Martin Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 this is indeed a "Pretty Rare form edo tsuba" :D http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-sword-SIGNE ... dZViewItem ... that must have also been pretty inconvenient (if you had a few kilos too much :lol: ) Quote
Mark Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 maybe it had a rim that was damaged and removed, can't imagine it was made that way Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 must have had a rim... it looks sawed off...... btw if it didnt have had a rim i would not like it on my katana hahahaha drawing fast will become very dangerous in front of an opponent...... getting entangled...... yaikes! :lol: KM Quote
Rich T Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 tsuba like this from time to time, the Echizen Kinai group also made them. I agree it does look a bit odd but it is possible it was made this way. The ones I have seen have a radiated mon design or something that looks more in place. I have also seen a horse and ox motif that has a partial or no mini on more than one occasion. Here is another example, though this has a patical mimi. http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b75656106 The tsuba linked by Martin above was also on Yahoo Japan last month. Cheers Richard Quote
Bungo Posted August 2, 2007 Report Posted August 2, 2007 the cow tsuba with " partial " mimi is made , designed that way and looks natural . The first one is just plain " uncomfortable " to behold. milt the ronin Quote
Martin Posted August 3, 2007 Author Report Posted August 3, 2007 Honestly I also don´t think that this was part of the Tsubakos design. At least I never saw anything comparable with those sharp edges and looking at the design "something" is missing as Milt pointed out. cheers, Martin Quote
Pete Klein Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 Boys -- it's lost it's rim, probably to rust. Jeez... Quote
Nobody Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 Basically a tsuba was a practical part of arms rather than an art. The shape of the tsuba in question looks inappropriate for practical use to me. If it was an original shape, I am afraid that it often caught samurai's sleeve in his daily life. Quote
Pete Klein Posted August 3, 2007 Report Posted August 3, 2007 Koichi brings up a good point. If a 'tsuba' does not fulfill it's function then it is not a tsuba. Sometimes in shinsa a piece is rejected because even though it looks like a tsuba it is actually an artwork and will not function as a tsuba. Some late Edo pieces which were made as presentation pieces and are not mountable fit this category. If you can't mount it on a sword and use it then it is not a tsuba and it will be rejected by the shinsa team. Quote
Rich T Posted August 4, 2007 Report Posted August 4, 2007 Basically a tsuba was a practical part of arms rather than an art. The shape of the tsuba in question looks inappropriate for practical use to me. If it was an original shape, I am afraid that it often caught samurai's sleeve in his daily life. Good point Koichi, and one I suspect is correct. I am unsure of the rust thoery but it may be right. Enough rust to warrant the removal of a mimi would have I would of thought, effected other parts of the tsuba s well. Maybe another form of damage ? Also, if the mimi was removed, it was done rather carefully. and thirdly, why would you bother if it was damaged ? All interesting questions in regards to a rather uninteresting tsuba. Still, I never underestimate the Japanese aesthetic, it is always full of surprises. Richard Quote
Pete Klein Posted August 4, 2007 Report Posted August 4, 2007 'and thirdly, why would you bother if it was damaged' Well, gee, maybe to sell to some unsuspecting gaijin as a rare historical (sounds like hysterical) treasure? LOL Quote
Bungo Posted August 5, 2007 Report Posted August 5, 2007 it is an autographed piece......... milt the ronin Quote
Pete Klein Posted August 5, 2007 Report Posted August 5, 2007 Yeah -- and I have a set of the Christie's Compton I, II, and III auction catalogs autographed by Walter A. Compton himself! Quote
Rich T Posted August 14, 2007 Report Posted August 14, 2007 So where is it's mimi ?, and yes, I would suspect this would get caught in the sleaves as Koichi san suggested, but I think this is very much an intentional design. As I said, the mimi free tsuba have been seen, and do exist. http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/53-IRON-TSUBA-In-calligraphic-form-Worn-signature_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ28183QQihZ009QQitemZ190139294799QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW Whether they are of any practical use, I have no idea. Quote
Bungo Posted August 14, 2007 Report Posted August 14, 2007 there are two styles of automobile .......hard top and convertible. Hard top looks fine, so does a convertible. But......... Saw off the top of a hardtop to make it into an instant convertible ....... HIDEOUS !! milt the ronin Quote
Brian Posted August 14, 2007 Report Posted August 14, 2007 Yes, I agree with Rich that this one was made that way. Very unusual, and still striking. Looks to have been mounted too, so possibly made for a special occasion or during a time when the sword wasn't carried daily perhaps? Without a mimi, how difficult is an attribution on it to school? Brian Quote
Bungo Posted August 15, 2007 Report Posted August 15, 2007 " As I said, the mimi free tsuba have been seen, and do exist." of course they exist....... like the bird design ( that looks like a little round off thunderbird ), the skull design etc. milt the ronin Quote
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