thutson

I also have a tsuba with a hole in the seppa-dia, in case its useful, here's the thread. Best, Tom

Hello, The tsuba arrived yesterday, it has a good size and weight to it and I'm very happy with it in hand, please find a couple of pictures attached.

Lovely looking tsuba Peter, I have a tsuba along the same theme. The Takahashi No Mushimaro poem certainly seems to be the theme. I've read that the lonley cuckoo often calls in the dark of summer nights, the call is said to sound like someone calling "return home". I realise there is no moon on your tsuba but I have also read that the Japanese cuckoo is often shown flying across the face of the moon on a rainy night. This image signifies honor and advancement in status, and refers to the story of the samurai Yorimasa defeating the Nue. As Yorimasa was being awarded, a cuckoo flew overhead calling in the night.

Thanks Stephen, I'll post some pictures when I have it in hand.

Another tsuba signed Furukawa Genchin http://www.nihonto.us/LS017 FURUGAWA GENCHIN.htm

Amazing detective work @BIG Thanks @Ford Hallam for the dates, it's fascinating to think that Hokusai sketched his Manga from this tsuba. I wonder if any of his other sketches were also based on tsuba designs.

After following the auction I decided to pull the trigger and ended up winning the auction. It's such a charming tsuba with an unusual and fascinating theme, I'm excited to see it in hand and study it further.

Perhaps it's depicting a Bunraku show, which is traditional form of Japanese puppet theatre founded in Osaka around the early 17th century.

I thought I could see his arm behind the bag but actually when you zoom in its also patterned material so I think it is his sleeve after all. Colin, I like the idea of an entertainer with the little dansers being drawn out on a thread.

Ah yes well spotted, the bag has the same pattern as on his robe, but you're right it is some kind of bag. It's a fascinating mystery indeed, I'll see if I can find out anything else.

What a lovely little tsuba. It looks to me like the little figures are performing a Kenshibu dance; a traditional dance accompanied with a sword and fan, but as to why they are appearing from his sleeve I have no idea... I would love to learn more about it and thankyou for sharing Jeremy.

Grev is a true gent and a pleasure to do business with. My tsuba arrived well packaged and looks even better in hand than in the photos, I'm very happy with it!

What a wonderful tsuba, some very fine work indeed, congratulations Manuel!

Very interesting find Geraint, thanks for sharing!

I have Dale's first book titled "Tsuba collecting for the beginner" and its a wonderful resource for anyone who is starting to collect tsuba. It really helped me avoid some pitfalls and train my eye for fake and cast tsuba. I would highly recommend it! Best, Tom

Many thanks for the link and your thoughts John and for everyone else's comments. On the tsuba I posted, it feels like the maker left space on the seppa dai for the edition of this hole, so I believe it was an original feature, rather than a later edition. If this was for a catch release, the seppa would also have to have a hole in it. I was wondering whether an example of a koshirae or tsuka that displays this feature been found? Regards, Tom

Many thanks for the link to the old thread and for your opinions, I will have a read through it. Best, Tom

Hello everyone, I have here a ko kinko shakudo tsuba with an aoi mokko gata shape, vertical nanako and Chrysanthemum design. I would like to ask for opinions on the opening that's been cut into the seppa-dai, is this likely original to the tsuba and what would this type of hole be used for? Many thanks in advance, Tom

Beautiful piece Bob, the inlay and carving is excellent.

Ah yes this also has an Okina (old man) mask theme. I believe it is one of the oldest of the Noh repertoire and represents an older male with long white beard expressing wisdom and bringing longevity to families. The rounded eyebrows and the separated lower jaw makes it different from the other masks, the chin is attached to the main mask by a cord (which you can see nicely in the attached picture). Okina masks have an abstract pattern of the deeply carved wrinkles around the forehead and cheeks and the formation of the eyes is in open slits, rather than sculpted eyeballs with a hole for the pupil. I'm also enjoying and learning a lot from this thread, thanks for everyone who has shared something! Tom

That's a lovely tsuba Barry! I have a Okina mask themed tsuba and a very nice Hannya mask tsuba. Regards, Tom

Great looking tsuba, I see a Peony flower.

Here's my 2020 acquisitions, they certainly managed to bring a smile to my face throughout this tough year. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ltl12nf0zta22w9/AABdOOl9PZajlAJzXLnSf4QNa?dl=0

Thanks for the information on the tale George, I like the cheeky expression on the Oni's face. Thanks for your input on the school Adam, I was also thinking the style looks like the Goto schools but I hadn't seen a design like this before, I'm very happy with it, it's looks well done with a humorous subject.