Tsuba: any thoughts on this one?

[Birdman]

Just won this tsuba on Ebay. I thought it would go nicely with the "plum and plover" fuchi-kashira I bought from Ted Tenold, since the birds are of similar style:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... MEWNX%3AIT

 

Any thoughts as to age and school?

[Birdman]

No opinions as to age or school?

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Rich,

I'm no authority on tsuba, not even close, but I would say mid to late Edo and for school I would say "tsuba". Not trying to be funny; just that this is the kind of tsuba, and considering the time, that could have been made by most anyone making tsuba. There is no great underlying tradition of design or technique to tie it to.

Anyone have a better answer? Grey

[Birdman]

What would be the best way to take care of the active red rust without damaging the underlying patina? It looks like there are some engraved designs on the "back" side, but it's a little hard to tell through the active rust.

[Soshin]

Hi Rich K.,

 

I would agree with Grey's comments about the tsuba. The tsuba likely dates to the late Edo period. I have a number of tsuba form the late Edo and in similar overall style. With this type of tsuba the quality can easily be determined my the quality of the inlay work and the overall composition. The better tsuba of this style and time period which I would say is a mixture of Mito and Shoami schools is clearly indicated in the over all composition and the quality as well as the condition of the inlays. Many of lower quality tsuba from this time period would have damaged inlays because of the quality of the inlay to begin with was poor. In this respects I would consider your tsuba fairly average. Thank you for taking the time to post photos for discussion facilitate learning.

Here is a tsuba I have from the same late Edo time period that has a much better composition in terms of the fishermen appears to be fishing into the nakago-ana (I love the use of perspective) and inlays are in a range of different soft metals which is more technically complex.

 

 

(Fix a typo on my post sorry for any confusion. Wrote Mino and meant Mito.)

Yours truly,

David S.

[Birdman]

I will post photos once I have it in hand, which will likely be some time next week.

[Birdman]

OK, here are the photos. The red, active rust has been carefully removed, and accumulated dirt scrubbed off with a toothbrush & soap. Please note, the tsuba is really quite a bit darker than this - the iron is, in actuality, nearly black. I played with the highlights and shadows in my photo editor in order to bring out the details. The foliage and the small inlays at the bottom, on the front, appear to be copper, while the birds, and the two small inlays on the back, appear to be brass.

 

 

[Soshin]

Please note, the tsuba is really quite a bit darker than this - the iron is, in actuality, nearly black. I played with the highlights and shadows in my photo editor in order to bring out the details. The foliage and the small inlays at the bottom, on the front, appear to be copper, while the birds, and the two small inlays on the back, appear to be brass.

Hi Rich K.,

From looking at the photo you have and the description you have provided I would confidently say that it dates from the late Edo Period. The near black color of the patina and the color of the brass would indicate this. Older brass has a very different color. I recently sold a tsuba on the forum with a very similar color which dates from the late Edo Period. The detail and composition is also fairly good for the time period from which your tsuba was made. Take care.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[Birdman]

OK, thanks! Late Edo = early-mid 1800's, I assume?

[Soshin]

Hi Rich K.,

 

The range of years I use for the late Edo Period are 1770-1870. Historically speaking the Edo Period official ended in 1868. But it is conceivable that some tsubako continued using the same styles during the Meiji Restoration up until the Haitorei in 1876. This was the stopping of Samurai from charing daisho while walking the street. The tsuba I posted dates from the same time period as yours.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.