Cello Posted March 24, 2011 Report Posted March 24, 2011 Hi can anyone tell me what style type age ect..... this tsuba could be I'm sure this is an easy one but I haven't studied tsuba's at all to speak of.I'm still getting my feet wet with the blades LOL,,,,any help appreciated Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 24, 2011 Report Posted March 24, 2011 I would think this is a katchushi tsuba, maybe early Edo period. John Quote
ububob Posted March 25, 2011 Report Posted March 25, 2011 I would agree with John's observation. It appears that the tsuba might benefit from a bit of cleaning but before you lay a hand on it read the following: http://home.earthlinl.net/~jggilbert/Cleaning.htm Quote
BMarkhasin Posted March 25, 2011 Report Posted March 25, 2011 Agreed on age and attribution -- early Edo, likely mid 17th c. katchushi tsuba. It has pleasing sukashi, a very nicely formed mimi, and the iron seems to be good quality. Best, Boris. Quote
Cello Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Posted March 26, 2011 Hi,thanks for the quick precise replies!!I have two question when it comes to tsuba....I've noticed some light brown surface rust should i wipe it with choji oil??Also whats a tsuba like this one's value it's a ko tsuba about 3'' dia.. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Hi Marcello, Bob posted a link to tsuba cleaning 2 or 3 posts up. Ko tsuba isn't a term I'm familiar with. I understand ko to mean small or old, neither of which fits this tsuba. I would guess the value to fall somewhere between $250 and $350, but someone else might have a better idea. Grey Quote
BMarkhasin Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Marcello, Please don't get too eager to clean this tsuba. You are far more likely to damage the patina than improve it in any way. Often very light surface rust can be removed with a fine very soft bristle tooth brush and white soap. I am apprehensive to recommend any form of cleaning to anyone, so I refrain from further comment. This is a pleasant, reasonably early tsuba, but it is not considered a "ko-" or 'old' piece. This terminology is usually reserved for Pre-Momoyama tosogu, although often it is used for Momoyama period pieces as well. Being an Edo period piece, it is not a ko- piece. It can be considered katchushi due to the style of the rim loosely resembling kabuto suji and for the (likely) folded iron, but thats as far as you should go. Be happy with it for what it is, and if you paid an amount you are comfortable with, you are good. Edo katchushi pieces can vary considerably in price, but only in very rare circumstances do they fetch high prices. Focus on understanding the tsuba for its artistic and technical merits instead... Best, Boris. Quote
Henry Wilson Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 Boris and I posted around the same time. (great minds working in unison :D ) This might add a bit more to what Boris says. 古甲冑師鍔 Ko katchushi would mean Old armour maker tsuba. This would be used for a tsuba that pre dates the Edo period. I don't think the tsuba in question does. 小透かし Ko sukashi would mean Small cut out. The cut out on the tsuba plate in question is too large. Considering these definitions Marcello, I think the the term Ko is mis-used here. Quote
Cello Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Posted March 27, 2011 Hey thanks for the info....sorry I missed the cleaning link i checked the post from my iphone little screen so i missed it lol......I definitly wasn't going to really clean was just planing on a light oil but i will refrain from anything until I research the proper cleaning and check out the link posted by boris.I bought an ok wakizashi just for the tsuba and saya and plan on selling the wak for cost, I usually only ask what items are worth after I've bought them to better understand what I should pay in the future.Something about this tsuba design really appealed to me it just looked classically appealing and simplistic.... thanks again for the advice! Quote
ububob Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Beware Marcello lest you fall victim to the siren song of sukashi tsuba. Quote
Marius Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Marcello, Nice tsuba, congratulations :D How thick is it in the openings? Quote
Mark Green Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 Hi gang, Very nice, stout tsuba there. Nice get. It looks way to beefy for ko-katchush. Powerful looking. Edo resurgence. More pics please, when you have it in hand. Mark G Quote
Marius Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 It looks way to beefy for ko-katchush. Got the same impression, hence my question about the thickness. Pics can be deceiving... Quote
Cello Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Posted March 27, 2011 I think I may have already developed " a little habit " I'm starting to get more and more into the tsuba lol ..... I'll post some pics and measurements when I get in later. I also have what I think Is another verynice tsuba I'll put up for some input since I got such great replys from this post. Thx Quote
Marius Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 I think I may have already developed " a little habit " I'm starting to get more and more into the tsuba lol ..... I'll post some pics and measurements when I get in later. Marcello, be warned. I started with swords, but I have since sold off most of them to feed my lust for old soft metal tsuba (irogane ko-tsuba). Quote
ububob Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 There you have it a testimonial from Marius! Turn back now before it is too late. save yourself :D Quote
Cello Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Posted March 28, 2011 here's the additional pictures of the tsuba....First one measures 65.1mm dia. --5.1mm at rim--3.3mm at cutouts Here's the pictures of the second tsuba of one ofmy koto wakizashi....measures 73mm dia--5.1mm at rim--5.1mm at cutouts Quote
Cello Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Posted March 28, 2011 I think it's already too late lol... My womans gonna kill me If I buy anything else haha!! Quote
Marius Posted March 28, 2011 Report Posted March 28, 2011 Marcello, the first tsuba is very very nice. It may be early Edo, it may be later, but it is nice. The second... looks like late Owari sukashi. The motif is ginger and wild geese. Hard to tell from photos, but the patina seems OK (do not ask about its age, though) but... The lighter colour of the seppa-dai and the shining sekigane indicate some attempt at cleaning, during which red rust has been exposed and possibly patina stripped. Looks like an unfinished job. Nice tsuba, but affected by this "cleaning". Now, this is just an opinion based on pictures. I might be totally wrong. Quote
Cello Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Posted March 28, 2011 Hi mariusz how your day......I think it may be The pictures I took.. the whole tsuba is pretty uniform dark patina with some reddish brown powerdy new rust on top that I haven't touched, I think The shinny areas are from oily hands?? I'll try and take another maybe you could get a better look.. I think??? I was told by one person that The motif is pine trees and clouds?? I'm going to look up the one you suggested tonight to compare either way I Like it lol.. I can't see half the motifs anyway they all look like abstract geometric art to me.... Thx Quote
Marius Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 The motif is just not familiar to you :-) I am sure that this someone has meant matsukawabishi - a stylised representation of pine bark. Look at this old thread: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... 87&start=0 wild geese or karigane - I am sure you will recognise it in your tsuba: http://www.Japanese-clip-art.com/kamon_ ... gane-1.gif ginger or myogu: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... youyou.svg Quote
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