Very large tsuba - new pictures added

[Jorgensen]

Dear collectors,

 

I have got this tsuba and wondering if any can tell the school?

 

Tsuba is large, measures 10.5 cm x 10.1 mm. Last picture is common katana size tsuba for comparison.

[Jorgensen]

Anyone dare to give it a shot?

[christianmalterre]

very sorry Jimmi

i have no clue at all,despite to can tell you it´s heavily damaged and goes straight away against mine personal taste of quality in everything(not just the iron)...

 

i definitely do prefer the other one...!

this is an much more interesting object-(we but had it about already)....

 

Christian

[Kurikata]

Looks like very late Edo or, bakumatsu Tsuba. For tourists ?

 

The katana Tsuba aside is relly looking good inddeed.....

[Brian]

I don't think it's that bad at all.

Maybe made for presentation and not use. Can only theorize.

 

Brian

[Jorgensen]

Thanks for your comments.

 

The tsuba looks nicer irl than on pictures (shot with an iphone) and tsuba also have sekigane and seem to have been mounted sometime.

 

As many comment and like the other tsuba - its for sale! - offers are welcome. Look at good pictures of it here: http://tanto.dk/product/tsuba-guri-bori/

[SwordGuyJoe]

That's not a Tsuba. It's a small plate with a couple of holes in it! :lol:

[Ford Hallam]

Well I'm with Brian, I don't think it's a write off at all.

 

The actual composition has some very strong and well considered lines and the carving can't really be faulted. The little shimenawa inlay on the pestle is evidence of care and skill.

 

It design is also very funny and in fact quite ribald, once you know who it is and what she's suggesting. Because of this I don't think it was made for export either.

 

I'll leave it for others to figure out that aspect

[kunitaro]

The theme is "おつるひゃら/Otsuruhyara" dance, a parts of Mikawa Hana Matsuri(flower festival).

It is old Shinto winter festival in Mikawa province.

 

They put Okame & Hyottoko mask dance with Surikogi(Pestle),Mortar and Shamoji(Rice scoop) in their hands.

The pestles and rice scoops has Miso and rice on them, the dancer try to stick them at audiences.

When you get rice or miso sticked on your face, you will have good luck for next year !

 

so, It could be made by Owari/Mikawa tsuba smith !?! (late Edo)

[kaigunair]

My first thought was possibly an older plate reworked with elements at a later time, but would be a hard thing to prove either way. I did wonder about the rim chipping at the 12 o'clock position in the first pic.

 

Thanks for explaining the design!

[watsonmil]

Dear Sir,

For some reason I cannot locate the photo of this particular tsuba on your site. Please post a link. Thanks.

... Ron Watson

[Jorgensen]

Thank you all for commenting.

 

Ford:

Well said and I agree with you, tsuba is too well made to be for export and composition and lines are done with care and skill. I fell for this tsuba because of the size and funny design and sure bought it with the heart.

 

Kunitaro:

You just know everything (no, nooo... no envy from here :lol: )... Thank you very much for explaining the design, this is interesting and I appreciate to know the story behind the motif. You mention Owari/Mikawa tsuba smith and when looking at some pictures of Owari Nobuiye and Shoami Nobuiye (Mikawa province), I noticed there are some similarities in shape, appearance of metal etc... I am not saying its Nobuiye at all - it sure isnt! -just there are some similarities, that might support the idea of a Owari or Shoami/Mikawa tsuba smith. My own guess from beginning was Shoami...

 

Junichi:

I had the thought myself it could be a reworked plate. But its only 4 mm thickness and composition and all makes me feel the tsuba was born this way. But... difficult to know for sure.

 

Dear Sir,

For some reason I cannot locate the photo of this particular tsuba on your site. Please post a link. Thanks.

... Ron Watson

I am sorry, the large Tsuba we are discussing on this thread is not available to view on the website yet. The Yamagane tsuba on the picture for comparison (the "small" one) is on the website.

[Jorgensen]

Some additional pictures