Small collection of Iron Tsuba. Real, Reproduction or Fake?

[Patrick]

Dear Message board members

I just got a small lot of iron tsuba and would like to ask if they are real old items or fake reproductions.

Only one picture posted so as not to waste any ones time if they are obviously junk.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Patrick

[Kantaro]

Most look real to me, but just based on 1 bad picture and not seeing the 2 sides in detail...and I am not an expert but some are here.

[Curran]

2 hours ago, Kantaro said:

Most look real to me, but just based on 1 bad picture and not seeing the 2 sides in detail...and I am not an expert but some are here.

 

Same opinion. Most look real, but 1 image is not great.

Rough look to some of them.

 

 

[Rivkin]

They are not junk. First row are well known old designs, but the execution even in such pictures feels late. XIXth century? Needs to be studied though. The one in the center to me might be the oldiest. The next on the right I would say both particularly late and sloppy.

Overall its real tsubas from not the most expensive pile...

[Spartancrest]

Second row far right - Shoki on the bridge - sorry it is a common casting.

 

      

Bottom row - right, Chidori over waves in katakiribori. The top row look like late revival pieces mostly based on Tosho/Katchusi style models but on a smaller size scale. 

Middle row centre is punched flower or star pattern - I have seen a few and I know a few members have similar ones, still good and original. 

 

 

Edited November 7 by Spartancrest

[Patrick]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

Glad to know some, at least might be original.  I will post pics of better pics.

The first two came from a different shop to the others.  Bought them because they looked interesting, were inexpensive and I was in a hurry.

However, I'm now very suspicious of them because the surface is strangely flaky in places , like they have been in a fire and the detail looks too sharp for them to be old. 

[Patrick]

The rest came in one bundle think it must have been someones small collection.  3, 4 and 5 I thought had some chance of being OK. Spartancrest has kindly confirmed that 6 is junk. Think 7 might be the same as detail is so poor.  It looks like a stone and a mountain. 8 again isn't great it has silver wire inlay but its not done very well.  Sorry that the pictures took up four posts. 

Thanks again for taking the time to look and answer my questions.

[Patrick]

[Rivkin]

I'll hedge not being a tsuba guy, but the first two look like late pieces (clean thick profile, very flat surface without much forging or variation), cut and then artificially aged and purposefully chiseled in a rather rough manner. Datewise... Late Edo to Meiji? Probably.

Edited November 8 by Rivkin

[Patrick]

[cluckdaddy76]

I am skeptical on these other tsuba as well. The open carving is very crude and the plates do not look well made. Color is often misleading in pics, but these all look similar and it looks off to me. Here is an example of one from my collection. Let me know if you can see any differences as to what I have mentioned. This theme I believe is a cherry blossom with snow on top. Your pieces also look very flat where many seem to be slightly concave.

 

Jason

[cluckdaddy76]

Another example of a simple iron tsuba with minimal carving. 

[Spartancrest]

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/405453746331

 

  one with a "fukurin" rim cover https://japantik.com/products/Japanese-tsuba-sword-guard-stunning-masterpiece-signed-edo-original-from-Japan-0610e20-copy-1

 

  

[Spartancrest]

Second row left - sukashi. Myoga ginger plant   茗荷 鍔  slightly more elaborate designs.

 

[ROKUJURO]

16 hours ago, Patrick said:

......I will post pics of better pics.

The first two came from a different shop to the others.  Bought them because they looked interesting, were inexpensive and I was in a hurry.

However, I'm now very suspicious of them because the surface is strangely flaky in places like they had been in a fire and the details look too sharp for them to be old......

Hi Patrick,

I think you are correct with your suspicion that some of the TSUBA had been exposed to high heat. The flaking surface supports that. Generally, there is a lot of corrosion on these TSUBA so I get the impression that they could not be sold in Japan and so went into export.

More details would be visible if the photos were made on a dark background (please see my PM).