A question re hitsu-ana ...

[docliss]

I am re-reading Robert Haynes’ Study Collection of Japanese Sword Fittings, and I am once again intrigued by the drawings of #s 16 and 44, which show an original triangular shape to the hitsu-ana. Has any member, I wonder, ever seen a tsuba, – or an illustration of a tsuba – that demonstrates this feature? Not that I am questioning Haynes’ expertise in this matter….

 

John L.

[Henry Wilson]

Hi John

 

How about this?

 

http://world.choshuya.co.jp/sale/tousou ... /index.htm

[docliss]

Thank you for the link Henry, but those hitsu-ana are a part of the tsuba's design, and are quite distinct from those in Haynes' two solid plate examples.

 

John L.

[Soshin]

Hi John L.,

 

I have not seen any other tsuba outside of the book you are referring to. Sorry I can't be of any help.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Henry Wilson]

I have done some digging.

 

From SOKEN KODOGU YOGO to MEISHO no KAISETSU by Rear Admiral Layton:

 

"Those (hitsu ana) of triangular or elongated-oblong (tapering to the bottom) are attributed to the mirror craftsmen, kagamishi　鏡師 of the pre-Muromachi 室町period, the yamagane 山銅　or the seido tsuba　青銅鍔"

 

"Old tsuba (hitsu ana) had oblong triangular, fan shaped, etc."

 

The book also refers to GOKAKU 五角　shaped hitsu ana which looks like this (a triangle on a rectangle):

 

(please ignore the Russel )

 

I hope this helps.

[Thierry BERNARD]

here pictures of these tsuba!

[kunitaro]

This hitsu-ana is called "Funazoko-gata"

shape of Bottom of boat.

you can find Tsuba with this type of hitsuana at Nanbokucho-muromachi period.

 

Check Mariuzs's Avatar. He is specialized on this area,

 

PS ; I discovered this Tsuba, and got Hozon paper as ko-kinko(i think) then sold it long time ago, now, i used photo for Avatar, then Mariusz found out, told me " It is mine !" Now, it is own by him. small world....

Hope he doesn't mind that i posted photo here.

[Henry Wilson]

Now I see. I could not imagine the shape, so thanks Thierry. Also thanks Kunitaro as well for putting things into perspective.

 

I posted some stuff on hitsu ana while ago:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13495&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

 

It is way down at the bottom and is gleans from Sasano "Tosogu no Kigen". It might be of interest and could be of relevance. Maybe!

[Marius]

Here is another tsuba with a similar hitsu ana. It is said to be a very early (Kamakura/Nambokucho) yamagane tsuba.

 

Very narrow opening, though still not identical to the one Mr. Haynes has suggested...

[b.hennick]

[Brian]

All of these are very interesting, but none of them are close to the shape that Haynes mentions in his writings. His "assumed" shape is almost like the nakago ana shape. I can't see where he would have gotten that belief from, you certainly cannot get that from the current altered shape.

 

Brian

[Marius]

Brian,

 

I think my tsuba has a kozuka-ana not very dissimilar to that Mr. Haynes has drawn. Granted, his is a bit more pointed, but otherwise..

[Pete Klein]

Thanks Brian -- You've said exactly what I was thinking. I don't have the book so I am unable to reference it but from what I am seeing it has no veracity.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I also agree with Brian R.. I have a copy of Mr. Haynes book but I don't have or seen any examples with a double nakago-ana. Back to my photo work.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Kurikata]

My goal is obviously not to rehash an old thread of more than 12 years old. However when you search the web on "hitsu ana shape" , no much appears.

 

I purshased a shibuichi tsuba some days ago described has being from "late Edo" . Coming back to hitsu ana shapes, one of them make me think that my tsuba could be much more earlier (muromachi ?).

 

What are you views, please ?

 

 

[MauroP]

Of course a "revival" piece can't be ruled out, but a ko-kinkō attribution should be the most obvious attribution... IMHO

[Curran]

I thought "Revival Piece". Nice effort, with proportions a bit more modern in cutting.

What is the size?

 

The larger Revival ones enjoy a good degree of popularity, as the ko-kinko ones are often smaller and sometimes harder to appreciate in their relatively diminutive state.

 

[ROKUJURO]

Wasn't SHIBUICHI a material that was introduced quite late into TSUBA making?  Also, the surface is surprizingly well preserved (or, with other words, does not look 'old' to me).
I vote for the late EDO estimation.

[Kurikata]

  On 4/14/2025 at 6:04 PM, Curran said:

What is the size?

Expand  

Size of the tsuba: 8 cm

 

I didn't think at a revival ko-kinko pièce. But might be the case...

[Kanenaga]

Collectors of Shimizu Jingo tsuba are familiar with many kinds of weird hitsuana.

 

[Jake6500]

The hitsu shape is the type you see in the Muromachi period, however other aspects of the tsuba lead me to think it is a more recent throwback to older styles.

 

I agree with Jean Collin, the material and open design lead me to a late Edo attribution.

[Kurikata]

Thank you all of you for your comments and your point of view. It has helped me a lot.