FlorianB

Another quotation from “Tosogu no Kigen”: The first period could be ignored concerning Kyo-Sukashi, due to the assumption they came into existance around Oei-Period. Curran, great piece! Any nearer details? Florian

"Masu" is also translated with "growth" and thus it is a symbol for luck and success. In interlaced masu forms these wishes become multipled. Due to this meaning it makes sense to attach this particular design on tsuba. Here's an other example: Florian

It is said that early Tsuba in general, not only Kyo-Sukashi but also Kanayama, Owari, Ko-Shoami, Ko-Kinko etc., have identical hitsu ana shape in half-moon-form while the kogai hitsu ana was replaced by suhama gata later. In Your case the Eisho aera is late Muromachi and in Sasano's books You find enough examples with suhama shaped kogai-hitsu-ana. BTW concerning Kyo-sukashi guards there are also pieces from Momoyama or early Edo-period showing identical shaped hitsu-ana on both sides on account of geometric design. Textbooks say also that Kyo-sukashi hitsu-ana have an oblong shape which is true but not the rule. There are Kyo-sukashi hitsu-ana in regular shape or even considerably rounded. Alas a generalization seems impossible so a lot of comparing is necessary to get a feeling for this topic. Best, Florian

IMHO a cross is at least a basic design, which could be found in tsuba frequently. Certainly it could be interpreted as a christian symbol. I have still no idea about the meaning of the prominent squares. These could be the clue if a christian background is intended. Slight irregularites in geometry maintain a livley design, if drawn by rulers a cross would possibly appear tedious. Florian

That was quick! Thank You, Florian

Hello, I need Your kind help in translating an inscription on a firebrigade tool called TOBIGUCHI. The owner (not me) provided me with the following pictures plus a photoshoped variation of the inscription which could be found in the lower half of the handle between socket and ring: Thanks in advance, Florian

Have a look at this one: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-sesshu-ju-fujiwara-sadayukishinto/ An Osaka-Shinto-blade with two huge hagire (Mr. Tsuruta marked them on the picture). I wonder how does this blade (not very old and not by a famous smith) with fatal flaws managed to receive Hozon in the last year? Florian

I must admit I got a little bit confused by the wording of this texts (more to read on this site: www.shibuiswords.com/heianjosukashischool.html and www.shibuiswords.com/kyo-sukashischool.html) which seems to be indistinct here and there. So I hope to hear and see more about this proposition which deserves attention. Florian

Hello ladies and gentlemen, for all I know Heianjo-sukashi is the pre-Edo-period forerunner of Kyo-sukashi. Sasano’s written in his book “Tosogu no Kigen” that Kyo-sukashi (he does not use the term Heinajo-sukashi) came into existence in between Eikyo- and Onin-period (i.e. MIDDLE Muromachi). Now I read about another idea on the shibuiswords.com website ( www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#heianjo ), that Heianjo-sukashi and Kyo-sukashi are two separate schools working parallel since LATE Muromachi-period, the former closely connected with (or being part of) the Heianjo-zogan-school. According to this theory the workmanship of Heianjo-sukashi and Kyo-sukashi is similar and during the Momoyama period became more and more identical since then it was labelled only as Kyo-sukashi. Alas the article doesn’t illustrate the differences in their styles. Is this theory to be taken seriously? Thanks, Florian

IMHO “finer craftmanship” refers here not to quality itself but simply to thin sukashi lines, a trait of early Kyo-sukashi works, later they become thicker. Florian

I’m not sure if I made myself clear. I was just talking about the two Kyo sukashi types and wanted to know if one of them was the forerunner, the other the successor as I suspect or came they into existence at the same time but one of them was abandoned shortly after? Florian

Hello all, while researching a Kyo-Sukashi-Tsuba with Tsurumaru I recognized that there are two kinds of this particular motif: One with 36 feather openings, a slim head and bent headfeathers, the other one with 42 feather openings, a rounded head with a crown-like extension. (Examples here taken from the Oeder collection (left) and Mr. Tsuruta’s Aoi-site) I haven’t found anything about this difference yet. IMHO the “36-feathers-type” must be probably an early version which has been replaced by a more sophisticated variation because on later Kyo Tsuba only the “42-feathers-type” was reproduced. Any other ideas concerning this difference? Florian

Not my special field but to me it looks like a Choshu or Bushu specimen from Edo era. So I would research in these directions. To differentiate between both schools is difficult (sometimes even impossible), but it is said that a blackish colour of the steel and a similar design on both sides would hint to Choshu. Florian BTW Your Tsuba topics would fit better in the Tosogu section to gain more attention.

I can’t recognize a specific plant. In connection with the mentioned repetitions I would tend to call it karakusa or arabesque. Florian

IMHO it’s a typical Edo-Period Naginata with a koshirae for representation. Interesting piece, however the laquer suffers a lot of damage, parts are missing. I can’t tell if and how it can restored and no idea about the costs. On the first glimpse the blade seems worth polishing. There are rusty areas and the tip is broken off but a polisher could mend this. More pics from blade and tang are needed to judge about it. I can't see any reason why not taking the blade out of the shaft. Florian

Christian, It was simply the only Tsuba I found showing this peculiar bent head/neck similar to Bruno’s Tsuba. That’s all. Puts the depiction of this particular Akasaka the researched one on the same level (or vice versa)? I don’t think so. Sorry, but I still can’t see Your point. Florian

Christian, I can’t see any reason to get upset - I just pointed out the similarities. BTW I don’t think the Tsuba in question is bad. It’s a younger one, maybe a little bit ornamental but interesting. Florian

Found this in a book about the Lundgren Collection: Akasaka, middle to late Edo period. Not exactly the same but note the particular form of the head similar to Yours. Florian

IMHO Kyo-sukashi could be excluded because they always reproduced the same crane design. This one is a later piece, I’ve seen a similar one but can't remember where so I have to research my books first. Florian

What a beauty! It proofs deepest understanding of Japanese aesthetics. Florian

Concerning the hitsu-ana they’re just in the traditional shape so I don’t see the point. If You’re bothered by the holes find someone who can plug them (although they’ll never vanish completely). At least the artist considered both the kogai-hitsu-ana and the inome by placing the dragon. Florian

I have no idea what this tsuba looks like but if I interpret the determination correctly, the first “ko” obviously means “early” or “old”, but has nothing to do with “ko-sukashi” in the sense of small negative openings. However, an interesting string of terms: The Mito-Kinko-school (mid to late Edo period) was also working in Shoami-style and I only know solid plates with carvings, Kyo sukashi pieces (Ko-Kyo-sukashi = Heianjo sukashi? pre Edo period) are everytimes in ji-sukashi - I can’t work it out on my own . Florian

I’m not sure about the question. Are You looking for a Kyo-sukashi-Tsuba with a solid plate displaying negative sukashi? Never heard of it. Years ago I have seen a tsuba labelled as Ko-Kyo-Shoami, i.e. an early Kyo-Shoami (also of Kyoto origin). In this case the kanji for “ko” (old) differs from the kanji “ko” (small)... Florian

Did I miss the dimensions? For a Kyo-sukashi-work I would expect a circular form with hitsu-ana and a classical design in general. Even the seppa dai looks too massive to be Kyo sukashi. Also a Daigoro work won’t fit in my eyes. And I never heard of layer technique concerning Kyo-sukashi. Although the mimi is only ko-niku and the plate thin the appearance of layers, the oval form, the modern and original look (note how cunnigly the karigane and the ends of the snowflakes are connected) and the bat-like shaped kiri I stick to my Akasaka-attribution - because I have no better idea at least. Florian

Chris, Because of the modern appearance of the design with its unique interpretation of the gearwheel (?) and the layers (or just scratches?) seen in the rim I would go for later Akasaka, when their design got a more fragil touch. Florian