Mokume tsuba help

[pcfarrar]

Anyone have any thoughts on a potential school for this tsuba?

 

It appears to be late Edo/Meiji and has a nice mokume effect cut into the iron.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[Soshin]

Hi Peter F.,

 

Could you post the measurements? Having a photo of Ura side would also be helpful.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[pcfarrar]

Hi David,

 

The size is as follows:

 

70mm x 65mm x 5mm

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[Soshin]

Hi Peter F.,

 

The iron doesn't look like it is in the best condition nor some of the inlays. I agree with the late Edo/Meji Period age estimation. As for school I would like say Shoami. This is just my opinion.

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[pcfarrar]

Thanks, yes it was hard work using antler to remove the rust on the seppa dai. A lot of it flaked off in big chunks. (photo was from before cleaning). Strange also that the rust is only really confined to one side.

[Soshin]

Thanks, yes it was hard work using antler to remove the rust on the seppa dai. A lot of it flaked off in big chunks. (photo was from before cleaning). Strange also that the rust is only really confined to one side.

 

Hi Peter F.,

 

I sometimes see this on rusted tsuba so your tsuba is not strange or unique. The classification of unsigned tsuba from the late Edo Period or Meiji Period can be problematic. Mainly due to similarly of the techniques used by many of of the tsubako from that time period.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Lance]

Not saying it's the same artist as your tsuba, but it maybe it will point you in the right direction? Other mokume tsuba I've seen were cut in lower relief than these 2

 

http://www.silk-road.us/shigyosh1.html

 

Regards,

Lance

[Soshin]

Hi Lance,

 

Not the right direction that is a signed Umetada tsuba. I would need to look up the mei but it likely dates from the late Edo Period circa 1770-1868 based upon the Kanji used for Ume. The quality of the inlay work is also much better. The surface treatment is similar.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Lance]

Hello David,

I wasn't trying to say say it was Umetada work, the idea of pointing in the right direction was maybe looking into who made tsuba in the style/copied Umetada work during late Edo period, in combination with the style of inlay might be of some use?

Always happy to be corrected, as it's part of the learning process.

Regards,

Lance