Choshu Tsuba

[Chris Colman]

I recently bought this tsuba from a friend and thought it worth posting.

I am assuming that the shape is a modified Aoi gata, please correct me if I am wrong.

In the few books I have on tsuba, the cherry blossom on raft theme appears on Bushu tsuba, none of the Choshu show it.

 

The mei reads, Choshu Haggi Ju - Tomohisa, I have seen a couple of Tomohisa tsuba, I am sure this is a later generation.

Chris Colman

[Chris Colman]

I obviously forgot to attach the second photo.

[docliss]

Dear Chris

 

I agree, and would personally describe your tsuba as modified aoi-gata. It is typical ChÅshÅ« work although, with the wide ryÅ-hitsu and the gold nunome-zÅgan on the mimi, it characteristically demonstrates an obvious ShÅami influence. The colour of the iron might, perhaps, be rather darker than it appears in your photograph? And yes, the mei reads CHOSHU HAGI (NO)JU TOMOHISA SAKU.

 

Haynes lists no fewer than 15 artists using these kanji and, of these, four might well be the artist in question, assuming a date ca 1800 for your tsuba. These are:

 

H 09891.0 Inoue

H 09892.0 Itoga

H 09894.0 Kawaji

H 09895.0 Kawaji

 

It is not, sadly, by one of the renowned artists of that name, all of whom worked in the early 1700s, but is an attractive tsuba.

 

Regards, John L.

[Chris Colman]

Hi John,

 

Thanks for the comment and information.

 

I think the Haynes books may be next on y purchase list.

 

regards

chris

[Curran]

Beautiful tsuba.

 

Yes, Haynes is a set of books you will never regret owning. Always amazes me more people don't own it, when it is such a monumental work.