Thick & heavy Tsuba

[kissakai]

These tsuba are from the museum project I’m working on

These all are very thick (a bit like me ). The descriptions are from 1930 and most are described as ‘made by a swordsmith’. Do members think this is correct?

I’ve looked through my books and although some designs are fairly common none are this think so just looking for any more information.

No 3 seems the strangest being so thick and heavy but with some very thin sukashi

 

1) 33 x 70 x 70 x 6.7mm 15C Swordsmith

Crescent and astrological symbols and blacksmith's tongs.

 

 

 

2) 34 x 74 x 70 x 8.0mm 15C - Very late Swordsmith

Vertical cross pieces.

 

 

 

3) 36 x 62 x 57 x 6.7mm 1750 Cira Swordsmith

Small birds

 

 

 

4) 36 x 75 x 72 x 6.2mm 1750 Cira Swordsmith

Convoluted pipe design called the 'herb of a thousand years' of the Sennins

 

 

 

5) 80 x 72 x 70 x 7.9mm 1750 Cira Bushū

Decorated with four stylised ginger shoots

 

 

 

 

Grev UK

[hxv]

Grev,

To my unlearn eyes and pedestrian understanding, the first 4 tsuba are not tosho tsuba by any measure.

Regards,

Hoanh

[kissakai]

I didn't think they were hence but stating the museum's description

Just wonder what they are

 

 

Grev

[Antti]

The second one reminds me of an Akasaka Tadatora tsuba Curran displayed in an earlier topic:

download/file.php?id=45683

The bottom one. The quality might differ but there are similarities in the theme, and both meaty as hell.

[Curran]

The second one reminds me of an Akasaka Tadatora tsuba Curran displayed in an earlier topic:

download/file.php?id=45683

The bottom one. The quality might differ but there are similarities in the theme, and both meaty as hell.

 

Yes. Very similar design. Outer mimi finished different. Don't think it should be attributed as Akasaka on design alone, but start there and look for the other evidence.

 

#1- Wow. Owari or Kanayama depending on whom you ask.

 

#3- ?

#4- I've seen these papered several ways, depending upon when papered. Safest to say "shoami'. Theme is of a demon-devil-imp. A fluent member can probably offer up the name, as I think it is something more specific than Oni. One of these spaghetti limbed martians: http://www.t-touken.com/wp-content/uplo ... 2/0024.jpg

 

#5- I carried an almost identical looking one of these to the 2006 NTHK shinsa in NY-NJ for a Reverend, and the NTHK gave it a Myochin attribution.

That was their call.

 

Conlude: #1, 2, 4, and 5 not Swordsmith tsubas.

[Toryu2020]

Love number three - best of the lot in my opinion

 

If collected in the 19th century they may have known the swordsmith - regardless interesting grouping

 

-t

[Soshin]

Hi Grev,

 

None of these are Tosho tsuba. The first tsuba looks like a Kanayama tsuba circa late Muromachi Period from Owari Province. I wish it was for sale. Knowing it is setting in a museum collecting dust makes feel sad.

[kissakai]

Hi all,

'None of these are Tosho tsuba. The first tsuba looks like a Kanayama tsuba circa late Muromachi Period from Owari Province.'

I agree that none are Tosho but has anybody any idea where they may have been made?

 

I though the thickness and basic style seemed similar and may be an indecator

Obviously not made to decieve so could it just be a provinsional maker?

There are more examples similar to this in the museum hence my post

 

 

Thanks

Grev UK

[Curran]

#1- Owari or Kanayama. Both Attributions = Owari made (think Nagoya area)

#2- Akasaka = Akasaka (Edo/Yedo/Tokyo area)

 

The others are a bit more difficult.

 

IF #5 is agreed as Myochin,

THEN see the long long long Myochin Family of armor makers. Not 100% stationary place, or agreed upon manufacture. More a type of attribution, just like the recent Tokei sukashi attribution thread in another section.

 

#3, #4 get much more vague.

I have seen an identical #4 with old NBTHK green papers, but cannot remember the attribution.

#3 could be attributed based upon shape and what might be inferred in hand. It is beyond me to do so in a photo. Others like Ford or Dr. L might have an opinion. Or Mr. Helm might venture a consult with the NTHK opinion, since this is for an academic museum related pro bono effort. That might be a bit too much to ask, so I beg forgiveness in advance.

 

I truly wish #1 was for sale. I sold my similar one years ago in the belief that I would someday buy a Juyo example. That was unrealistic.

My favorite ex-Jim Gilbert one was snapped up by another forum member here, so finding another unpapered but obvious Is What It Is one has eluded me.

You have shown us some interesting ones over the course of all your work, and this is one that makes me a bit sad to think is hidden stored in the back rooms of a museum.

[kissakai]

Thanks for all your help

 

It appears that No 3 is unable to be defined

I like the heavy then delicate handling of the design

 

 

Grev UK