Tametsugu Koshirae

[Jean]

After 4 years, I have just received the original Koshirae to my Tametsugu.

 

Any idea on the Fuchi/Kashira school - idem for the menuki?

 

Tsuba: 6,9cmx7,5cmx0,5cm; I think it is Yagyu school.

[Soshin]

  Jean said:

Tsuba: 6,9cmx7,5cmx0,5cm; I think it is Yagyu school.

 

Hi Jean,

 

The only Yagyu school is the Yagyu Shinkage ryu school of marital arts. Generally tsuba like these they are referred to as Yagyu tsuba. I would need to see the rim and inside of the sukashi as Yagyu tsuba would often show visible layers and tekkotsu. The design itself would also need to be listed in the Yagyu family design books. There is a few references I need to check in regards to the design once I return home. Regardless very nice tsuba thanks for posting. :D

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Stephen]

Jean i like em, enjoy the theme as well.

[Jean]

Pity is that the lacquer saya has totally dried and that it is peeling/flaking away revealing the wood and the kojiri is broken. The blade fits perfectly on the saya, some adjustement to be done with the tsuka (mekugi ana is not perfectly aligned between the tsuka and the nakago. So within a fortnight it will leave home for a clinic

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Jean,

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

May I suggest that the menuki are a rendition of Shi shi mai gashira; a protective totem which was set by the bed of a new born male child to ensure immunity from evil influences.

 

Your Fuchi Kashira depict threads and bobbins for Nishijin ori weaving.

 

And here, if I may share, is a real visual treat, a documentary by the inimitable Matsumoto Toshio about the Nishijin area of Kyoto and its many and varied inhabitants from 1961.

 

It's very "Arty" firmly based in the spirit of the "Nouvelle Vague":

 

 

Cheers

[Soshin]

Hi Jean,

 

I see two very similar designs to your tsuba in the book Owari to Mikawa no Tanko pages 112 and 113. Let me know and I can PM you a photo of these two pages. I also know that the three generations of Norisuke school in Owari would often use Yagyu designs and would do variations of those designs. This school was responsible for producing many of the later generation of Yagyu tsuba during the late Edo Period in Owari Province. Here is an example of a Ko-dai Yagyu tsuba in my collection on my website: http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#!tsubaof-owari-provice/cxco.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[kaigunair]

that's really great...being able to reunite a blade with its koshirae. Always nice to see history kept together. Too many items separated just to make a buck. And to keep up with it for four years!

[nihonto1001]

Jean:

 

That is awesome you were able to re-unite the koshirae to such a fine blade.

 

I have always liked the works of Tamestugu. Please post a pic of it when you get a chance.

 

I remember one that Ted Tenold had a while back that was exceptional.

[Jean]

Jon,

 

Here it is

 

  Quote

Tametsugu

 

Juyo Token, 46th Session

Designated October 5th, 2000

 

Dimensions

 

Nagasa: 67.8 cm

Motokasane: 3.25 cm

Motohaba: 3.2 cm

Sakihaba: 2.5 cm

Sakikasane: 2.55

Kissaki Length: 6.2 cm

Nakago Length: 18.6 cm

 

 

Keijo: Shinogi zukuri with mitsumune. The mihaba is wide with only slight difference between motohaba and sakihaba. The sori is deep and the kissaki long.

 

 

Kitae: Mokume mixed with itame. There is abundant jinie with chikei frequently inserted

 

 

Hamon: Gunome displayed on a notare toned pattern, with ko-ashi, abundant nie throughout and copious sunagashi accompanied by kinsuji. The nioiguchi tends to be shizumi (subdued).

 

 

Boshi: Midarekomi, saki returns in komaru. The kaeri is slightly shorter on the sashiomote

 

 

Horimono: Futasujihi with ends in kakinashi on both sashiomote and sashiura.

 

 

Nakago: O-suriage with sujikai yasurime, 2 mekugiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although there are conflicting theories among various sources, Tametsugu is most commonly thought to be the son of Go Yoshihiro, and the student of Etchu Norishige. The relationship of Yoshihiro to Norishige and their proximity to each other could support the theory that Tametsugu was taken in by Norishige perhaps as a result of Yoshihiros death at a young age, which is thought to have been about 27 -30 years old. As with many other smiths and schools in the Koto period, the working time frames lead to questions regarding this, and more study is needed.

 

However, examining his works, one can readily recognize the influence of Soshu Den and specifically the Norishige School. The mokume and itame is hadatachi (“stands up” or conspicuous) and carries much nie and chikei. Where there is great similarity, also stands a defining difference by comparison in that Tametsugu’s works are noted to have a “shizumi”, or more subdued yakiba (in the context of being less bright, or appearing to be below the surface), and the jigane lends to less vibrancy than Norishige. Albert Yamanaka notes that Tametsugu works were very similar to Norishige though slightly inferior, probably a statement driven by this subdued nature of Tametsugu’s yakiba and jigane. Given the quality that Norishige achieved, the description of “slightly inferior” by comparison still clearly illustrates a skilled and highly notable work in and of itself. Additional merit to this smith is seen in a comment Albert Yamanaka also wrote regarding Go Yoshihiro;

 

…of the very few smiths that followed [GO] YOSHIHIRO and his style, probably the most outstanding and whose works we often encounter is that of TAMETSUGU and in many cases, the better of TAMETSUGU’s works are passed off as YOSHIHIRO, though actually, there is a world of difference in the skill of these two smiths, like the sun and the moon.

 

So what we can derive from these various statements, is that at first glance the work looks like a Norishige, but does not quite reach the same impact, it may well be Tametsugu, but certainly not Yoshihiro.

 

Tametsugu is thought to have entered the Norishige mon about Ryakuo (1338-1342 Northern Dynasty dating) has signed and dated works starting from Enbun Ni Nen (1357 ND). He moved to Mino province eventually and due to the fact that a work he signed Echizen no Kuni Fujiwara Tametsugu dated Oan Ni Nen (1369 ND) and another he signed Noshu ju Fujiwara Tametsugu dated Oan Shichinen (1375 ND) it can be seen that he moved sometime within this span of about 6 years.

 

When Tametsugu left Etchu province for Mino, and his contemporary of the Norishige mon, Sanekage, moved to Kaga, this left only the Uda School as the only notable kaji in Etchu province.

 

 

This sword was subject of the first AB NBTHK Kantei

[docliss]

The tsuba is, to me, very suggestive of the Owari Norisuke school. John L.

[ROKUJURO]

Jean,

 

a beautiful blade as you should expect from a JUYO!

 

J'ai l'impression que les dimensions des KASANE (épaisseur) ne sont pas correcte.

[Jean]

Yes Jean, it is mm

[John A Stuart]

Jean, I wish you had pictures that showed the interesting attributes of your sword better. All I see really is the hadori, even magnified. Do you have some good ones? Did you not post some before that were better? John

[runagmc]

Very nice Jean

It looks to have very nice shape, even as osuriage...

Does anyone have good pics of any other examples by Tametsugu? He's a smith I'm not very familiar with...

[nihonto1001]

Jean:

 

That is actually the one I saw. I wanted it. Beautiful sword. One of my favorites thus far. I was impressed mostly about its sugata.

 

Incredible that you were able to find such a close fit. It may even be the koshirae. I assume you will have it done up nice.

 

Thanks for posting the photo.

[Jean]

John,

 

I can e-mail you the best res picture I have, but it won't add much. You can see the hada by enlarging the picture. The hamon is impossible to see because of the hadori, it is fabulous but almost impossible to capture. You have to look directly to a bulb at a 30° angle along the blade to see it. tsunagashi, kinsuji...

Even the hada see in whole is very much like Norishige

 

Jon,

 

It is the original koshirae and it is rather plain/ordinary :D

[Bruno]

Hi Jean,

 

What about posting a photo of the complete koshirae?

[nihonto1001]

I am not a big fan of separating koshirae from blade for financial gain. Its great you were able to save a little piece of history. Conservative koshirae, for a wild blade, love it.

[John A Stuart]

That's OK Jean, I'll have to wait until I get to Paris. John

[Jean]

I am waiting for you John :D

[Jean]

Adam,

 

A Tametsugu tanto. He is a sought after smith and seldom encounter for sale. For 20 Norishige, I have only seen 3 Tametsugu.

[b.hennick]

Hi Jean et al:

I am surprized that you have seen 20 Norishige. Bob Benson mentioned to me at the Chicago show the possibility of having a display of only Norishige works in a Meibutsu room at a sword show. I doubt that there will be 20 Norishige blades there. I know of about 6 in North America. A friend has a Tametsugu (juto) that is very nice.

[Jean]

Barry,

 

All depends on the context. At DTIs, I have seen 3/4 and in 40 years of collecting I must have seen a good score for sale.

[Jean]

Pictures of the Koshirae and of the damaged lacquer

[runagmc]

Jean, I happened to run across this Juyo Tametsugu and thought it may be of interest... The hada appears to be outstanding... http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/JT989035.htm

[Jean]

Adam,

 

To compare here is the oshigata of mine from the Juyo Zufu

[christianmalterre]

Very nice Jean!!!!

 

(just please do honour me pleasure in changing this Sageo here :? )

(actually looks like "beach beauty" or "little smart girl"- :D -LOL!)

Cheers

Christian

[Higo-san]

Hi Jean,

 

a very similiar (signed) tsuba has been sold some weeks ago at Klefisch auction house: http://www.klefisch.com/index.php?page_ ... emid=20037

 

Therefore your tsuba could be classified as a Owari Bishu tsuba .

 

Beautiful tsuba and sword, by the way...

 

Kind regards,

 

Chris

[Jean]

Thanks a lot Chris for the info. :D

[Dr Fox]

Jean

I am fascinated in the story of the separation and now the re-uniting of your swords koshirae, have the details of this event been posted before?

Denis.