Opinions sought on this Tsuba

Ted Tenold · September 12, 2008

Greetings all,

Since I grew up with horses, I've always been a fan of horse motifs on fittings and frankly they're the only type of fittings I actually collect for my own enjoyment. Generally, I find more enjoyment in those done in silhouette sukashi, kata kiribori, and works by say Yanagawa or Hamano styles, and also prefer those that are *just* the horses without riders, monkeys, trappings, etc..

About ten years ago I purchased this tsuba. I've yet to see another quite like it, and often wondered from what artist or school it may have originated. I've never found anything else like it in references or catalogs. The horses always struck me as perhaps influenced by sumi-e drawings. Submitting it to shinsa would be an obvious choice, and I may at some point, but it's honestly never been more than mild curiosity so I offer it here, and defer to those more wise in the ways of tsuba. The shape of the nakagoana is unusual, elluding to a higher shinogi style blade and within this it is very asymmetric as the shinogi points on either side are quite uneven. The punch marks are certainly utilitarian.

This isn't a kantei with an answer at the end. Just sharing a piece I've always enjoyed. Anyone care to share any ideas or opinions on it? I have no delusions of grandeur about it, so feel free to speak casually.

Ted Tenold · September 12, 2008

The other side...

Brian · September 12, 2008

I'm fascinated, and quite literally captivated by this tsuba.

I really look forward to the comments. The nakago ana seems very deliberate, and I would think that the sword would have been quite unusual. Something crossed between a naginata naoshi and a..?

Love the depiction of the horses!

Brian

Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini · September 12, 2008

The nakago ana seems very deliberate, and I would think that the sword would have been quite unusual.

Indeed. Looks like Shinogi are disaligned...

A nice Tsuba to my eyes...

Ford Hallam · September 14, 2008

Hello Ted,

I knew I'd seen something similar before...just took a little while to remember where.

This is from the Peabody Museum catalogue. It's described as Nara, circa 1790. This example has a sentoku ground but the decorative technique is identical ( and fairly unique ).

There was another, very similar in the Hartmann collection but the catalogue image is so small it's not much use uploading. It wasn't attributed.

The subject is apparently " The eight horses of Bokuo" and refers to an historic expedition against the tribes of Southern China by the 5th Emperor of the 5th Chow Dynasty.

I'd suggest that your tsuba may have a little brother somewhere, with the other 5 horses on.

That all I've got...

Regards,

Ford

Bungo · September 14, 2008

" The subject is apparently " The eight horses of Bokuo" and refers to an historic expedition against the tribes of Southern China by the 5th Emperor of the 5th Chow Dynasty.

I'd suggest that your tsuba may have a little brother somewhere, with the other 5 horses on. "

and the 5 horsies may look like this ( posture, i.e. ) ................

too bad it's done with different technique.

p.s. so a daisho ( if ever exists ), one may look for a 3 -5 combination ?

milt

Ted Tenold · September 14, 2008

Thank you for finding and posting this Ford. I don't have the Peabody or Hartman publications.

Just to share a bit more, I have a pair of prints by Sonan Noda that I bought from Rita Benson a few years ago. They were in excellent condition and I just love the simplicity that imparts a flowing, natural movement. Fear not the mounting job they were fitted professionally with proper materials and methods. The mounting and framing were twice the cost of the prints. :-)

Sonan Noda favored horses as subject matter.

A bit off-topic, but within the scope of stylistic appreciation.

Ted Tenold · September 14, 2008

Milt, thanks for sharing. I like this kind of work too. I have Wakizashi koshirae with this style of work in yamagane like your tsuba, but the ground work is different. Sadly, it is missing the tsuba, so it has a contemporary tsuba with sukashi silhouettes of horses I had made. Yours would be nearly a direct match were it not for the ground work. I did have a fuchi and kashira *exactly* like your tsuba at one time that I purchased in Tokyo, but a friend really wanted them so they are hers now. I can probably get an image of them if you like.

Bungo · September 14, 2008

Ted,

Please do if possible, always like to look at examples.

I like the way the horses are " drawn ", a few simple strokes and it shows the vitality and ' spirit ' .

milt

Ford Hallam · September 14, 2008

Hi Ted,

those are really very beautiful paintings, very strong modern feel too. I think that when we see this sort of brush work it becomes very clear what really good kata-kiri work can look like.

thanks,

Ford

John A Stuart · September 14, 2008

Hi All, Coincidentally there is a similar themed tsuba on ebay that is shinchu katakiribori. This illustrates what I find less than appealing about brass, but, what would it look like with the patination process Ford showed us earlier? Old Po certainly called it right 'smiling horses tsuba', they do indeed seem amused at something. Not quite of super quality, but, I was amused. Hope you are too. John

http://cgi.ebay.ca/9056-JP-Samurai-Swor ... dZViewItem

Brian · September 15, 2008

..I was amused. Hope you are too. John

Thanks John, certainly amused enough to have a go at it near the end

Brian

Stephen · September 15, 2008

hope you win so we can see what it looks like after Ford gets his hands on it.

Brian · September 15, 2008

Thanks Stephen, me too. And the good thing is that if someone else gets it, and sends it for work, I'll know about it. Might just go back pink or blue or something