Tanaka School

[jblack]

Hello all,

 

I have a tsuba that I am trying to get a bit more info on. It is signed MASAKAGE with his KAO on the left side, I am told that he is a student of the TANAKA school.

 

If anyone has more information on Masakage or the Tanaka school or can point me in the correct direction, I would appreciate it.

 

Many thanks,

Jeff

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jeff, Only info so far is that he died 1800-1850. I'll check his mei later, but, it is interesting that the character for Masa is on one side and the characters for Masakage is on the other. John

 

Update; Student of Tanaka Kiyonaga, lived in Edo, named Hojusai. The kao matches one example I have, I thought that was another Masa but is the kao on the left.

[docliss]

As an addendum to John’s recent posting about this tsuba, there appears to be considerable confusion in the literature regarding Morikawa Masakage (H 04059.0) and Tanaka Masakage (H 04060.0), and Wakayama does not clarify the relationship between them or if, indeed, they are the same artist. John gives the details of the former artist, a student of Tanaka Kiyotoshi, T. Toshikage and T. Yoshikage and supposedly the best of the late Tanaka artists. But I do not personally think that Jeff’s tsuba is the quality of this artist’s work — the outline of the raised mimi is very unhappy; I am not convinced by the suggestion of original kuchi-beni, as favoured by this artist; and I have some reservations about the kao.

 

Perhaps John will agree that this is more likely to be the work of the second artist listed above?

 

Regards, John L.

[John A Stuart]

Hi John, I agree wholeheartedly, by default, since I do not know. There seem to be similarities in the mei which would make it difficult to distinguish between the two, just by that. The quality of work between the two would be more definitive and being rated Ryoko must be varying and hard to distinguish even then. Statements like that by Wakayama do not make it easier. I include a page from the Kinko Meikan (old) where in the top left you can see the kao (must be based on the Masa character). It matches fairly well the one on the post where part has been lost in the nakagoana, from enlargement for fitting maybe. John

[Pete Klein]

I think this may be shoshin to Morikawa Masakage. The two examples in the newer Kinko Meikan seem to me to be very close. Also it's possible that when the nakagoana was enlarged the kuchibeni were lost. It might be worth a shinsa trip?

[Curran]

I think 97.5% of the time I agree with Peter. This may be one of those times when I don't, but I should explain why.

 

I've owned several late Tanaka school tsuba and handling them sticks into your head as they are pleasant and have a distinct degree of quality, though sometimes lacking "soul". I've sold all mine off, though my wife and I both like Jeff's example. I would think that someone would gimei (false signature) a piece by this fellow given that it is just late Edo student Tanaka, but then I've seen gimei before of lesser known late Edo individuals. Some truly beautiful tsuba with signatures that are not correct.

 

I don't think this one is gimei. I think the workmanship is good enough and the signature good enough that it *should* pass shinsa as authentic. But there are enough minor variations of the signature and such that I doubt the conservative Yoshikawa NTHK would pass it and think maybe only 60% likely the NBTHK would pass it.

 

All that said, this is a nicer tsuba. Hope you like it Jeff.

 

Curran

[jblack]

Thank you all for the insights on the tsuba.

 

I am enclosing a picture of the fuchi that was with the tsuba, both were on a sword signed 'Soshu ju Yasuharu tsukuru".

 

A couple of years a go Richard Turner was kind enought to have friends in Japan translate the fuchi: This ribbon-like paper is anzaku (strip of Paper) for Waka (Japances poem). there are three Chinese letters (my winter season). This is the part of a Waka poem. I think there are another parts of poem on tsukagasihra, kojiri and menuki. So, we will understand all of this poem when all parts can be read.

 

Could the fuchi be by the same artist as the tsuba? When I received the sword the kashira and one menuki had been lost. The remaining menuki was a solid gold dragon, but had no inscription. The tsuba is much later than the sword.

 

So once again, I would love your comments.

 

Thank you,

Jeff

[Pete Klein]

Jeff -- It's very difficult if not impossible to ascertain if the fuchi is made by the same artist from a single view and if there is no mei on it then I would highly doubt it. What interests me more is the colour of the tsuba in your picture and that you mentioned the menuki was of solid gold. If the menuki is actually of solid gold construction and not plated it would lend credence to the possibility of the tsuba being shoshin. Also, the tsuba colour is much better depicted in this picture which is not so washed out. It has a good depth of patination and has the look of good craftsmanship. As I mentioned earlier it might be well worth sending for shinsa or if you are not in any hurry simply waiting for the next NTHK US shinsa might be worthwhile as it would be less expensive. Photographs can be tricky at best to make judgements from even when they are taken professionally. In any case it seems you have a nice tsuba there and it is worth your interests.