Translation help wanted

[svarsh]

Sorry for my ignorance. Could anyone read it for me? Thanks in advance.

[cabowen]

Bushu ju Masamitsu

[svarsh]

Thank you, Chris!

[svarsh]

I would be grateful for any other comments regarding this tsuba. I found only one reference on Bushu ju Masamitsu, the signature looks pretty similar (http://www.sakuramatsuriantiques.com/koshirae.php), but it is a very different style tsuba.

[docliss]

This ita tsuba is typical of late Bushū work, made in the C19 when a strong Chōshū influence made the Bushū and Chōshū groups virtually indistinguishable. Of the 20 artists listed in Haynes’ Index … that used this mei, only two also used the ‘Bushū ju’ recognition of their residence, and neither of these seem to be of an appropriate period. It is highly probable that there were several other, unacknowledged Bushū artists signing their work thus.

 

John L.

[svarsh]

Thanks, John. So, there is no reason to suspect that the mei was faked?

[docliss]

No, reason whatsoever. While perfectly competant work, the reputation of such an artist would not justify the copyimg of his mei. Only the masters of this school suffered such forgeries. John L.

[Bernard]

This tsuba (7.1cm X 6.7cm), too, seems to be signed Masamitsu, but some of the kanjis are not the same. Can yo identify it ?

Regards.

Bernard D

[docliss]

Bernard

 

Your beautiful tsuba is inscribed INSHU (NO)JU MASAMITSU with kao, but he is using an alternative kanji for ‘mitsu’, and the Inshu is slightly questionable. Haynes lists only two artists using this kanji; this is by Asagi Masamitsu (H 04198.0), and Haynes illustrates the kao. This artist, working in the Inaba province in the early 1800s, succeeded to the head of his family in 1791 and was appointed as artist to the Bakufu in 1806. Kinkō Meikan shows the mei, without the kao, on pp.425a and b.

 

John L.

[Bernard]

Thank you so much, John !

Best regards.

Bernard D

[Brian]

Another lovely one. Heck of a good carving job!

 

Brian

[Bernard]

Thanks Brian, I like it too...

Bernard D

[raven2]

Wow Bernard,

 

They just keep getting better. It reminds me a little of this one of mine with the great carving: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10279

[Bernard]

A very impressive and beautiful tsuba !

Thank you Fred.

Bernard D

[k morita]

Bernard san,

 

A wonderful collection,museum class !!

Did you know what theme of this Tsuba? The theme is "sandawara"(sa-n-da-wa-ra: 桟俵).

A "sandawara" is a straw lid covering either end of a rice container(also rice-bag).

 

Moreover, there was also an old custom which serve some foods on a sandawara and it dedicates to a shrine.

[Bernard]

K Morita san,

 

Many thanks to you.

 

I didn't know the theme. Very interesting !

 

Bernard D

[Nobody]

Bernard

 

Your beautiful tsuba is inscribed INSHU (NO)JU MASAMITSU with kao, but he is using an alternative kanji for ‘mitsu’, and the Inshu is slightly questionable. ........................

Actually, the first part of the mei reads Chofu (鳥府) ju. That means Tottori (鳥取).

[docliss]

Thank you very much for that, Koichi san - it makes sense. John L.

[Curran]

Wow, what a pleasant one.

 

I recognized the basket design, but didn't know it was:

"sandawara"(sa-n-da-wa-ra: 桟俵).

A "sandawara" is a straw lid covering either end of a rice container(also rice-bag).

 

Moreover, there was also an old custom which serve some foods on a sandawara and it dedicates to a shrine.

[Bernard]

An almost identical tsuba (cf. post #8 ) for sale at AOI Art.

 

Bernard D