This is cast, right?

[Hector]

Saw a tsuba I really loved the design of - then saw the sandy looking, pitted surface and sighed 'cast'.

 

I just want to check with you guys before irrevocably swiping left.

 

Thanks,

Hector

[ROKUJURO]

Hector,

you could well be right, but the pitting could also be the result of corrosion.

Maybe a full size, high resolution photo could tell more.

There are a number of indicators for cast TSUBA, not just the surface texture. Please remember that there were different casting  techniques over the last 150 years in Japan, and modern iron TSUBA imitations have a perfect surfave and are no longer cast but often press molded.

[Spartancrest]

Hi Hector

I agree with Jean we would need to see the overall tsuba - risky if you thinking of buying it, I know, we don't need extra competition - can only hope other members won't take advantage. You could always PM any members who you can trust won't out bid you. 

From what I can see it doesn't have much in the way of tagane-ato but the nakago-ana is not particularly "bottle shape".

[Hector]

Jean @ROKUJURO 

and Dale @Spartancrest
 

I really appreciate you both taking the time to weigh-in on this and I'm attaching more of the seller's photos.

 

It's a strange looking tsuba because its subject, an oak tree, is more realistically rendered than is usually seen.

 

Thanks again!

Hector

 

[Hector]

There are also these two holes in the tree trunk which appear to have been added later. 🤔

[Spartancrest]

I'll stick my neck out and say it is OK. The two holes do indeed look added in later - Udenuki-ana, but why? Although a very few sukashi tsuba have udenuki-ana this one would not need it in order to attach a wrist strap the sukashi would have been adequate. It reminds me of this Choshu piece 

 or this one  

[Jesta]

Doesn’t look cast to me… Just corroded. Are there any seams visible?

[ROKUJURO]

Hi Hector,

as the friends stated above, it is most probably a genuine CHOSHU TSUBA that suffered from corrosion (and an electric drill....).

Indeed a nice design but restoration might be very difficult.

[Hector]

Very much appreciate all the input on this, guys!

Definitely going to give it a miss now.

 

To be honest, I think it was just an 'on the rebound' reaction as I recently got outbid on the two really nice tsuba shown below.

 

Ah well, life goes on.

 

Thanks again.

Hector

[ROKUJURO]

Hector,

it is REALLY sad you missed the upper one! What was the winning bid?

[Hector]

58 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said:

Hector,

it is REALLY sad you missed the upper one! What was the winning bid?

¥115,300, Jean. 😢
 

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b1242596779

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, it is a very good TSUBA, and the price reflects this.

But there are others waiting for you! 

[Lewis B]

1 hour ago, Hector said:

Very much appreciate all the input on this, guys!

Definitely going to give it a miss now.

 

To be honest, I think it was just an 'on the rebound' reaction as I recently got outbid on the two really nice tsuba shown below.

 

Ah well, life goes on.

 

Thanks again.

Hector

Both very attractive tsuba for different reasons. I especially like the lower one. Do you have a link?