Request for advice on a namako style sukashi tsuba

[Kiko]

Hello everyone!

I’ve been quite keen on sayū-ō-sukashi lately; a particular guard has caught my eye over the past few days, but I’m struggling to form an opinion regarding its condition relative to the price.

If you’re interested, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1219657782

 

Edited June 28 by Kiko
link added

[MauroP]

70000 JPY is not exactly a bargain, especially since you also have to add a 20% intermediation fee. Moreover, the hakogaki by Satō Kanzan was likely written for a different tsuba, as it describes a kawari-gata (unusual-shaped) guard.

[Kiko]

Thanks a lot for your help, Mauro!
I have friends on the ground handle my purchases and bidding, so there are no added costs; however, I’m really upset about this hakogaki situation, so, I’m going to pass on this seller. Thanks again!

[Exclus1ve]

I don't really see the value of a hakogaki unless it was written by the master himself or one of his direct successors. The object itself should always come first. Even Kanzan said that his signature was often forged, so I wouldn't pay much attention to it - it's just calligraphy)

https://markussesko.com/2025/04/09/fake-sato-kanzan-sayagaki/

[Bugyotsuji]

Pleasing design, the seller’s description sounds fair, and if you collect Hayashi tsuba then it’s not out of the ballpark.

[Kiko]

Viktor, Piers, thanks for your comments!

 

To be clear, I’m not really interested in hakogaki, but I find that mentioning Kanzan’s name in the lot description borders on a scam; I am convinced the seller is capable of reading the inscription and understanding that the tsuba is not of the kawari-gata type.

 

On another note, after spending a few months participating in Japanese online auctions—partly to make up for the cancellation of one of my two annual trips—a seller cancelled an auction I had won for the first time yesterday, and it’s got me feeling a bit touchy. Mind you, I was aware of this practice—as well as the tactic where sellers use a buyer account to artificially drive up the bids—but I’m still taking it personally!

 

In any case, the tsuba remains very pleasing, and I notice that none of you seems to find its condition too problematic given the price. I will therefore likely let my mood settle for a few days before making an irrevocable decision.

[FlorianB]

Is it Hayashi at all? Hayashi would have made a more precise symmetry.
Here I see discrepancies in the axes and askew hanabishi.

I would suppose it’s Shoami. They made such kidney-shaped openings, too.

Edited June 30 by FlorianB

[MauroP]

3 hours ago, FlorianB said:

Is it Hayashi at all? Hayashi would have made a more precise symmetry.
Here I see discrepancies in the axes and askew hanabishi.

I would suppose it’s Shoami. They made such kidney-shaped openings, too.

The asymmetry is possibly due to a parallax distortion effect in the photo, but my impression was also that it isn't Hayashi.

[Teimei]

Hi,

 

If it's just the design you like and the school irrelevant, there are plenty of examples to choose from:

 

https://nihonto.art/de/products/tsuba-sentoku

Edited June 30 by Teimei

[Curran]

14 hours ago, MauroP said:

The asymmetry is possibly due to a parallax distortion effect in the photo, but my impression was also that it isn't Hayashi.

 

Thank you Mario for getting to it first.

I would not say Hayashi, I would lean heavily towards it being Shoami, though a nicer one.

 

Hakogaki is to Hayashi, but it doesn't like the hakogaki and the tsuba belong to each other.

[Kiko]

Thanks for your new contributions, gentlemen!
To be precise, Florian (Teimei), it is the relative simplicity and symmetry of the design that I like about this piece.

Edited July 1 by Kiko