Feedback welcome

[Seminara]

Hello, two Tsubas here.  Could anyone offer any information on them please?

 

Thanks in advance

[Dan tsuba]

Hi Anthony, and welcome to this great forum!

 

I can't tell you much about your tsuba other than I really like them!

The first tsuba you pictured may be depicting some sort of Japense legend.

The second tsuba you pictured seems to have a nice swirl type pattern in the metal.

I think that since both the tsuba have filler (atagane) in one or both of the small holes (hitsu-ana) next to the triangular center slot (nakago-ana) it is a good thing and shows signs (to me) that the tsuba were customized somewhat.

I am sure that much more knowlegeable members than I am will tell you exactly what you want to know about your tsuba.

[SteveM]

Top tsuba looks like it is depicting a scene from Genji Monogatari. My guess is that the tsuba itself would be late Edo. I like it. It's not a museum piece, but nothing wrong with a that. 

 

The motif of the bottom tsuba is "jūyō" (ten worlds). It's a slight variation on the more common "kuyō" (nine worlds) theme. Its used as a family crest, and is commonly seen on tsuba, or clothes, armor, or on architectural flourishes (roof tiles, etc.). It's an abstract representation of 10 stars. The top photo of this tsuba makes it look like the center dot is mother-of-pearl or something, but it could just be a trick of photography. As to the three holes on the opposing side, I don't know if those are another design motif, or are just holes in the tsuba through which a strap is threaded, used to secure the sword to the wrist (udenuki-ana, in Japanese). Usually there are only two holes for the arm strap. The wood-grain textured surface is nicely done. Again, another nice antique. Probably also mid-to-late Edo. 

 

Here is a similar one (without the crest). This one was done my the Myōchin school (armorers who also made sword furnishings). Yours could also be Myōchin, or someone trying to aspire to the Myōchin style. 

https://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2011/1110_6054syousai.htm

 

[Geraint]

Dear Anthony.

 

Welcome to NMB.  Might I ask, was it you who 'cleaned up'the metal inserts on the second tsuba?  If it was then please resist the urge to do it again.  The two inserts in the mounting holes for kodzuka and kogai are shakudo,a Japanese alloy that is treated to give a deep raven black colour, cleaning them destroys that patina though it might in time recover all on it's own.  Steve suspects that the centre dot is mother of pearl but is it perhaps silver?

 

All the best.

[MauroP]

The style of the first tsuba makes me think of Aizu-Shōami or the Nara school. The motif could represent three of the Rokkasen, the Six Poetry Immortals (a daishō set would presumably depict all six).
The second tsuba, with its mokume-ji, doesn't fully convince me. The unusual shape of the hitsu-ana and the very simple sukashi design could suggest a modern production.

[Spartancrest]

 Your tsuba  - compare to this Daisho from the Detroit Institute of Art, some of the figures are almost identical almost like they are menuki applied to the plate. They don't show the bamboo scroll/curtain but I don't have access to the other side of each guard.

Edited July 2 by Spartancrest
layout

[Seminara]

Thanks everyone for your greetings and excellent, knowledgable feedback, it's very much appreciated!  

[Seminara]

20 hours ago, Geraint said:

Dear Anthony.

 

Welcome to NMB.  Might I ask, was it you who 'cleaned up'the metal inserts on the second tsuba?  If it was then please resist the urge to do it again.  The two inserts in the mounting holes for kodzuka and kogai are shakudo,a Japanese alloy that is treated to give a deep raven black colour, cleaning them destroys that patina though it might in time recover all on it's own.  Steve suspects that the centre dot is mother of pearl but is it perhaps silver?

 

All the best.

Hi Geraint, that cleaning must've been carried out by the previous owner.  I've never touch them knowing the patina is more important.  Thanks

[Seminara]

Here's a clearer picture of this side.  The small round disk appears to be the same copper metal of the other shapes (sorry, I don't know the correct terminology)! 

[FlorianB]

The both holes are called hitsu-ana, openings for kogai and kozuka when the Tsuba is mouted.

 

There are many Tsuba on which one ore both hitsu-ana are plugged with soft metal, sometimes even with gold.

 

Shutting the inner hole of the crest is not necessary, I think it would look nicer without the copper plug.

 

BTW: If the kamon (heraldic sign) should be the kuyo-mon of the Hososkawa clan (see below) there should be nine stars (including the inner circle), but here we have ten!

That's suspicious in my eyes.

 

[SteveM]

Jūyō (ten stars) is also a known crest

 

https://irohakamon.com/kamon/hoshi/juuboshi.html

[Seminara]

On 7/2/2026 at 7:19 PM, FlorianB said:

The both holes are called hitsu-ana, openings for kogai and kozuka when the Tsuba is mouted.

 

There are many Tsuba on which one ore both hitsu-ana are plugged with soft metal, sometimes even with gold.

 

Shutting the inner hole of the crest is not necessary, I think it would look nicer without the copper plug.

 

BTW: If the kamon (heraldic sign) should be the kuyo-mon of the Hososkawa clan (see below) there should be nine stars (including the inner circle), but here we have ten!

That's suspicious in my eyes.

 

Hello Florian,

 

Thanks for your feedback.  Do you have any idea what the three holes to the right of the Kamon might represent?  Are they purely decorative?

 

 

[Seminara]

On 7/3/2026 at 3:38 AM, SteveM said:

Jūyō (ten stars) is also a known crest

 

https://irohakamon.com/kamon/hoshi/juuboshi.html

Hello Steve, many thanks, that is very encouraging!  🤞🤞

 

[FlorianB]

Two holes in the lower part of the plate are often named as udenuki-ana, used for pulling a ribbon through to secure the sword in the sheath. 

 

In Your case the motif is stars, so I think we have a kamon constisting out of a stellar group and three other stars on the right side.

Sometimes a group of three stars are interpreted sun, moon and star.

 

Here's an similar one:

[Bugyotsuji]

Seven-star Kamon is called 七曜紋 the Shichiyō-Mon.

 

The saké flask is a 徳利 tokkuri. 

[Seminara]

7 hours ago, FlorianB said:

Two holes in the lower part of the plate are often named as udenuki-ana, used for pulling a ribbon through to secure the sword in the sheath. 

 

In Your case the motif is stars, so I think we have a kamon constisting out of a stellar group and three other stars on the right side.

Sometimes a group of three stars are interpreted sun, moon and star.

 

Here's an similar one:

Many thanks Florian! 👍