that. A beautiful piece. I'm a minimalist myself and the copper Tsuba using "brush stroke" style engraving is exquisitely beautiful to me. Truly capturing another era gracefully. Many thanks again, very best wishes.