Sam Elliott Posted January 23, 2013 Report Posted January 23, 2013 Good day all, The attached photo is the tsuba from a wakizashi I acquired awhile back. When I fisrst saw photos, It was thought to be a turtle in the water, but after closer examination it appears to be a clam. I have done a bit of poking about, but have not made much progress surrounding further identification. I was hoping to appeal to those of you with a greater knowledge base than mine, and in the process learn more about this tsuba. Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers, Sam Quote
Soshin Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Hi Sam E., The lower design in the water is a diving water bird with its head lowered into the water. If you have watched ducks or other water birds do this they stick their buts up in the air and dive their head under water. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
Sam Elliott Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks David..... a diving duck or other water bird makes sense.....clam....yeah, not so much. :lol: I'm still hoping to learn a bit more about the tsuba, so if anyone else has an opinion or informataion, I welcome your input. Cheers, Sam Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Quite possibly a Cormorant looking at the figure on top of the post. Quote
sanjuro Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Franco. Quite possibly a Cormorant looking at the figure on top of the post. Not to be crude, but unless the bird in the water has got eyes in his ass, he's not likely to see the other bird on the post :D Yes, I know I have deliberately misinterpreted your post. Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Keith, although I am an avid birdwatcher , I'm perfectly happy to yield to an authority as yourself on such matters as the asses of fowl, or is that fowl asses, especially when it comes to what they can and cannot see, and thus reserve my comment specifically for the bird depicted on the post on this tsuba. bottoms up. Quote
sanjuro Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Touche'. Or should that perhaps be tushy? Quote
Brian Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Somewhere out there, there is an asylum missing some lunatics. Brian Quote
Travis Clarke Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 Can't contribute much in regards to the tsuba. But Keith, Franco...you guys are hilarious...thanks for the laugh :lol: I needed that one today. Quote
Binnawan Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 Keith, Not to be crude, but unless the bird in the water has got eyes in his ass, he's not likely to see the other bird on the post That could explain the bad breath. Baz Quote
sanjuro Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 Baz. Could be..... But I figure a cormorant who would obviously prefer a shag on the rocks that hangs out with a duck thats only interested in food is likely to get a bum deal anyhow. :D Quote
Ron STL Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 Thanks for the laughs! Somewhere, I've seen this "diving bird" motif before and misread what it was, but have no recollection of where and when. I notice the nakago-ana is opened up a bit (made rectangular) at the "sword ha" end. Wonder if this was used on a naginata at one time. Small mokko shap tsuba...could be. Ron STL Quote
Brian Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 Ron, Well spotted. Seems a likely cause of what is an unusual shape to the ana. Brian Quote
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