Rich Thomas Posted February 4, 2014 Report Posted February 4, 2014 Hi guys, wondering if anyone had info on Tojusai Masakatsu, particularly the period he was active in. He was from the Aizu Shoami school and also studied under the first Ishiguro Masatsune. I don't have the reference books to do further research on him or the school. Here's a tsuba by him that I fell for (I rarely buy tsuba but seem to be zeroing in on this style : ). This is depicting the story of Susanoo, brother of Amaterasu, and when banished from the plains of heaven (cutting a long story short) he arrived on earth (Izumo province) were he encountered a king that had lost 7 of 8 daughters to an eight headed dragon named Yamato no Orichi, to rectify previous misdeeds he set about saving Princess Kushiinada, and on the bank of a river laid a trap of 8 tubs of saki, the dragon having fallen into a stupor after drinking the saki lost his 8 heads to Susanoo, and within the serpents tail Susanoo discovered the sword called Kusanagi ('grass feller'), ... for those of you wondering .... he married the princess. The reason I say I seem to be zeroing in on this style is this is the one I bought in 2009 at the DTI, which seems to have similar style, I would say maybe same school?. This one is by Masahide and dated 1780 ??? Couple more pics in follow up post cheers Rich Quote
Rich Thomas Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Posted February 4, 2014 Couple more from Masahide tsuba Anyway would be interested to know more about these and your thoughts. I love the combination of soft metal and iron, it to me, represents the dichotomy that was the Japanese culture.... the beauty of the geisha and the hardness of the samurai. cheers Rich Quote
Guido Posted February 4, 2014 Report Posted February 4, 2014 From Ginza Chôshûya's February issue: Quote
Rich Thomas Posted February 6, 2014 Author Report Posted February 6, 2014 Guido, naturally you are correct! And it is times like this, or every month when I get the magazine, that I wish I could read Japanese (apart from struggling through the basics)! I'm not sure if the writings in Ginza Joho elaborate any more on Masakatsu?... but if anyone does know a little more about him would be great to know, and really appreciated. I have exhausted my small number of research books on tosogu, and have nothing on him specifically. I understand the aizu shoami school in general has mixed reputation due to their excessive production of coarse manufacture or making of imitations, (unsure if this production referred to is just in latter part of Edo period). However they also had a large number of excellent craftsman, producing some outstanding pieces. The school was active from around 1688 right through after meiji restoration. This piece is beautiful in hand, almost purple black colour to the iron plate which I can't catch in the photo's. cheers Rich Quote
docliss Posted February 6, 2014 Report Posted February 6, 2014 In reply to Rich’s enquiry as to the active dates of Tōjusai Masakatsu, Haynes (H 04109.0) states that there are tsuba by this artist that are dated 1834 and 1840. John L. Quote
John A Stuart Posted February 6, 2014 Report Posted February 6, 2014 I see in the text he is referred to as 皆川政勝 Minagawa Masakatsu. John Quote
Alan Morton Posted February 7, 2014 Report Posted February 7, 2014 Nice piece Rich, Looking forward to seeing it in-hand. Regards Al&Sue Off to Niseko sking on the 26th Feb so seeya after that. Quote
cabowen Posted February 7, 2014 Report Posted February 7, 2014 All it says about him is that he was from the Shoami group from Aizu Wakamatsu and that he also studied in Tokyo with the Ishiguro group. Quote
Rich Thomas Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Posted February 7, 2014 Thanks John, John, Chris appreciated. This seems more elaborate than the normal aizu shoami pieces I've seen before, do you think from the ishiguro influence? Al.... your going skiing? Damn, I'm jealous!! K you can look at it whilst I'm writing on your leg cast! :lol: see ya on the flip side. thanks guys cheers Rich Quote
Rich Thomas Posted February 8, 2014 Author Report Posted February 8, 2014 Akemi - san from Ginza Chosua kindly sent me a little more info on Masakatsu, Masakatsu lived in Iwashiro (present western part of Fukushima prefecture). When he was young, he went to Edo and studied under the first generation Ishiguro Masatsune. Masakatsu was given a part of his master's name "Masa" and returned to his homeland Iwashiro. There are 2 kinds of style in his works. One is shakudo nanakoji takabori Ishiguro style and the other is Aizu Shoami style. Some of his works have date: Tenpo 5 nen (1834), Tenpo 11 nen (1840), Ansei 6 nen (1859). And the weather in Tokyo... It has been snowing since this morning. It is very rare to have such heavy snow in Tokyo. I am worry trains might stop. cheers Rich Quote
steve0 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 wow! a very nice addition to any mans collection. Quote
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