Tsuba Oddities

[Stephen]

Maybe we can start a new sticky on tsuba oddities, ones not likely repeated.

 

this starter begs to wonder what was it meant to hang from?

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TSUBA-of-Katana-sword-EDO-2-7-2-6-0-1-120g-/122216196136?hash=item1c74a72828:g:69IAAOSw5cNYIVR~

[vajo]

Is that a lock?

[Tanto54]

Probably repurposed for a netsuke (like a manju or kagamibuta netsuke - as a toggle for hanging a large tobacco pouch or yatate from an obi).

 

 

FRONT:

 

 

BACK:

 

 

HOW NETSUKE IS USED TO HANG SOMETHING FROM OBI (BELT)

[Stephen]

Think GM has it

[TETSUGENDO]

Stephen-

 

The use of tsuba (and other fittings) for netsuke is not uncommon.  In addition, netsuke were produced in various materials in the form of sword fittings.  I like your idea of tsuba oddities but this example is not one of them.

 

-StevenK

[b.hennick]

I have seen a table with tsuba used a decoration around the rim of the table top. Someone drilled small two small holes for fastening the tsuba to the surface. Luckily none were masterpieces. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Making tsuba into jewelry was all the rage in the latter part of the 19th century.  I have seen pendants, pins, belt buckles, also the other fittings were pressed into service as well.  This "fad" was so popular that they even made reproductions of original pieces to mount into jewelry.

 

-StevenK

[johnnyi]

For what its worth, the nailhead (if that's what it was) looks 20th looks post edo and the brass looks like salvaged pieces from a damaged kozuka. 

[Tanto54]

Here are a few of the alternative tosogu uses that I've seen (not all of them are unusual).  Probably the worst use of some great tsuba was by a guy who returned to England from a turn-of-the-century tour of Japan and made many good Tsuba into light switch plate covers (filing and drilling holes as necessary to fit...)

 

Yagyu Retsudo's Tsuba Eye Patch:

 

 

Tsuka Cigarette Case:

 

 

Menuki Tie Clasp:

 

 

Menuki Cufflinks:

 

 

Kozuka Pipe:

 

 

Kashira Ring:

 

[ggil]

the eye patch one does it for me.  Very funny!  The menuki tie clasp is sad because the piece looks very nice.

[Tanto54]

Old post but trying to keep these together.  Just saw this on Yahoo Japan - gimei but still...

 

Notice how the teapot was cast to fit the tsuba and the use of the fuchigashira as a handle.

 

 

 

[Greg F]

Heres another eye patch from a Sho Kosugi movie I loved as a kid.

 

Greg

[Vermithrax16]

  On 12/14/2018 at 10:57 PM, Greg F said:

Heres another eye patch from a Sho Kosugi movie I loved as a kid.

 

Greg

I remember that movie!!!

[Stephen]

are you bidding GM?

[Tanto54]

Hi Stephen,

 

Hope all is well.  I'm not bidding (but thanks for asking!).

[Greg F]

Hi Jeremiah, its from Ninja 3 domination. He also did Pray for death, Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the ninja, black eagle (also starring Van Damme as the bad guy) and he was in a more recent one called Ninja assassin which I enjoyed.

His movies were the beginning of my interest in Japanese martial arts and Samurai so not so bad lol. Sorfy for the distraction from the topic.

 

That kettle is pretty cool. Does anyone know the price?

 

Greg

[Stephen]

Hi George

Would you mind PM ing link too it?

Well is as well was my friend.

[Stephen]

Greg

 

Sold for

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/b357690501

 

Just a tad over my bid....lol

[vajo]

Holy! I thought it was a ugly thing... 

[DRDave]

I kinda liked it; but nowhere near that much.

[John A Stuart]

Nice adaptation for a cover, rusty kettle $8000US? Not a chance. John

[Soshin]

Have seen a nice set gold menuki made into a set of pins before.  It was very sad.    

[Mantis dude]

Just to have some of these oddities (yes with mantis), I have tried to buy a few of these things in the past.  I have pissed off or disappointed a few sellers of these jewelry items.  I tell them as a collector of a single menuki i might pay $50. For the silver backing or other parts turning it into jewelry maybe a little more so I would offer them something like $75- 100 for something they wanted $400+.   They usually didn't like my breakdown since they themselves paid a lot more for them.  (this happened a few times).  It is what it is.  And yes a shame of some nice pieces being ruined.  

[Greg F]

I liked the kettle but definitely not at that price. Thanks Stephen.

 

Greg

[Tanto54]

This miniature shrine (zushi) has repurposed tsuba and menuki.

 

 

[Blazeaglory]

Not a tsuba but fits the "oddities" theme.

 

Kinda sad that after the Meiji restoration and maybe even prior, Nihonto items started becoming decorative and less functional for a time being. Some seemed to be cast into the "memorabilia" category

 

I think its a tobacco box/kit made from Saya?

[JohnTo]

I recently bought this odd ‘tsuba’ along with 19 regular tsuba in a job lot at a local auction.  It is quite large (8.4 cm dia, 0.4 cm thick) and appears to be cast brass.  The subject looks like a cross between a fish and minogame turtle.  The more observant NMB members may notice that something seems to be missing, but I’m sure that a bit of work with a drill, hacksaw and file would soon remedy this.

I have no idea what it actually is, but perhaps it is stretching things a bit too far to suggest it is a tsuba blank and the Japanese tsubako would have cut a ‘made to measure’ nagako ana for his samurai client.

You thoughts will be appreciated.

Happy New Year, John

(just a guy making observations, asking questions, trying to learn)

[Brian]

No space for a nakago there, can't cut a hole. So something else.

[TETSUGENDO]

Hi John,

 

Sorry, whatever it is....it appears to be a heavily 'aged' modern reproduction.

 

-S-