Show Us Your High Class Tosogu

[johnnyi]

Here's another Kagami-shi tsuba. This one is unusually large at 76.8 mm.  If you notice the ox at "9 o-clock", he is resting on the Buddhist lariat. He is not tethered however , but instead is resting upon the rope (which extends both in back and in front of him) . I've found this to be a recurring element in several Kagami-shi pieces of Muromachi period, some of which show the un-tethering  more clearly.  It may be a symbol of a peaceful interaction between man and nature. I don't know.  Thanks for looking

 

John

[Ray Singer]

I believe that this related to the steps & series below. Refer to #7.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Bulls

 

 

Here's another Kagami-shi tsuba. This one is unusually large at 76.8 mm.  If you notice the ox at "9 o-clock", he is resting on the Buddhist lariat. He is not tethered however , but instead is resting upon the rope (which extends both in back and in front of him) . I've found this to be a recurring element in several Kagami-shi pieces of Muromachi period, some of which show the un-tethering  more clearly.  It may be a symbol of a peaceful interaction between man and nature. I don't know.  Thanks for looking

 

John

[johnnyi]

I love this Raymond, thank you for sending it. A wonderful link

 

 

 

John

[Pete Klein]

Ray - Thank you so very much for this.  I was not aware of it.  A bit of Kubler-Ross in there - or vis versa... 

 

Pete

[Ray Singer]

Here is an example of step #6 in a Goto Teijo menuki.

 

 

[johnnyi]

Before reading your link Raymond, and recognizing the flute, I would have attributed the influence of your beautiful  menuki to Lao Tsu. Maybe indirectly the Buddhist story evolved from Tao?  At any rate your link is absolutely beautiful and very moving, and has illuminated not only a specific element of my tsuba,  but has provided more "subject ,matter" to be on the lookout for. Thank you again!

 

 

 

John

[Martin]

Some more iron as requested

My wifes favourite Tsuba.

 

 

[kissakai]

It would also be one of my favourites

Been looking for something like this but they have been too expensive for me

[Ken-Hawaii]

Same here. Simple, but elegant.

[Curran]

Some more iron as requested

My wifes favourite Tsuba.

 

Your wife has good taste.

Thank you for sharing that one.

[HannesT]

I‘m in awe of my current addition to my collection an Edo iron Tsuba made by Inshu Ju Suruga.

 

I like the simplicity of the shape and carved out floral detail. I was looking for a design like this for a while.

 

 

Thanks Hannes

[Bob M.]

Hi Hannes ,

 

Nice piece that appears to have good evidence of mounting.

 

Personally , I have a rule that if a tsuba has been plugged and the first thing you see when looking at it is the plugs , then they should go - this would give a much calmer feel and help appreciation of the tsuba as it was originally meant to be.

 

However in this case the plugs are so flambouyant that the piece is transformed. They are certainly most spectacular !

 

I hope you have enjoyment with it.

 

Bob

[Bugyotsuji]

A friend collects what he calls Bizen Suruga, i.e. Suruga made after the smith(s) moved across from Tottori to Okayama.

[Vermithrax16]

High class to me, a pair by Tomohide:

[Ken-Hawaii]

Gorgeous!

[djealas]

May you live a thousand years. A kozuka by Ishiguro Masatsune, generation 3.

 

Marc

[Ken-Hawaii]

Nicely carved, & good photo.

 

Please sign with your first name, per Brian's rules.

[terminus]

On 5/8/2019 at 3:20 AM, CHEN CHEN said:

A lion makes its cub fall down to a steep valley TSUBA

I'm still so impressed by this iron tsuba, especially those rocks. I've never seen rocks conveyed that way before in a tsuba. Is this Tetsugendo school? 

[Japan2112]

Boy,

There are some great tosogu here. I am an iron lover, and so the Owari, Myochin, Akasaka, and Kyo all look especially fine for me.

Here is an Akasaka (yondai) Tadatoki  NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu. A standout in my Akasaka collection.

[CHEN CHEN]

On 9/12/2020 at 7:50 AM, terminus said:

我对铁烙铁特别是那些岩石印象深刻。我从来没有见过岩石在翼上以这种方式传递过。这是铁原道学校吗？ 

Hello. I don't think this is the work of tetsugendo school, because it is very different from his style. Actually, I'm not sure about the author of this thing. I asked the experts in Japan. Some people think that this is the work of ichinomiya school, and it may even be the work of ichinomiya nagatsun's youth (i.e. the period of setsusan). Of course, it's just a statement from one family. So far, I haven't got an accurate answer.

[JAL]

Hello all,

 

I was not sure whether there is continued interest to post here, but I thought I’d share my favourite kozuka.
 

Hirata shippo Mt Fuji with Tokubetsu Hozon. Very colorful as you can see.

 

best regards,

 

John L.

[JAL]

Hi all,

 

And here my favourite tsuba: Akasaka signed . Akasaka – Hikojūrō saku 4th generation/shodai Tadatoki with traditional eight planked bridge design. Hozon tosogu papers.

 

best regards,

 

John  L.

[Tanto54]

Dear John, Nice Shippo!  Good quality, carried and well used but also well taken care of - excellent!

[kissakai]

Ditto

 

[DRDave]

I have very few tsuba and like them all, but my favorite is this iron work by Tosho Sadayuki depicting natto in warazuto (I think).  There is one very similar in the Ashmolean.  

  

 

 

[roger dundas]

This is a wonderful theme and any aspiring kodogu collector anyone interested in the subject should take a good look at these postings.

Quite inspiring and generous of the members to share their top pieces. I have just spent more than an hour going through the display and am hugely impressed.

I hope no one minds me saying all that ?

Roger j

 

[Japan2112]

John L.

Your Akasaka yondai Tadatoki is very nice. A similar rendition of this design (ko Akasaka) is on Bob Benson's website. I think it is by the sandai (Tadatora).

 

Mark

[JAL]

Thanks Mark,

 

Yes, I love the combined design of the straight planked bridge components and curved irises. I found the tsuba you referred to https://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/store/p399/G%234_Ko_Akasaka_iron_Tsuba_with_Iris_and_bridge.html

 

best regards,

 

John Lapre

[masakatsu]

I like this one quite a bit...

[Spartancrest]

Sheez!  Matt I am impressed with the box, let alone the contents!