Tsuba identification

[menpo]

Hi guys!

 

I purchased this tsuba a while back from grey that was previously in the Skip Holbrook collection and I've been trying to find out what school it may belong to. On the description it says satsuma moon over mountains but also refers to hirata hikozo and ito mitsuru's book. Since I don't have any books on satsuma tsuba or ito's book I was wondering if any of you kind and more experienced collectors have any thoughts or opinions on it or seen any similar designs before as I've drawn a blank! Thanks very much for any help

 

Gethin

[Soshin]

Hi Gethin,

 

I don't have any Satsuma references. I have Mr. Ito book on the Hirata and Jingo schools. I will check after work and post if I find something or not.

[BMarkhasin]

Hi Gethin,

 

Nice appealing tsuba - Skip has a great eye for aesthetic. This type of motif is most commonly ascribed as a Sun and Moon motif, where the overlarge rounded hitsuana are the sun and the crescent sukashi are representations of the moon. Allowing for artistry, I can see how the mountains or hills theme is also worked-in to the description.

 

Best,

Boris.

[Marius]

Gethin,

 

This is not a Higo tsuba, IMHO. The aesthetics is just different, although the large sukashi forming the hitsu ana and the light taper might lead to this conclusion.

 

The iron looks good, and as Boris has said, the tsuba is appealing. No need to put it into a box, really.

 

Of course, if someone points at a school (other than Shoami, LOL) it will be great to know what school this tsuba might come from.

 

But a good tsuba is a good tsuba, regardless of school. Remember, there were provincial schools and in the Edo period cross-fertilisationa was pretty common (e.g. Nishigaki and Akasaka).

 

 

A good buy. Enjoy it

[Thierry BERNARD]

Theniron looks good, and as noris has said, the tsuba is appealing. No need to put it onto a box, really.

 

 

Chuck on board!!

 

sorry!

[Marius]

Thierry,

 

Thanks for having pointed this out, I have laughed my a... off

 

Corrected now, sorry about that, bloody screen keyboard on a tablet

[sabi]

Love this piece. No idea about its origins though.

 

The contouring around the hitsu ana is just gorgeous and the overall aesthetic has tons of flow.

[b.hennick]

I see a guy with big sunglasses.

[Soshin]

Hi Gethin,

 

Here is what I found. It is the only thing close that is done in iron by Hirata Hikozo in Ito's book page 82.

[Michael 101]

Hello Gethin,

 

An Interesting tsuba not an easy one to place - although I am reasonably sure its not Hirata.

 

Satsuma is a possibility but I would also look into Sado Island work as another potential source. I cant easily explain why, it just reminds me of a papered Sado work I once owned. Good quality iron and a very nice tsuba.

 

Kindest regards

 

Michael

[Curran]

My first reaction was Sado Island.

Also thought Satsuma.

[BMarkhasin]

I'm with Curran on a vote for Sado.

 

Boris

[menpo]

Hi Gents!

 

Thanks for all the info and help! I couldn't place what school the tsuba would have been and i had difficulty ascribing it to any of the higo schools although the iron is of a high quality like you'd expect to find with most higo work! i'll start to look in to sado and see where it takes me! Once again, thank you all for your help, its much appreciated! Michael, I think this tsuba is one that our late friend Mr. Parr would have liked!

 

 

Gethin