New Higo Tsuba....

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I have a new Higo tsuba up on my homepage something else I picked up in trade at the Tampa show. The fine designs carved into the plate is of the Imperial Paulownia Seal (go-shichi no kirimon 五七桐紋) as well as the more common (san-go no kirimon 三五桐紋) along a arabesque pattern and very fine radiating chisel marks (amida-yasuri 阿弥陀鑢). The very fine radiating chisel marks are not clear in the photo due to a focus issue. This is a very large tsuba that measures at 8.5 cm wide by 9.0 cm high. The thickness at the turned up rim is 5.7 mm but much thinner at the seppa-dai. The rim display nice iron bones as well. Just wanted to share and enjoy.

[raven2]

A very nice piece, Dave. I saw it at the show and was impressed.

[Soshin]

Hi Fred D.,

 

Thanks for the reply. Based upon the two style of carved kiri-mon designs (being very pro Emperor) and the robust size I would date this tsuba to the Bakumatsu era at the end of the Edo Period (1853-1868). I find it interesting that the nakago-ana is ubu (unaltered) meaning the tsuba was only fitted to a single nihonto in its history.

[runagmc]

I don't really study tsuba, but I like this one. The light katakiri bori and shape of hitsuana (are these called hitsuana?) are nice addition to the iron mokkogata plate...

 

Speaking of addition, I wonder if this is all original, or some elements are later additions?

[Soshin]

Hi Adam L.,

 

The carving is not katakiri-bori as here is no sharp angles and iron is only displaced and not removed. The carving is more similar to what I have seen on Nobuie or Nobuie style tsuba I have seen. I think the Japanese term for that style of carving is giri-bori. The best person to ask is Henry W. or Pete K. who has study it more then me.

[runagmc]

Hi David, some of the leaves look katakiri, but I'll take your word for it... anyway, nice tsuba...

[Soshin]

Hi Adam L.,

 

That is just the angle of the kiri leaves in the mon designs. The cross section of the carving marks should be "L" shaped for katakiri-bori (half cut carving). The cross section of the carving marks on my tsuba are rounded and more "u" shaped which I think would classify them as ke-bori. The lack of depth remind me of Nobuie tsuba but I think the carving style used by Nobuie was specific to Nobuie alone and not copied in the Edo Period but I can be wrong. But you are right regardless it is a nice tsuba that is really what matters thanks for the discussion. :D

 

P.S. Does anyone know what the openwork designs are? I have seen them on other Higo tsuba.

[MauroP]

Hi David,

I think the style of carving could be called kōsuki-bori (甲鋤彫). See Markus Sesko Handbook of Sword Fittings Related Terms, p. 21. Bye, Mauro

[Marius]

Any examples of simliar Higo tsuba? Especially with such mimi?

[Michael 101]

Hi David,

 

I have to agree with the last comment - I would look to another school - perhaps Myochin rather than Higo for this tsuba. The hitsu style is very Higo in style but the mimi is not.

 

I think you have its age spot on - at that late period many schools designs merged and Myochin and others such as Norisuke were masters at copying the latest fashions.

 

However its a really nice tsuba so well done on adding it to your collection.

 

Kindest regards

 

Michael

[Soshin]

Any examples of simliar Higo tsuba? Especially with such mimi?

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Yes I agree with Mariusz and Micheal the rim is really too nice for just some late Higo style tsuba. Myochin is a good choice as they worked with this style of carving and very fine file marks along the plate as well as the rim style with intentional iron bones. I find it funny that 3/5 tsuba picked up at the Tampa show where Katchushi style. I will photograph the final tsuba this coming weekend which has a Buddhist theme. :D

[Marius]

I did enjoy this tsuba - very good hammer work, very well executed mimi and very nice carving. A very nice addition David

 

Looking forward to seeing the last one

[Soshin]

Hi David,

I think the style of carving could be called kōsuki-bori (甲鋤彫). See Markus Sesko Handbook of Sword Fittings Related Terms, p. 21. Bye, Mauro

 

Hi Mauro P.,

 

Thanks for the note I have a copy of Mr. Sesko very helpful book. The description, example given in iron, and time period for this type of carving does all make sense. It is stated that technique is applied in the same way as ke-bori.

 

Hi Mariusz,

 

Thank you we both agree the tsuba is nice including the tsuchimei-ji base. The last tsuba from the Tampa show I think is older.

[Curran]

I thought it was one of these when shown to me in Tampa:

 

http://www.touken-sakata.com/%E5%88%80% ... %E4%BD%9C/

 

Stumbled on this tsuba today and figured I would throw over the link.

[Soshin]

Hi Curran,

 

I have seen a similar nice tsuba made by a Shinshinto swordsmith around the late Edo Period. Here is a Hozon example I found: http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2011/1110_6032syousai.htm but I feel my tsuba is better in quality, bolder, and more comparable to this Tokubetsu Hozon Nobuie utsushi made by this school: http://www.shoubudou.co.jp/tuba-493.html.

[John A Stuart]

Interesting that Currans link is to a Jiro Taro Chokukachi (Ryoko) tsuba and David links to the same artist, but, different tsuba. John

[Curran]

John,

 

You have me a bit confused. Maybe I am translating the website Japanese wrong.

 

I linked to a Naokatsu tsuba.

David linked to two different tsuba both by Naoaki, a student of Naokatsu...and apparently also a student of famed Natsuo [i didn't know that until I just looked it up 2 minutes ago].

 

Either way, we seem to be hitting a fairly tight grouping on the dart board.

Naokatsu had a son named the same, doing similar work, and possible a grandson.

 

I think St. Louis Ron here on the board has a few tsuba from this school, but might be getting my wires crossed.

[John A Stuart]

Yes, 次郎太郎直勝 I translated Jirotaro Naokatsu as Jirotaro Chokukachi and see the other 直鏡 Naoaki is a student of... My fault for reading too fast. The tsuba sure are obviously the same school. One bannock slap for me. John

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I often refer to these tsuba makers as the "Nao School". Many if not all were swordsmiths as well and they were centered around Edo. Does anyone know what the formal name of the school was? They were briefly covered in the NBTHK monthly maginze that I am still looking for.

[John A Stuart]

That's a good question. As their main trade was as swordsmiths through Naotane and they made excellent copies of Nobuie tsuba. A retainer of the Akimoto house of Tatebayashi and lived in Edo Shitaya. It seems the go Naoaki was used also by Naokatsu, the same artist. By this information the two linked tsuba are indeed both by Naokatsu. The term in the text for the carving done is kebori. John

[Soshin]

Hi John S.,

 

I gathered the carving technique being ke-bori from the text. The additional information is helpful and I was thinking a nihonto reference might be helpful as well in determining more information about this school. Here is a Tokubetsu Kicho papered example I found of this school's work: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/tsuba27.html. The "big dimple" and its placement reminds me of something similar to what is on the upper left corner of the ura side of my tsuba. A little bit of what looks like "battle damage" that disrupts a part of the kiri-mon design at that location. A similar disruption can be observed at about the exact same location on the Tokubetsu Hozon example that I linked to earlier. I think this is a consistent practice of the school to make the appearance of old age and actual use often found on classic Nobuie tsuba.

 

P.S. I was looking through my books and came across three tsuba all made by shinshinto swordsmith Jirotaro Naokatsu in the KTK 2009 catalogue pages 62-63 in the collection of Ron Hartmann. The books states that he was the adopted son and student of well-known swordsmith Naotane. He lived from 1805-1859. It goes on to say that it was popular for swordsmith to make tsuba as a hobby, often studying and copying the techniques used by famous tsubako such as Nobuie. All three examples display excellent iron, patina, sukinokoshi-mimi (turned up rim), and some tsuba have ke-bori or sukashi.

[Soshin]

Hi John S. and Curran,

 

Thank you so much for the information. I have updated my website. I found some helpful information on Haynes Index page 1312. Naoaki (H 06591.0) was a swordsmith that lived in Edo and had a working period between 1850 and 1875 and was a student of Naokatsu (H 06661). Was my tsuba made by Naoaki? These three examples posted all look very similar to my tsuba in my opinion.

 

P.S. If anyone has a nihonto made by Naoaki or Naokatsu circa the late Edo Period please post photos of the nakago as if would be helpful to my research. Thank you in advance.