Tanto tsuba

[pcfarrar]

I was recently given this small tanto tsuba and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the piece?

 

The steel looks to be decent quality and it has a visible three layer construction in the nakago ana.

 

The size of the piece is 5.1 x 4.9 x 0.3cm

 

Any ideas on the school?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[cspage]

Peter, here is one of my tsubas that was presented as Akasaka when I bought it. While not the spitting image of yours, there are some design features that are similar. The surface wear seems more pronounced on your tsuba and while design cannot be a characteristic in itself for certain identity, it could be a place to start.

 

Colin

[Jamie]

I am just starting to study Tsuba but My first thought was that it reminds me others i've seen that have been labeled as Akasaka.

[pcfarrar]

I did think Akasaka might be a possibility. Anyone have any idea what the design actually represents on my tsuba?

[cspage]

It would my guess that the top and bottom of the seppa-dai represents Ginko leaves.

 

Colin

[cspage]

Peter, I stumbled across this on John Berta's website. It is also similar to your tsuba, more so than the one I have. He lists it as Kanayama, Edo Period. http://gaiginsjapaneseartsword.ca/SukashiTsubal.htm

 

Scroll down the page. He doesn't list the dimensions, but you could probably email him for details.

 

Colin