Theme?

[Ken-Hawaii]

I've been staring at https://www.ebay.com/itm/F221-High-class-Japanese-old-iron-SAMURAI-sword-guard-with-openwork-and-FUKURIN/332530449367, but can't figure out what the openwork theme is.

 

Any ideas?

Ken

 

[b.hennick]

could be a saihai

[seattle1]

Hello:

 Might be some version of the tsuta (ivy), but the design added to the cut down plate. Cf. Hawley's Mon book.

 Arnold

[Pete Klein]

Seems the boys at Aoi can't make it out either:  https://www.aoijapan.com/tsuba-mumei-some-design-2

 

I believe it is a stylized flower blossom with leaves, possibly a peony.  The circle is the central corona.

 

 

 

[kyushukairu]

Hello Ken,
Possibly an uma-jirushi? 
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2f/44/1c/2f441c64509e78e6935ebf6326418364.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0f/23/76/0f2376546c1335255ef2120cee99372a.jpg
 

[Ken-Hawaii]

That's funny, Pete! Strange that a tsuba theme can't really be identified, even by the experts.

 

Kyle, yours seems the closest so far - I wouldn't have thought about an uma-jirushi.

 

Barry, all the saihai tsuba I've seen have included the handle.

 

et me know if you can think of anything else...I may buy the darn thing just to figure it out!

 

Ken

[Henry Wilson]

I think it is interesting that there is a range of interpretations of the motif.

 

It is reasonable to assume that tsuba motif references can be subtle and tied to a highly specific sociocultural context. To fully appreciate them requires an understanding of the assumptions and knowledge that the artist brought to the piece, hence the discrepancy between what each of us sees.

 

Despite this, I say Barry and Kyle are on the money...