New and uninformed

[Kaiser]

I found these at a thrift store.. after I looked at them the owner asked me some question about them.. I told her I knew next to nothing about them but I knew what they were.. as the store donated all profits to charity, I thought I would do my part to help her out.. 

Any info would be appreciated.

thank you

[Kaiser]

Don’t know why pictures did not come thru. I will try again

[Kaiser]

[Kaiser]

[Bugyotsuji]

I guess the store owner needs to put a price on them. No sizes? The first looks quite small...? All iron, did you try a magnet?

My feeling is that they are not top-value collectors items, but they could look good in a themed wall decoration. 

Whether to sell separately to someone who might like one of them, or better to sell as a lot?

[Kaiser]

Thanks.  She offered them to me for 100$.. I told her some are very collectable and offered to seek info.. they are fairly heavy ( iron I am pretty sure) and all about the same size. Approximately 2 3/4 to 3 inches..I will have to go back and investigate.. any other things I should look for?  I did not notice any makers mark, they are pretty covered with a rusty patina.

[Bugyotsuji]

As a starter price, $80~$100 sounds about right. She knows her oats! 

 

Tsuba will always be a gamble, but each one will teach you something, helping you develop an eye for a) what you like personally, and b) what is universally sought after and why.

[Spartancrest]

Hi Keith, welcome to NMB. 

Firstly the tsuba images are upside down - even for us in the Southern hemisphere 

The first example you show may well be a cast copy and not of really any value as such - but that doesn't mean other people don't try to sell them at "inflated" prices 

  this one also has some missing tail feathers on the Hō-ō bird [phoenix] https://www.ebay.com/itm/331466396417   US $450.00 is way too much!

 

See also https://www.kyoto-yakata.net/sale/65124/  which seems to be a carved piece  and https://www.choshuya.co.jp/koshiraeyokanagu/鳳凰図透鍔（鐔）　無銘/拵用金具  which is a much finer example.

 

The second piece looks like a thicker version of this one posted back in 2019   https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/28384-tsuba-question/  I would check the second one with a magnet, the colour looks like a copper alloy [Sentoku?] - it may just be the lighting?

 

 

  The third is a little too dark to see any pattern but it may be a rough hammered piece Tembo or Saotome type?

[ROKUJURO]

To me, all three look cast and of no collector's value. Better photos on a plain dark background in correct orientation might prove me wrong.