Lingonberry Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 Hi All, I've been dipping my toes into tosogu and have seen several pieces with a nice bat & moon theme. I quite like this theme and would like to learn more about it - is there a particular story behind it, symbology, etc. I've also been looking for nice examples of it but so far have only found a few pieces. If anyone has any pictures to share of high quality tosogu featuring this theme I would very much appreciate it! Quote
Fuuten Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 A quick search through my archive turned up the following pieces. Menuki: (appears to be) shakudo - Ohtsuki Mitsuoki Kozuka: Copper plate Ishime-Ji Kozuka with bat design engraved and inlaid with gold - Kanehara Isso 5 Quote
SteveM Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 Bat in Japanese is 蝙蝠 (kōmori). The second character kanji character 蝠 by itself has the Chinese reading of fuku, which is a homonym of good luck (福), and therefore bats are synonymous with good luck. I also read where rats were once said to turn into bats after living 100 years, and so bats are also considered a symbol of longevity. Late Edit: Still looking for some explanation that encompasses both the bat and the moon. There must be one. Steve 4 Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 OTSUKI SCHOOL by Tenkodo Hidekuni -S- 4 Quote
Fuuten Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 After posting earlier I dug a little bit further and found some more. Menuki Moon and the flying bat carved on Shakudo plate with gold and silver color - mumei Bats in shakudo - mumei Bats in silver or shibuichi - Noriyuki Kozuka On Shakudo Shukumen-JI (wrinkle-Ji) plate, bat and fan is engraved and inlaid with gold - Yanagawa Naomitsu (Kao) 3 Quote
CSM101 Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 A few weeks back Darcy had a wonderful iron tsuba by Goto Ichijo on his site. You can find the tsuba in "Iron Tsuba -The works of the exhibition Kurogane no hana" page 123. Since I have not the right of use/ copyright I will not show a pic. But perhaps Darcy will show his photos. Uwe G. Quote
b.hennick Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 Here is a Tembo tsuba with bat and moon stamps: 4 Quote
DRDave Posted February 6, 2019 Report Posted February 6, 2019 https://www.ebay.com/itm/113545884536 Saw a nice bat and moon tsuba recently, but can't for the life of me remember where. Quote
Lingonberry Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Posted February 7, 2019 Fuuten, those bat menuki in your first reply are amazing! Any idea who the artist or school was? Looks like the photos came from aoi art. Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted February 7, 2019 Report Posted February 7, 2019 Adam, They are identified in the post as by: Otsuki Mitsuoki, who is considered the best of the Otsuki school......the modeling is exquisite! Good examples of this motif are very desirable and sell quickly. Cheers, -S- Quote
Lingonberry Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Posted February 7, 2019 ...so they are. Been a long day... Quote
Ron STL Posted February 8, 2019 Report Posted February 8, 2019 Thought I'd share a couple photos of a kurikata cover (name escapes me) that depicts a shakudo bat on a yellow brass plate. Interesting to see these examples of bat and moon shown in this topic. Ron STL 2 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted February 8, 2019 Report Posted February 8, 2019 Great examples, love this thread! Quote
Fuuten Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 I just stumbled over this one. https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-050416.htm 2 Quote
Lingonberry Posted February 16, 2019 Author Report Posted February 16, 2019 That tsuba is really nice but it doesn't seem $4,000 USD nice. I can't really base that on any facts, just a gut feeling. 1 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted February 16, 2019 Report Posted February 16, 2019 Debated on that tsuba Axel posted a long time ago. Love the motif and the work, TH papers. Just did not "talk" to me but surely it's a great work. 1 Quote
Ganko Posted February 16, 2019 Report Posted February 16, 2019 A couple more pieces. I believe the menuki are late Edo. I wouldn't consider the tsuba high quality but I included it anyway, it has a bat with what appear to be ants. TomC 1 Quote
Ed Posted February 20, 2019 Report Posted February 20, 2019 The Bat/Moon tsuba Axel posted above is signed, Inshu Ju Suruga Takaoki. According to Haynes, he became ninth master of the Suruga family school in 1837. His father Takashige, was made a retainer of the Matsudaira Daimyo in 1818. Nice Tsuba. 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 20, 2019 Report Posted February 20, 2019 Quick I-Phone image of Bat and Fog (?) together with moon and clouds - unsigned , any thoughts as to school ? 2 Quote
Fuuten Posted August 24, 2019 Report Posted August 24, 2019 Sorry to revive such an old topic, but I just stumbled on the following: https://yuhindo.com/omori-eiman-mitokoromono/ 2 Quote
Kurikata Posted January 19, 2020 Report Posted January 19, 2020 My Moon & Bats . Nara school ? 1 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted January 20, 2020 Report Posted January 20, 2020 Bruno, very nice!!!! If you were ever to move on from the piece, please let me know. 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.