Do you know any really unusal Tsuba?

[Drago]

Well, I have to say, I'm an avid fan of Japanese anime and manga. This is what got me interested in Nihonto in the first place... :D

 

In anime you often see very unusally shaped Tsuba e.g. very odd shapes or shapes like the crossguard on European swords.

 

From what I know, there are two types of Tsuba commonly found on Japanese swords, either the usual disc shape (plain, with engravings, sukashi etc.) or Shitogi Tsuba. (and of course aikuchi sized preuso-tsuba usually made from horn - if you can count that as a tsuba)

 

I'd like to know if anyone knows of genuine Tusba that do not fit the two usual types. So if you have ever seen something that you would call "unusual", please post some pictures.

 

Thanks.

 

Oh, btw: This is really akward for me. Is the plural form of Tusba "Tsuba" or "Tsubas" in English?

[docliss]

Dear Tobias

 

It is normal practice not to pluralise Japanese nouns, and 'tsuba' is therefore used both for one or more examples.

 

John L.

[Ruben]

Dear Tobias,

 

I think it´s not possible to answear your question.

It´s been said that there are about 5 million Japanese swords, so imagine how many tsuba´ s are existing!

Over the time if you are interrested you will find all kinds of tsuba´s, even more "unusal" as you can ever imagine.

But from the pratical view, why should someone mount some oversized, strange and impractical tsuba to his sword?

Maybe if he got a realy bad taste or he is a a looser when it comes to swordfighting.

But I have seen some "unusal" motives like stylized birds, friuts and many other stuff.

From posting you didn´t sound uneducated... but manga is still manga. To bring somthing on paper is more easy than to create somthing "real".

 

Greetings

 

Ruben

[Thierry BERNARD]

no sure what you consider as unusual shape but here some tsuba from my collection

[Thierry BERNARD]

and

[george trotter]

I don't know it the learned will even consider this a tsuba, let alone art...but here is a a very crude cast Type 3 army tsuba of WWII.

It has been "carved" (with a nail?) to show a picture of two water birds in a pond, with autumn leaves falling...

Very crude, but a tender expression of home/memory by a soldier at the front....I like it.

Regards,

[peter]

Hello all.

My contribution.

[Tcat]

  Drago said:

Well, I have to say, I'm an avid fan of Japanese anime and manga. This is what got me interested in Nihonto in the first place... :D

 

 

  Drago said:

In anime you often see very unusally shaped Tsuba e.g. very odd shapes or shapes like the crossguard on European swords.

 

Mugen? haha

http://www.ioffer.com/i/samurai-champlo ... -167022139

 

50 bucks? actually looks like kind of a good deal.

[Tcat]

Not tsuba, but heres a good one you might be interested in...

 

The Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum 'Token Village'...

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-token/english/access/index.htm

 

...just held an exhibition of contemporary interpretations of the swords from *Neongenesis Evangelion*. Pretty far out! Links below:

 

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/culture/AJ201205010074

 

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/07/19/future-and-past-collide-as-long-awaited-evangelion-and-Japanese-sword-exhibit-opens/

 

http://www.samurai-sword-shop.com/blog/evangelion-Japanese-sword-exhibit-where-past-meets-future/nggallery/images/

 

Here is the 'engrish' version of the introduction to the exhibition

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp.e.ap.hp.transer.com/~osa-token/exhibitions/index.htm

[rkg]

Hi,

 

unusual tsuba, huh? here's a couple:

 

Apparently a theatrical tsuba:

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/z ... a_arty.jpg

 

and a couple of saotome/tembo "amoeba"

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/a ... _drama.jpg

all I've got is a vr image set of this one right now:

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/s ... ctual.html

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[Tcat]

[christianmalterre]

do have an look in Robert´s book:

Armes Japonaises

dans les collections privees Francaises 5.Mai-25.Juin 1977

some really special ones...

 

Unusual?

Despite the price i have to pay for some good Tsuba-nothing is "Unusual" at all in fact...LOL!

 

Christian

[Spartancrest]

Dale

 

This is a very late post, but here are some of my Kawari-gata (irregular shaped) tsuba.

[kissakai]

Hi

A couple of my tsuba

 

A late tsuba but who on earth would but this on a sword?

 

 

Not a very rare shape and I've seen the temple bell shape within a rim.

I have seen this design before but no idea where so any links would be appreciated

 

 

One of my nicest tsuba but the images do no do it justice (memo to me: I must take better pictures)

 

 

Funnily enough I've only just asked a dealer to let me know if he finds any unusually shaped tsuba

Edited December 15, 2016 by kissakai

[RobertM]

Hi Thierry, looks like a clam shell?

 

[b.hennick]

Robert see post #4

[Geraint]

I think he already has, that's where the image came from.

[Spartancrest]

Hi I have a Tanto sized double clam. A bit worn but well modeled. 

 

Dale

[Spartancrest]

Kissakai

 

There is a similar "Bell" tsuba in the V&A. Maybe that is where you have seen it before? The picture I have is rather poor - 

 

Dale

[rkg]

How 'bout this? :-)

 

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[SAS]

Love it!

[Stephen]

Thats from the Salvador Dali school right Rich?

[SAS]

I think it is from the Haight-Ashbury School!

[Spartancrest]

Found some real crazy stuff.

 

Dale

[Thierry BERNARD]

others from my collection

[Thierry BERNARD]

One made from a horse bit!

[Kurikata]

Several of mine.....