1st Tsuba purchase; info on "Tomokiyo Kao"

[kaigunair]

Well, picked up my first tsuba, for the occasion to commemorate my upcoming newborn (well, not counting ones that have come as part of a nihonto's koshirare). Really happy with the design, a water dragon for this 2012 year of the dragon. I bought the tsuba because I liked the design and the price was reasonable, but I am interested in learning more about who exactly made this and any info on the school (I think this is choshu, which is a plus since my family history purports we were once bushi in the yamaguchi area eons past).

 

I believe the signature is Choshu Tomokiyo Kao. I can't seem to find this exact smith listed or another of his work to compare with. I've found a few tomokiyo's and Choshu, but none match exactly. I believe there is a more famous tomokiyo tsuba maker, so perhaps this is a gimie (right term?) signature. The kao is relatively stronger/carved deeper than the rest of the kanji, so I wonder if this is the effect of the spacer placement and normal ware, or if the kao was added later. But, unless this is trying to mimic some really famous tomokiyo, not sure why they would do this.

 

I did find a group called "Goto Tomokiyo" so maybe this is related to a group vs a person?

 

Any info on this particular Tomokiyo would be much appreciated. Also opinions on the tsuba itself too. I don't have a macro lense on my sony nex (yet), so sorry I couldn't post better pics of the tsuba iteself. The scales and claws and waves are pretty detailed, so I'm pretty sure its wasn't just a stamp job (but what do I know?)

 

This is what I've found so far on the 'net and the AFU translation of the Nihon to Kozan, Kodogu, the only book I have on the subject.

 

1) Yazu/Yaji School, Nagato (choshu) , Tomokiyo 2nd gen 1688-1704, (p121) Genealogies of Japanese Tsuba and Tôsô-Kinkô Artists By Markus Sesko

Yaji school, ichibei 168801704 (p.241 afu)

Picture: TOMOKIYO SAKU, NAGATO NO KUNI HAGI JU YAJI IPPEI (262 afu)

Obsevations: Kanji for Choshu looks similar but signature hard to determine, no Kao

 

2) Yaji Ke family, shodai Tomokiyo (p.525 afu): Same as above?

 

3) taira tomokiyo (http://www.choshuya.co.jp/1/0706/36/36_3.jpg) also (https://www.aoi-art.com/auction/auction ... 1213703271):

Obsevations: Looks different

 

4) Kaga Ha, Moritaka, mentions a group "Goto Tomokiyo" (p.293 afu)

 

5) Sword Article EXAMINING THE ORIGINS OF SŌSHŪ-DEN by Adrian Schlemmer, Tomokiyo 友清 1293 (not tsuba maker)

[Soshin]

Hi Junichi-san,

 

You clearly have a Choshu school tsuba. Researching anything to do with the Goto school for a iron tsuba like this is pointless as they were soft metal (Kinko) artists that did mostly menuki as well as fuchi-gashira. Some of lower level Goto artists did make tsuba during the Edo Period but they were soft metal and not at all of this style. There might be a few exceptions to this rule during late Edo Period or early Meiji Period. Could you provide a detail front view of the omote side so that the Kanji of the signature is clearly visible. Once I have a good view of your tsuba signature I will look it up in Haynes's Index. Thank you.

 

P.S. I hope this is the first of many.

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[kaigunair]

Thanks David for the following info:

"Choshu Hagi Ju" on the left it is "Tomokiyo" plus kao. In Haynes Index he has two artist in the Choshu school of Hagi, Nagato Province using the artist name Tomokiyo. The fist one (index ID# H09935.0) is circa 1772 and the second one (index ID# H09934.0) circa 1850 during the late Edo Period. From looking at your tsuba and reading some of Haynes's notes I would think your tsuba is the work of the second Tomokiyo working circa 1850.

 

Anyone have any pics or examples of the 2nd Tomokiyo? Would love a comparison pic!

 

Thanks in advance!

[Hinawaju]

Hi,

This one is supposed to be the earlier one.

Choshu Hagi Ju Nyudo Tomokiyo.

 

Regards,

Guy R.

[kaigunair]

Thanks Guy. Seems like the first one does have more examples (just my luck). Still looking for the 2nd.....

[yogoro]

Here another early Choshu Tomokiyo tsuba .

Both side signed : 長州萩住 八道市平 友清作

Choshu Hagi Ju Yaji Ichihei Tomokiyo Saku.

Ichihei Tomokiyo 市平 友清  ,Genroku 1688-1704 Yaji family , Haynes H09931.0.

[kaigunair]

Thanks yogoro. Very similar to the example if the yaji/yazi example

I've seen. Still my luck that there are examples

Of the earlier tomokiyos out there but not the later one which is probably my smith....

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi,from the mei pics in my database it's

not the Tomokiyo from the Kawaji-Family (Haynes H 09930) or

the one from the Yaji-Family (Haynes H 09931).

I don't have examples of the 2 possible ones ( what family/school?) in my database and my books:

Haynes H 09934 and H 09935.Ludolf

[Soshin]

Hi Ludolf,

 

From the characteristics of the workmanship I would think this tsuba is a product of either H 09934 (circa 1850) or H 09935 (circa 1772). They both would sign "Choshu Hagi Ju" along with Tomokiyo. The question now remains is the kao on the tsuba. Does anyone have records containing examples of the two kao used by these two different artists? If so how does it compare to the one on the tsuba?

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[kaigunair]

Thanks Ludolf and david. Guess I'm still hopeful that someone has a pic floating out there for the other tomokiyos...

 

I pulled this from a PM sent by david on the two more probably smiths (thanks!)

 

- Tomokiyo, Choshu Hagi ju (H09935.0) Date: 1772. Seems later than the Yaji artist of this name. Has one tsuba dated Meiwa 9 which is 1772. A reference Haynes cites is Hara 1931, p. 211 and the owner a Ms. Langweil of Paris. I am not familiar with that book or the owner. (This might be it as he would only sign: "Tomokiyo, Choshu Hagi ju".)

 

- Tomokiyo, Choshu Hagi ju (H09934.0) Date: 1850. Haynes site as source as the Kawaguchi magazine #14 p. 27 center 6. (I think this might be the artist who made your tsuba as he would just sign "Tomokiyo, Choshu Hagi ju".)

 

Can anyone provide any additional info on the references "hara" and "kawaguchi magazine"?

 

I really appreciate all the help of the members in trying to identify and confirm this obscure smith. Thank you and I am very grateful for the help!

[kaigunair]

Well, some info on the references with possible pictures:

"Hara, 1931" - I think this is a german language book! There appears to have been a reprint done in 2010, but it also looks like the info may have been incorporated into hayes; a good chance the reference in hayes might only be to a named reference and not an image of a tsuba. If anyone can tell me if 2010 reprint contains a pic of tomokiyo's work and not just a reference to the name, I'd probably go out a buy a copy since its pretty reasonable.

 

the jggilbert webpages states:

Die Meister Der Japanischen Schwertzieraten

Hara Shinkichi

1931, Museums fur Kunst und Gewerbe un Hamburg

OK, it's in German, not English, but it's easy to read. This is a great list of kodogu makers with the Kanji, dates and provinces. It's not much when it comes to pictures, but a very valuable reference for names. This information is now included within the Haynes index.

 

original copy listed on satcho.com:

DIE MEISTER DER JAPANISCHEN SCHWERTZIERATEN

HARA Shinkichi (1931/32)

Two volumes: Hara's listing of fittings artists (1931) and its appendix (1932). This German-language text is prefaced by historical survey and followed by a 14-page listing of schools and their genealogies. The appendix is a separate volume dedicated to photographic plates of tosogu with an emphasis on signatures. Both books were published as a soft cover only -- given the age and format there are few copies remaining. This is a rare opportunity to obtain both volumes of this seminal text.

291/83 Pages in two volumes, 5¾ x 11½" softcover

 

Full text online at:http://www.archive.org/stream/japanischeschwe00jacogoog/japanischeschwe00jacogoog_djvu.txt

(This may be a picture of tsuba #211, but only text in the above link:)

211. Tsuba, rund, aus Eisen, durchbrochen, mit Einlagen von verschiedenen Metallen

vollrund ausgearbeitet, der Held Benkei (mit den sieben Waflfen), mit Yoshi-

tsune auf der Gojo-Brücke kämpfend. — Anfang des 18. Jahrh.

 

211th Tsuba, round, made of iron, pierced with deposits of various metals fully worked around the hero Benkei (with the seven Waflfen), with Yoshi-Tsune fighting on the Gojo Bridge. - Early 18th Century

 

having a harder time figuring out the kawaguchi publication.

[kaigunair]

found a full copy of the book online. reference on tomokiyo is on p180 not p211. no picture, just a reference to a collection as previously stated.

http://books.google.com/books?id=L9IDAA ... en&f=false

 

indicates there were 3 smiths:

yamichi

ippei

hagi (nagato)