TSUBA WITH EYELET

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Any idea why the eyelet on this tsuba?

Grey

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261083908981?ss ... 1438.l2649

[drbvac]

Maybe was added later to allow it to be hung or worn ????

 

Never seen one before.

[Geraint]

I'm sure you have heard the one about impulsive samurai tying the sword to the saya with a piece of paper string...............?

Guessing as I am sure you can tell.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Grey,

 

I have no idea why there is an eyelet on your tsuba.

 

Nor do I know why there was a tsuba used as a door key escutcheon on the mews stable door of a Victorian House in Bristol until about 10 years ago.....

 

Cheers

[docliss]

I am attaching an image of a Momoyama period, Kō-kinkō tsuba with a small, shakudō bracket affixed to the ura surface. This is in a similar position to that posted by Grey and was, surely, used to attach the sword, by a thread, to the kurikata of the saya in order to prevent its accidental withdrawal?

 

John L.

[NihontoEurope]

Hi guys,

Any idea why the eyelet on this tsuba?

Grey

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261083908981?ss ... 1438.l2649

 

It could simply be used together with a customised Kogatana with a larger grip for better stabbing.

 

/Martin

[Kai-Gunto]

What about a leather string for not droping the sword on the battlefield.

[runagmc]

If I dropped my sword in battle, I would rather it fall to the ground than swing around between my legs... :lol:

[drbvac]

Especially if you were running at the time !!!

[docliss]

… or to attach a decorative tassel to the tsuba ….

 

Come on guys, are you not convinced by the fact that, in each example, the bracket’s position on the tsuba is such that it places it in the closest possible proximity to the kurikata?

 

John L.

[docliss]

As a final addendum to this thread, NMB members will surely have identified the occasional occurrence of two small holes in the kogai umegane of a tsuba; such an example is illustrated on p.87, #94, of Haynes’ Catalogue #7. These are situated in a position comparable to that of the brackets which Grey describes, and must surely be intended for a similar purpose?

 

John L.

[Marius]

I am attaching an image of a Momoyama period, Kō-kinkō tsuba.

 

John,

 

with all respect, this does not look like a Momoyama ko-kinko. Who is the author of this attribution? I'd rather say late Edo shiiremono. Momoyama ko-kinko tsubako might have been somewhat naive when compared to Goto (and their imitators), but not sloppy... Sorry for the OT...

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I would agree with Mariusz K. on this the workmanship look fairly poor and in my opinion on par with Meji Period shiiremono. The photo is not the best and I could be wrong but in my opinion not likely.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[docliss]

A slightly better picture of the tsuba under discussion. John L.

[Soshin]

Hi John L.,

 

This photo is better and the lighting and color more realistic. Now it looks like a average Mino school tsuba circa the mid to late Edo Period. The nanako isn't the best but I have seen worst. I have seen very nice Ko-Mino tsuba with similar designs among nanako but with much better craftsmanship in terms of the design and the execution of the nanako.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[docliss]

I am very happy to receive suggestions concerning my recently posted tsuba, but find it difficult to accept David’s Mino attribution. It is completely lacking in the depth and definition of the floral motifs, normally a feature of Mino work. As an aside, is the vertical nanako of any assistance in reaching an attribution? John L.

[Kai-Gunto]

If I dropped my sword in battle, I would rather it fall to the ground than swing around between my legs... :lol:

The tassels on shingunto or kaigunto was meant to be used that way.

On sabers from all over the world ,have knots. If you was rideing on a horse , you didnt drop the sword/saber.

The slider on the starps loocks the tassels/knots to the wrist.

This is the original purpose for knots and tassels on swords and sabers.

[Soshin]

Hi John L.,

 

I agree with you last comment having exained a few examples of Mino workmanship of different qualities. I had another idea the tsuba could be a Ko-Kinko Sanmai Tsuba. Here is a similar one: http://www.legacyswords.com/fs_ant_tsuba14.htm. Can we see additional views of the inside areas of the openings to see how the plate was made? For example to see if it was made of a single piece or layers of different soft metals.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[docliss]

David, the tsuba is definitely not sanmai, but comprises a solid plate of heavy, high quality, raven-black shakudō. Over to you …. John L.

 

P.S. The original attribution was that of Bob Benson. JL.