Owari and Kanayama Tsuba

[hxv]

I am slowly learning about Owari and Kanayama tsuba. There are a couple of questions I have and would appreciate guidance on.

 

1. From pictures that I see on the internet and on dealers' websites, and from writing and pictures from Sasano's Early Japanese Sword Guards, there seems to be very little tangible difference between early Owari and early Kanayama tsuba in terms of size, tekkotsu, mimi, dished seppa dai, iron color and texture, open iron work, etc. It is said that Kanayama tsuba are abstract with difficult-to-interpret designs. Some so-called Owari tsuba (by NBTHK papers) have this same trait, too. It's also said (per Sasano) that Kanayama tsuba have "slightly more oblong seppa dai." I have a hard time understanding how one can say A is Owari and B is Kanayama when a lot of the times, it can go either way. The difference seems to be open to personal interpretation. Can someone please help me understand?

 

2. In Sasano's "Early Japanese Sword Guards," he was adamant that iron tsuba should not be handled with bare hands. On the other hand, it seems to be the consensus of this board that it is safe to handle iron tsuba by hand. How do I reconcile the difference?

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[Marius]

Ad 1: This shows that attribution is not an exact science. After all, "Kanayama" is a construct for a caertain sort of Owari tsuba. It is not even certain, that a "Kanayama" school has ever existed at all. A "Kanayama" TYPE of tsuba is a different thing. Small, thick, tekkotsu-packed tsuba with typical Owari iron will be attributed to "Kanayama" almost automatically. Not only them, of course, but such tsuba are seen as iconic Kanayama.

 

Ad 2: If your sweat is not particularly aggressive, you can handle iron tusba and their patina should even improve - the same rule applies to the nakago. It might be harmful to handle tsuba with soft metal inlays, as the patina on the alloys could deteriorate.

[Soshin]

Hi Hoanh,

 

Now its time for your Rorschach test. Tell me what comes to mind when you see the following images....

The measurements are 7.0 ✕ 7.0 cm, 6.0 mm at rim. I purchased it unpapered as a Momoyama Period Kanayama tsuba and now thinks it is a 16th century Owari Sukashi tsuba. This tsuba in both photographs was submitted to NBTHK shinsa in February of this year. I hope the NBTHK is almost done with their Rorschach test. :lol:

 

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[hxv]

David,

 

My gut instincts say Owari.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[Jean]

I'll say Owari.

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15239

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for the links Jean. Well the NBTHK have just completed their Rorschach test I just received the unofficial results yesterday late from Bob Benson. Once they put the results in writing (i.e. official) and I have the tsuba and paper back I will do a formal Kantei (i.e. Rorschach test) on the Tosogu forum.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Ed]

my bet is on Owari.