tsuba meaning help please.

[tonyb]

Hi all,

would any body have any thoughts on what the meaning of this tsuba would be?

cheers in advance.

tony

[Rich T]

This is a very common theme in the works of Kyo Sukashi, Owari Sukashi and a few others. They were sometimes copied by later Edo period groups like Akasaka, Akeo and others. This looks Kyo to my eye and probably early Edo period. It is also upside down in your photograph.

 

The Hitsu-ana are pine trees, they represent a design (and also a family crest) known as Matsukawabishi which also means pine bark diamond. They represent two stylized pine trees (thanks to Ed Marshal at Yakiba)

 

http://yakiba.com/tsuba_owari2.htm

 

The main design is a wheel, with the spokes. Wheels generally mean movement, strength and are used in conjunction with many things including carts and flowers, Mantis and other insects or just on their own.

 

Many of the early pre Edo and Edo period tsuba of the Owari and Kyoto schools had designs that were more geometric than anythign else and had no real meaning a lot of the time.

 

I hope that helps some.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[tonyb]

Thank you very much rich that does help me greatly.it has directed me down the right path i thought owari sukashi. its very thin about 2.7mm.

Cheers tony

[Rich T]

it is too thin for Owari sukashi Tony. They tend to be between 5 to 6mm thick from the Muromachi period right through to the Edo period. Being that thin makes me think Kyo all the more.

 

Best

 

Richard