Same' Covered Tsuba

[rkg]

Hi,

 

Justin contacted me about using a scan out of the latest KTK catalog to show some images of same' covered tsuba.  Since he actually bothered to ask first, I contacted the owner and got his permission to put some original images of the two tsuba on the NMB. 

 

Since is original post seems to have vanished, I thought it might be good to post them here.  These are actually pretty cool in hand.

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

 

 

[Brian]

Thanks to Justin, yourself and the owner especially.

These are very interesting tsuba, beautifully photographed of course. I find them quite attractive. Seems shagreen (shark skin) rather than ray skin to me. But a lot of skill to do that, and do it well, as these appear to have been done.

I can only imagine they were done "because the maker could" and not part of a certain school. Anytime you have artists, you are going to have those pushing the envelope with what can be done. Would love to hear about any more out there.

[Greg F]

Obviously its decorative but could there be another reason this is done? I like the look of them and find it very interesting. Thanks for sharing to all involved.

 

Greg

[Kurikata]

One question: The tsuba base is wood ? Iron, another metal ? The "same" is fixed with glue?

 

Anyway beautifull and very rare tsuba.....

[Henry Wilson]

I would say that it is purely decorative as an extension on the tea aesthetic epitomised by the Kasen Goshirae togidashi same. It is possible that the pattern is reference to the bubbles on tea

 

and the kairagi (glaze wrinkles) found on the base of the Ido tea bowls.

 

 

Nice gear by the way. They must be very fragile. Obviously Higo school too Lol.

[rkg]

One question: The tsuba base is wood ? Iron, another metal ? The "same" is fixed with glue?

 

Anyway beautifull and very rare tsuba.....

EDIT:

 

I should have re-read the catalog's writeup before posting - The base metal on the first piece is visible, and its clearly copper, not Iron as I had stated.  And both pieces have same on the webs with the mimi being wrapped in some kind of snakeskin I will post a scan of the writeups momentarily so I don't mess up anything else about the description.

 

Best,

 

 

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[rkg]

and here's the writeup itself:

 

 

Best,

rkg

Richard George)

[Brian]

I could be wrong, but I do not think that is snakeskin. I think it is regular shagreen (shark skin) as seen on some custom Gunto saya.

[ROKUJURO]

Probably not snake skin, as most of the snakes have flat scales that are quite loose on their skin. My impression is that of a fish, another ray type or shark, as Brian already mentioned.

Nevertheless some very decorative TSUBA, and a masterful work with the material used! Whoever has tried to work with SAME will certainly appreciate what they achieved!

By the way, the 'glue' is in many cases just URUSHI.   

[Kai-Gunto]

Its shark skin on the mimi and the other skin used is ray skin.

[rkg]

Thomas/Brian/jean,

 

I think you guys are probably right - not snakeskin on the mimi.  Unfortunately I shot this before I had the D800E/don't have these in hand so I can throw them under the microscope, but here are a couple of 100% close-ups - any zoology types out there that might be able to more closely identify what was used?

 

 

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)