Tsuba Questions.

[Nathan362]

Hello folks,


This Tsuba was brought home by my Great Uncle, and passed down to my mom, and now to me. I just have no experience with this sort of thing, and wondered if anyone had any information on this one. I have been told that they were mass produced for the occupation forces after the war, is this one of those? Also, anyone that can give me a ballpark figure on value, it would be greatly appreciated. I have no plans of selling it at this time, but it is a curiosity of mine. Any further information would be greatly appreciated!

[duska]

The two happy Gods are Ebisu and Daikoku, as for age i'll have to leave that to the experts.

[BOB COLEMAN]

Tsuba are difficult to judge from pictures. However, it appears to be a 19th c. cast tsuba. I have never heard the story about tsuba being cast after the war for souvenirs for GI's. I would doubt the validity of that due to the shortage of raw materials alone at the end of the war.

[AZPhil]

So is the kanji the maker's name?
Semper Fi
Phil

[BOB COLEMAN]

So is the kanji the maker's name?
Semper Fi
Phil

The name is Kuniyoshi and the place he lived. The second kanji of the place is damaged and I can not read it. Maybe Guy can make it out when he stops by.

[ghp95134]

Bob, that "kuni" looks like "Masa" to me ... and it Googles well:

山城住正吉 [花押]
Yamashiro Jū Masakichi [Kao]
Masakichi, Resident of Yamashiro [personal art signature]

Another by him, but the images are protected and I'm unable to post. 2nd row at Google Images looks like yours!

Third row, #3, is also by Masakichi. The Japanese questioner said he couldn't read the signature; someone responded:

右側が 「山城住」 で、左側が 「正吉」 です。
山城国(今の京都付近) に済んでいた正吉という人の作品ということです。
正吉の下は花押です。
Right side is "Yamashiro juu; left side is "Masakichi"
The product of a person named Masakichi who lived in Yamashiro Kuni (now near Kyoto)
Below Masakichi is his art signature [kao].

--Guy

[BOB COLEMAN]

Bob, that "kuni" looks like "Masa" to me ... and it Googles well:

山城住正吉 [花押]
Yamashiro Jū Masakichi [Kao]
Masakichi, Resident of Yamashiro [personal art signature]

Another by him, but the images are protected and I'm unable to post. 2nd row at Google Images looks like yours!

Third row, #3, is also by Masakichi. The Japanese questioner said he couldn't read the signature; someone responded:

右側が 「山城住」 で、左側が 「正吉」 です。
山城国(今の京都付近) に済んでいた正吉という人の作品ということです。
正吉の下は花押です。
Right side is "Yamashiro juu; left side is "Masakichi"
The product of a person named Masakichi who lived in Yamashiro Kuni (now near Kyoto)
Below Masakichi is his art signature [kao].

--Guy

I was torn between Kuni and Masa as the mei is quite light. Thanks for setting this correct.

[Nathan362]

Thank you to all for great information. I may have heard the guy I asked say they were made as souvenirs and assumed it was for the occupational forces. The lack of raw material to make such a thing makes perfect since. So it is from the 1800s and nothing mind blowing it seems. I will study around for a value now that I have a little more information.

Again thanks to all for the great info!