Ko-Nara Style Tsuba?

[GregN]

Hi all, I would like to present to the Forum a recent acquisition to my growing collection of tsuba. I think this tsuba is in the Ko-Nara style, mid-Edo. I assume that it is impossible to attribute to a specific artist, just school and approximate date.

I’ve always loved insects and as a child had a lovely collection of about a thousand different species of beetles all of which I donated to my father’s science class when I stared university. Dad is long retired and with him my collection has as well. This tsuba is in a way an homage to the many adventures I had as a child collecting all manner of creepy crawlers.

I find quite fascinating the oriental mindset which links insects with certain attributes. My research suggests that the Mantis personifies stillness, awareness, creativity, patience, mindfulness, calm, balance and intuition.

The snail epitomises change, fertility, healing, mobility, patience, evolution, sensitivity, androgyny, time/cycles, self-reliance and self-assurance.

The wasp epitomises order, progress, teamwork, involvement, development, productivity, construction and communication. The wasp asks us: Are all my affairs in order? Am I aligning myself with my goals? Am I procrastinating about something? Am I keeping myself from reaching my highest potential? Am I allowing myself to held back by others?

The research I’ve done has opened a whole new world to me regarding tsuba. No doubt if this was ever worn by a samurai he reflected on what each component of the tsuba represented separately and as a whole.

The insects and branches are executed in gold, silver, shaduko and copper inlay.

The dimensions are as follows:

Shape: Kaku gata, rim: slightly flared (was mimi)

Length: 8.5 cm, width: 8 cm

 

As a new collector I welcome your thoughts. Whether good or bad I have enjoyed the journey this tsuba has taken me on.

 

Greg

[Brian]

While I cannot place a school for this one, I like the work, and think it is above average. Very nice tsuba. The lighting makes it look a little overcleaned, but I think that may be the flash/photo.

I know a certain mantis-themed collector that is going to really want this one

Congrats, a good start, and one to enjoy.

 

Brian

[Mantis dude]

ok We need to set rules here for the forum and the world.....how many times do I need to repeat myself all mantis fittings need to go to me first!!! Now that we established that. I would love to find someone to give a lecture on Nara, mito, aizu shoami, and shoami. There is a design relationship between all the schools. I doubt it is a ko Nara, I don't think it has that age and I am not sure about this but I think the kogai/kozuka hitsu ana aren't the right shape for most Nara I have seen. Nor is the tsuba the right size. I also haven't had my coffee yet so don't hold me to that. I would put this most likely at Mito or aizu shoami school. Since they bordered each other there can be very similar designs- Aizu shoami was very good at copying. This design I have seen before and have seen this theme many times in different types of fittings. I attached a pic of a tsuba that reminds me of yours. I could probably find more but this is the first one I came across just to illustrate.

 

Good luck with the collecting other insects than the mantis

[Soshin]

Hi Greg,

 

Very nice tsuba. I think it would be attributed to the Aizu Shoami school circa the late Edo Period. I often day dream about finding such a tsuba at a flea market and then selling it to Ken with a 1,000% profit margin. The fantasy would climax with me buying something off of Curren's website.

[Mantis dude]

I would agree. There is a great article that I can never remember the name of it nor the author but to surmise it down to a crude line "it's the plate stupid". That seems to be the major differentiator between Aizu Shoami and the other schools. They were very good copiers. However, they liked to overwork it or give that look of mimicking an aged and hand worked plate but they do it too overdone. I to hope David finds similar pieces at a flea market. I won't tell him I don't buy this style anymore....but shh he doesn't need to know that.

[Gunome]

Another nice one with insects :D

[GregN]

I would like to thank you all for helping me with my tsuba. Apologies to Ken for adding this tsuba to my collection, the good news is that I don't plan to collect ONLY mantis motifs

 

Sincerely,

 

Greg