Tsuba: Something not quite right?

[CurtisR]

I've been offered this Sukashi Tsuba by a local acquaintance -I examined it under a loupe and it's not cast, but I can't find any reference in the Kanji pages to the mei, which doesn't look "clean" but the patina on the iron does. The Mimi shows decent "bones".

 

Two other things bother me about it:

1) the wear on the brass seems inconsistent with the wear on the iron and seems a little garish.

2) the Mon is 'similar' to 3 Mon in my database, but seems to be rough, and is missing a couple of "grapes" when compared to the actual database mon. I'm thinking that any family would be picky about this?

 

I'm thinking it's gimei, and probably late Showa for export. Am I getting better at this, or am I way off-base? Many thanks for opinions!

 

Sincerely,

 

Curtis R.

[John A Stuart]

Well, it is signed Shoami Shigeyuki saku. It looks right for a mid to late Edo period Shoami tsuba to me. John

[CurtisR]

Hmmm - thanks John! Perhaps my sense of wear in metal vs. metal is off...the iron patina is very pretty, but I couldn't even break the mei down by radicals (although admittedly not my "strong point") - looks like I may have to do some horse-trading.dealing for this one. I do like the design, but that Mon bothered me. I suppose sometimes it was more about form that "exactness" when it came to them. The iron itself looked very similar to one I have that is late Edo, but......

 

OR I've missed a family in my database.

 

Thanks again Sir,

 

Curtis R.

[kaigunair]

Hi Curtis,

 

if by grapes, you mean the paulownia flower buds, in certain other military gunto/gendaitor mounts, the number indicates rank/status. The more the hanging flowers, the higher the rank. Not sure how old this practice goes back. I don't think this particular tsuba is directly tied to reflecting rank, but maybe used it more since it was associated with the imperial family as was a pretty common crest?

 

In a similar vein, my family has used the maru-ni san ken katabami crest, but a version with larger ken blades than your avatar (but I usually go after anything similar). Does your family also use this crest?

[CurtisR]

Very informative, Junici-san - thank you! I hadn't considered the "rank" possibility!

As for the Katabami crest, it is directly linked to Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, which I've studies for about 5 years now and so though it appropriate for my avatar .

 

I'm actually German/Irish, and my German family crest is (and I have no idea WHY)...a log. A simple log cut from a tree . Europeans obviously did not give as much thought to the process in many cases!

 

Curtis R.

[docliss]

Dear Curtis

 

Shōami Shigeyuki (H 08607.0) was a member of the Akita Shōami group and worked in Akita 1650-1700. His signature is reproduced on p.146d of Kinkō Meikan, and appears a good match to that on your tsuba.

 

John L.

[Pete Klein]

I believe this example is most likely from somewhere around 1800 and the mei is rather generic so probably OK but not something one would bother papering. The metal is not in very good condition as it has a grayish, secondarily oxidized look, being uneven, and is probably from manufactured plate, not traditionaly folded, which is why it has oxidized in this manner. It almost looks burnt but that would have diminished the gold so I doubt that has happened. Restoration, if desired is difficult due to the gold application and the poor quality of metal used therefore pieces such as this are most likely best left alone and really not worth the expense/effort to rehabilitate.

 

As for the design my feeling is that it was made for wear to a pleasure district. The motif is not remotely marshal, the purse and inro would not be worn in any serious setting, and the quality is not up to what would be worn by a serious merchant as street wear on a short sword. The kiri mon being displayed at an angle would be somewhat insulting to anyone who held a title high enough to utilize it accordingly on their apparel therefore I get the feeling this is almost a parody, something to be worn at night for sartorial effect and therefore most likely for the pleasure district.

 

BTW, this wear was taken quite seriously as if you did not present yourself properly you would not gain any leverage, so to speak.

[kaigunair]

BTW, this wear was taken quite seriously as if you did not present yourself properly you would not gain any leverage, so to speak.

 

Wow, Pete, really great info on cultural norms and usage context! Didn't realize that even the pleasure district had a dress-code. Very cool info.

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi,I have only one pic of him in my database.I cannot remember,from which book I have taken the Mei.Ludolf

[docliss]

Ludolf, from Kinko Meikan, p.146d, I think. John L.

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi John,thanks!I just found the source:Shin-san (I am using Kokubo's newer edition)

Kinko Meikan,page 124.Ludolf

[CurtisR]

The tilted Mon was a biggie for me, but it makes sense that it could have been a subtle joke, as well as the purse..."I got money, honey", basically :D . Thanks also Ludolph for the example...even though it's not a superb piece, I think I'll try to negotiate for it, as long as I can get it for a reasonable price.

 

Thanks to all --- I learn something new here every day!!

 

Curtis R.

[Soshin]

Hi Curtis R.,

 

Your taste in tsuba is improving! Keep up the good work. This tsuba is much better some of your previous tsuba posted as topics for discussion on NMB.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[CurtisR]

Thanks Mr. Stiles - I very much appreciate the compliment . Such a complex subject, but very enjoyable - and made much more so by all the fine folks here on NMB who've been patient with my "learning curve" LOL.

 

Cheers to all,

 

Curtis R.