Steve Waszak Posted August 8 Report Posted August 8 Offering today a couple of iron tsuba, both of which I would consider "project" pieces, at least to a degree. The first is a Yamakichibei work. I acquired this tsuba believing it to be early (early-Edo or Momoyama), and still believe it to be so. The mei, however, has been affected through the application of a yakite treatment after being chiseled onto the seppa-dai, plus the accumulation of rust on the surface of the iron. This makes it difficult for me to determine which Yamakichibei smith made this sword guard. There is also a wax coating applied in an effort (I suppose) to arrest any more rust activity. The form of the tsuba is a modified otafuku-gata (modified in that the upper and lower ends have been squared off, a treatment the Shodai is known to have used) featuring a guruma (wheel) sukashi design. There are tekkotsu here and there on both the plate and the rim. The tsuba measures 7.7cm x 7cm x 4mm at the rim (perhaps 2mm at the nakago-ana). This is a strong Yamakichibei design and a pleasing tsuba, but entails more work to ivory the plate and bring the tsuba up to the state it should be in than I am willing to engage in at this time. So, I am offering it here today. It is priced very reasonably owing to the fact that it does need some attention, as described above. $240.00, plus shipping. The second tsuba is a small (6.4cm x 5.4cm x 4mm) piece in iron, also of an otafuku-gata form. It is signed "Kunihiro," though as with the first tsuba, it is difficult to read the mei due to the condition of the surface. Another project piece. The plate features a sukidashibori treatment, possibly with a yakite finish. Spending time ivorying the tsuba would likely reveal the motif more definitely, but I believe it to be botanical in some way. Despite the small size of the guard, the dimensions of the nakago-ana (just short of 3cm top to bottom) suggest a large wakizashi or even a katana as the blade to be fitted to the tsuba. I am asking only $40.00 for this tsuba (plus shipping). Both tsuba together would be offered at $250.00, plus shipping. Also willing to entertain offers. For those who enjoy bringing neglected iron sword guards back to life, these could be interesting projects to tackle. 1 1 Quote
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