Tsuba and menuki help

[Mark C]

Hi all,

 

I recently picked these up seperatly but I think Iwill mount them as a set.

 

Tsuba:

2.5inches across

2.75 inches tall

1/8 thick, reducing as it goes towards the middle

 

The subject being a gentleman (could this be sage?)with a frog sitting in front of him and mountain scenery in the back ground.

 

Menuki:

 

aprox 1 3/8 long

obviously two frog/toads but what I have noticed is that the throat on one of the frogs is larger than the other

 

Any information/comments on the Tsuba and Menuki will be greatfuly received.

 

Many thanks

 

Mark

[Michel D]

Hello

 

The character is a Gama Senin, ie a wise man retired in the mountains and speaking to a (or his) toad. Actually, it is a toad and not a frog ( nor a french! :D ) The menuki are likely toads too.

 

As regards the tsuba...may be in the Mito style but no more.

 

Regards

[Mark C]

Hi Michel,

 

Thank you for you answer, I wasn't sure if they where frogs or toads.

 

I looked up Gama senin on the WWW and did some more learning :D

 

Again thanks

 

Regards

Mark

[Henry Wilson]

I don't think there is such a distinction between frogs and toads in Japanese as there is English. I think in Japanese the frog and toad are collectively called KAERU which also sounds like the verb "to go home."

[Nobody]

  Henry Wilson said:

I don't think there is such a distinction between frogs and toads in Japanese as there is English. I think in Japanese the frog and toad are collectively called KAERU which also sounds like the verb "to go home."

Not exactly.

Frogs are called Kaeru (蛙) and toads are usually called Gama (蝦蟇; actually Gama-gaeru) or Hiki-gaeru. Of course they are called Kaeru in a broad sense.

[Jacques]

hi,

 

It's easy to discern those menuki... If they are edible they are frogs if not they are toads :lol:

 

 

Only a french view point :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

 

Salut Michel

[Henry Wilson]

Thank you very much Moriyama San for that lesson and explains why the character is Gama Senin.

[remzy]

I think the menuki and tsuba would look great with some dark deep green lacquer job on the saya and ito