Iron sukashi tsuba by who?

[Ron STL]

For awhile now I've been struggling with identifying who made this iron sukashi tsuba. It definitely seems to have Choshu characteristics, but it must be something else. The right side of the mei looks more like a town name "----gawa ju" since it'snot a province. As for the tsuba-ko, one thought was Munenaga, but again I'm not quite convinced the first kanji reads "mune." Can anyone take us one step closer to identifying the tsuba? The tsuba does have a glossy look to it which, as David pointed out to me, could be ibota wax. It doesn't appear burnt.

Ron STL

[raven2]

I am not very good at mei but I believe it could be Kawaji. If so, it would make it Choshu. The workmanship certainly looks like Choshu to me. The color is a little light and that would probably make it late Edo.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Here is the content of my email I sent to Ron about the tsuba that is the topic of this discussion.

 

Dear Ron,

 

 

Here is what I have so far on the mei. I hope you find it helpful.

 

 

Left side of Seppa-dai:

Munenaga shaku (宗長作)

 

 

Right Side of Seppa-dai:

X州住 (?shû ju)

 

 

It would make sense that the X would be a character for a province but I have checked and it doesn’t match to any known province. I check in Haynes Index and 14 artists used that name but no one that would sign like that and most were members of the Myochin school. The surface of the tsuba looks like it was treated with ibota wax.

 

Hi Fred D.,

 

No I don't think it is the Kanji for the Kawaji (河治) family one of the main schools of Chôshû (長州) tsuba. The tsuba could still be a Chôshû but by an unrecorded artist. The openwork design is done ubuzukashi and is likely identical on both sides. I would need to see the ura to confirm this.

[Ron STL]

David, the design of actually the backside of the front design; front on a flower or leave, back of flower or leave when turning the tsuba over, as done on Choshu work. By the way, I think your thoughts on ibota wax causing the gloss is very likely correct.

Ron STL

[Soshin]

Hi Ron,

 

So the design is not identical on both sides. I have seen it both ways on some Chôshû tsuba but I am not a expert in that school. John S. knowns much more about about Chôshû tsuba then I do.

[raven2]

Thanks for the info Dave. I am still thinking Choshu.

[Ron STL]

I've heard that ko-Hagi (if that's the correct name for early Choshu tsuba) were made with both sides identical. The tsuba I use with my name on NMB is one of those earlier tsuba; it is identical on both sides. I'll also attach a copy of p. 163, Tsuba Kodogu Kantei Nyumon that shows a signed example of this same design. Mei is: Choshu Hagi ju Kawaji saku (note the Kawaji, Fred). I've no idea if this book example is identical both sides or not.

Ron STL

[John A Stuart]

Ron, can we see a pic of the whole tsuba? I was thinking the place could be 枅川 Hijikawa or Hijikigawa and probably Munenaga, but, going cross-eyed on that first kanji, even playing with other similar. John

[Brian]

Moving this to translation section for more attention, then will move it back once we have a confirmed mei.

 

Brian

[Ron STL]

John, I think your correct with the placename on this tsuba. I did have a full view with my intiial posting. See if that helps. Ron STL

[John A Stuart]

The nanori 'naga' appears in late Edo Sunagawa school mei. The thing is at later dates Bushu and Choshu influences are strong within the school. The treatment of the cherry blossoms in particular lead me there. John

[Markus]

Also not sure about the one above "naga". Can be "Mune" (宗) but also "Hide" (栄・榮) is

possible although I wasn´t able to find such a Hidenaga in Haynes.

 

As for the right side, it is definitely "Yanagawa-jû" (桺川住) using the older variant

of "yana(gi)" (柳).

[John A Stuart]

That's interesting. I equate Yanagawa with kinko artists, mostly on soft metal plate, occasionally iron plate. Long way from Edo or Choshu (Nagato). John

[DirkO]

I've heard that ko-Hagi (if that's the correct name for early Choshu tsuba) were made with both sides identical. The tsuba I use with my name on NMB is one of those earlier tsuba; it is identical on both sides. I'll also attach a copy of p. 163, Tsuba Kodogu Kantei Nyumon that shows a signed example of this same design. Mei is: Choshu Hagi ju Kawaji saku (note the Kawaji, Fred). I've no idea if this book example is identical both sides or not.

Ron STL

 

Here are some more examples that are identical on both sides: