Tsuba Help

[jawob]

I know next to nothing about tsuba. This piece came with a koshirae. It is signed Ishiguro Masatsune, gimei, not even close to his work. Any idea what I have? Thanks Jeff

 

 

Edited Friday at 02:47 PM by jawob
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[jawob]

[jawob]

[ROKUJURO]

Jeff,

I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I do not find much positive to say about this. While the MEI seems to be chiseled surprizingly well, all that remains is difficult to categorize. I hesitate to call this a TSUBA, and I doubt it was made in Japan. 

[jawob]

Jean, No feelings hurt and glad you chimed in. Also glad that you confirm my own thoughts that this is a strange tsuba but the mei looks like good work? To the scrap pile?

[ROKUJURO]

Jeff,

just lowest drawer! Keep it to scare the children!  

[Geraint]

Dear Jeff.

 

It is not uncommon for tsuba reproductions to be cast in brass then covered with a dark patina which is strategically polished off to reveal a goden colour.  It seems that this might be the case here judging by the colouration around the nakago ana.

 

All the best.

[Matsunoki]

What a strange one. As said, the Mei looks reasonably well cut (but I’m not a calligraphy expert) but the seppadai suggests to me that it’s actually been mounted, more than once. 

[Exclus1ve]

Mei doesn't look high-quality, just scratched. I think it's a cast brass tsuba from the 20th century, which was nevertheless put on some kind of sword. Not looking for a lot of meaning in this product…

[Exclus1ve]

1 hour ago, Geraint said:

Dear Jeff.

 

It is not uncommon for tsuba reproductions to be cast in brass then covered with a dark patina which is strategically polished off to reveal a goden colour.  It seems that this might be the case here judging by the colouration around the nakago ana.

 

All the best.

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

[jawob]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that this is brass and looks to have been laquered at some point as well. The sword that came with this koshirae is late edo, would cast brass tsuba be found in this era? 

[ROKUJURO]

Jeff,

brass TSUBA are always cast or pre-cast and then worked on, and yes, they existed in EDO JIDAI in very good and fine quality.
Your TSUBA does not belong to a KOSHIRAE. At best, it was made by a hobbyist and is less than 20 years old. The maker may have seen an image of a TSUBA with the theme of "Monkey Mountain". 

Please have a look at many authentic TSUBA ( nihontowatch.com ) and compare.

[jawob]

Just wanted to make sure before improving my discus throwing