Tsuba design

[kissakai]

Hi

Just a quickie

 

Does this part of the design signify anything?

Originally I thought the blow up on the right side was a crescent moom and now I'm not so sure and a curious design adjacent to the 'moon'

 

 

 

 

Grev

 

[lotus]

Maybe a cloud?

[Brian]

Definitely clouds in front of the moon. Not sure if there is another element there, maybe a bird or bat

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, full moon behind (stylized) clouds.

[Tanto54]

Hi Grev,

 

I think that it is the character for Kotobuki (longevity) over the moon and that fits with the other elements (pine, etc.).

[kissakai]

As all the shapes are plain to see this just seemed out of character hence maybe another element

What is the kanji for Kotobuki?

[Tanto54]

Dear Grev,

 

I recommend that you put it in the translation section - I am sure that it is a character superimposed over the moon/sun.  Pine with two cranes is the symbol of Kotobuki in Japan which means longevity or congratulations.  The character is in "seal" form (like on a round seal), so it won't look exactly like the regular kanji.  Incorporating the character Kotobuki into a design with a pine and two cranes is not very unusual in Japanese art.  Therefore, having a character incorporated into this tsuba with a pine and two cranes is not "out of character" at all.

[John A Stuart]

I don't see this as seal script for 壽 John

[TETSUGENDO]

Looks like a simplified version of the Chinese "seal" form Shòu (longevity) to me.

 

-S-

[John A Stuart]

Various seal scripts are on the top of the Kang Zi document I posted. I don't know if it is so. John