Help on a namban tsuba

[Bernard]

Hello everybody,

I know that these namban tsubas are fairly common and not highly regarded. I tried to find a similar one on the Internet, but I did not succeed.

My question is on the inscriptions inside the circles. What are they (family crests, chinese characters,...) ?

Regards.

Bernard D

[Bazza]

Chinese seal characters??? This tsuba looks very much like my Namban tsuba I have posted here before, although only the pierced and beaded rim is similar, with mine having a completely different theme and it has gold nunome zogan over the entire surface. Bernard, never mind the "not highly regarded" comments - FWIW I think this is a very good and lovely tsuba. BTW, I presume your pics are colour, although they have the "look" of high quality B&W????

Best regards,BaZZa.

 

Edit: and it looks like Tanaka style copper "fillers" (you know what I mean!) have fallen out...

[ROKUJURO]

....I know that these namban tsuba(s) are fairly common and not highly regarded. I tried to find a similar one on the Internet, but I did not succeed. My question is on the inscriptions inside the circles. What are they (family crests, chinese characters,...)?.....

 

Bernard,

 

NAMBAN TSUBA are certainly a special subject but in terms of quality yours is a very good one in my eyes!

 

I am sure the ten Chinese KAISHO characters will tell a story to the experts, maybe a poem! The unique TAGANE marks may lead to identify a school or even a maker.

[docliss]

Bernard, a question before I comment on your unusual Namban tsuba. Is the tsuba openwork, since the shading on your photographs gives the appearance of a solid plate tsuba?

 

John L.

[Bernard]

Thank you, Bazza, Jean and John!

@Bazza:these are colour pics.

@John:the tsuba is openwork.

Bernard D

[docliss]

Thank you Bernard.

 

This is a very interesting tsuba with many of the defining characteristics of the Namban group, being of iron, with a decorative, chrysanthemoid mimi and with openwork decoration and undercutting. It is unusual in that it features 10 Chinese characters rather than the ubiquitous affrontés dragons with the tama jewel, has no gold decoration, and has a traditional seppa-dai and a contemporaneous kozuka-hitsu.

 

I have never before seen a tsuba of this group with these Chinese decorative features, but it should be classified as a Namban tsuba of the early nineteenth century.

 

John L.

[Antti]

As a newbie, I've noticed that it sometimes takes a certain time before one starts to appreciate certain schools. For me, Yagyu for example, has been getting more and more attractive over time. When it comes to Namban, I've never found a single attractive example. They always... try too hard with their ornate designs, which, in my eyes, end up looking somewhat cheap.

 

But this is probably the first pleasing Namban tsuba I've seen! I especially like the very robust nakago hitsu ana, especially when compared to other Namban tsuba I've seen.

Thanks for sharing Bernard.

[Fred Geyer]

Antti,

 

With Namban you have not seen really good items, as with many schools what is common and seen everyday is just stuff and people then say that all are bad. Shomai tsuba most say they are all just average , but main line stuff.... outstanding!! . Tanaka tsuba are good, mainline Holy Crap they are the best metal work you have ever held in your hand, Higo ..a lot of stuff out there and then mainline WOW in iron nothing better!! With the Namban look at the high end fully under cut Hizen tsuba that are 3.5 to 4 inch x 1/4 inch think with the entire tsuba screaming of quality.

 

Fred

[Fred Geyer]

you also find ones like this once in a life time

[kusunokimasahige]

That is a great one !!

 

Made from the Dutch coin called a Gouden Rijder (Gold Coin)

 

 

 

Around 1750.

 

Cant see clearly from which specific city this one is.

 

 

And a silver one : (called Zilveren Rijder)

 

 

There are several types of course. You might be able to post an image of the other side for us

 

KM

[Bazza]

Sekigane, that's what I meant (I learnt in Japanese language study to "follow the discourse...").

 

Since this has turned into a Namban thread thought I would put up my Namban tsuba again, more especially as it has a beaded rim very similar to mine, whereas mine is covered with gold. Apologies to those who have seen it before, but it might be new grist for many others. The tsuba is 75mm wide x 82mm high x 6mm thick. The front is noticeably convex to the extent of the sides being approx. 2mm lower than the seppa dai. Interestingly, the tsuba back is "flat" without any curvature. It is also not perfectly circular, being more of an oblate spheroid (slightly pear-shaped, no puns please!). John L also noted early 19th century. Mine garnered an NBTHK Green Paper in New York something like 40 years ago. If I remember correctly the attribution at that time was "late 17th century". My memory may be uncertain. Under the gilt plate on the tsuba front is a seppa dai of stylised clouds as per the back side.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Bernard]

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your replies.

I forgot to indicate the measurements of my tsuba : 7.2cm X 6.3cm.

Best regards.

Bernard D

[Antti]

Mr. Geyer, I have seen one of those coin-tsuba before I think. I think it was in an old topic here, and I saw it when going through the forum.

 

When it comes to that Hizen tsuba you mentioned, do you mean something like this?

http://www.nihonto.us/HIZEN%20NAMBAN%20TSUBA.htm

I find it very pleasing. However it seems that, for me, pleasing Namban tsuba are still very few and far between.

[Fred Geyer]

No, not just a plate. A lot of the open work tsuba are Hizen works. will take photos tonight .

[DirkO]

you also find ones like this once in a life time

 

Hi Fred,

 

A very similar, if not the exact same, tsuba was discussed here:

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4608&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[Fred Geyer]

Yep, that is mine! when this was posted before I had already had it in hand

 

Fred

[kusunokimasahige]

One big error in that topic. Utrecht is not, nor has it ever been in Gelderland.

 

More info on the Dutch Republic:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic

 

KM