Tsuba_Tadatsugu

TADATSUGU

IRON SUKASHI

NBTHK

3.0625″ x 3.0625″ x 0.125″

ANA: 1.0125″ x 0.375″

Iron tsuba with Ume or Plum sukashi. This tsuba has the worn remnants of a mei and the NBTHK indicates that it reads “Tadatsugu” though I don’t know how anyone could read that. I suspect it is the work which is the indicator more so than the mei.

The tsuba is made from heavy well forged plate. The NBTHK was not very specific in their attribution (one of their faults), as there were certainly more than one tsubako who used this name. Haynes’s lists 15 individuals from all over. However, research seems to point towards the Umetada Ha as the Umetada Tadatsugu (s) work style are said to be iron plate, small sukashi work in floral or family mons and signed zaimei. Is this definite, NO!