Tsuba Identification help

[eSnT]

Hello everyone, I am looking for some help identifying the origin, school, and era of this matching daishō pair of tsuba.

Details: Design/Motif: Matching chrysanthemum (kiku) flowers and flowing leaves. Metal / Feel: They are smooth and heavy to the touch, indicating a soft-metal alloy or dense worked iron (possibly sentoku or shakudō). Markings: Both tsuba feature the exact same character "直" (Nao) stamped inside a clean, circular border near the seppa-dai area.I have attached pictures showing the face of the matching pair, as well as a close-up of the circular workshop stamp.I would greatly appreciate any insights into what specific school, workshop, or generation this "直" stamp belongs to, and whether these look to be late Edo-period pieces or later reproductions/revivals.Thank you in advance for your time and expertise!

[Jesta]

They don’t look like actual tsuba from the photos. Firstly, a daisho pair would be one big, one small. Secondly, it looks like they are some kind of clasp or brooch, with the hinged back. They would not be able to fit on a sword with that. I don’t think I have seen anything like these before. Could you post more photos of them from the side?

[Spartancrest]

Hi ST welcome to NMB. Can you tell us if the hinge folds all the way flat and does not hinge towards the front as well? I think what you may have is a set of "tsuba bookends". Although I don't have the same style I do have a set of heavy cast iron tsuba bookends - They are ideal for keeping your tsuba books together!  If it does turn out that your pieces are bookends, consider how rare they might be and that they have stayed together - a single bookend is not so great!

 The pieces could be Chinese rather than Japanese - Chinese character 直 (zhí), which means "straight", "direct", or "vertical" 

The imprint would not be a persons name but more likely a company "logo". 

[Jesta]

3 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Hi ST welcome to NMB. Can you tell us if the hinge folds all the way flat and does not hinge towards the front as well? I think what you may have is a set of "tsuba bookends". Although I don't have the same style I do have a set of heavy cast iron tsuba bookends - They are ideal for keeping your tsuba books together!  If it does turn out that your pieces are bookends, consider how rare they might be and that they have stayed together - a single bookend is not so great!

That makes a lot of sense given the pictures. I think that you have nailed it. 

[eSnT]

Here is a side view, hand for size

[ROKUJURO]

Not TSUBA and not the character NAO I think. Dale is probaly close to it.

ST, please sign all posts with at least your first name so we could address you politely. It is a rule here on NMB.

[Spartancrest]

ST, You have a good start for your tsuba book collection! I have not seen this type of bookend before, I would wager there are not many about. Yours seem higher than my set which are 15 cm high [just under 6 inches]

I have more books than my bookends can deal with, so the bulk are housed in a cabinet.

[Jesta]

5 hours ago, eSnT said:

Here is a side view, hand for size

 

Thanks for that. Yup, Dale is right. These look like bookends, nice ones, but not a tsuba. Looking at the size it would need a monster sword to fit them on 

[Spartancrest]

For anyone interested there is a copy of ZABOTANSEN ... going through auction tonight https://www.jauce.com/auction/g1240424269  a limited edition of 1200 books printed. The auction price so far is leagues away from the same book selling on eBay - you will need a sturdy shelf as the book is weighty and well worth getting!