Asian export sword-guards

[Spartancrest]

I have recently come across a series of tsuba - if that is what they are - other sources have termed them "asian export guards" as there is some dispute as to their origin. I have found at least thirteen examples, all slightly different and not cast. I have five examples in my own collection. One example not in my collection is listed as 'Bushu' but I have not found another attribution from that school. Another is described as Vietnamese based on an eight lobed design common in that country, however as I have found maru (round), four, five, six and eight lobed examples this reasoning would seem thin. (An eight lobed example currently on eBay.) I would welcome any comments or ideas as to their origin. 

[Brian]

I assume you have read this article?
http://www.shibuiswords.com/asianexportguards.html

and maybe this one: https://www.mandarinmansion.com/glossary/asian-export-sword-guards

 

I find them quite interesting

[vajo]

Cool Tsuba. As Brian said they look nice and interesting.

 

Did you sell them?

[Spartancrest]

Dear Brian. 

 

Yes have read both those articles, Mandrin Mansions had me intrigued, as the description of eight lobed examples, are in fact in the minority, so the assertion that they are Vietnamese based on their shape is in my mind not valid. I am rather taken with them for their naivety in execution and admire the tooled leather effect they have in hand. You realise the same guards are in both articles?

 

Dale

[Spartancrest]

Vago

 

Sorry I posted the topic in the wrong forum.   In fact have just puchased three of them in the last month and looking out for more!

 

Dale

[Spartancrest]

Mandrin Mansions archive.

 

Description:

"An interesting sword guard of unusual form. It is an eight lobed design like most Vietnamese guards of this shape tend to be. The washer seat is of typical Japanese form, but this form was also copied in Vietnam, mostly in the 17th century. It has an opening for a by-knife, but again such by-knives (cite>kogatana in Japanese) were also adopted in Vietnam.

 

-The reason for this strong Japanese influence on Vietnamese arms was considerable immigration from Japan to Vietnam due to social unrest in Japan. The Japanese were not welcome in China, where they were regarded as pirates, so those who were good enough sailors pressed on to Vietnam where they settled and started new lives. Some masterless samurai found jobs employed by the Dutch VOC and other European traders.-

 

Around the washer seat is a five-pointed blazing star, then a stippled background made with a round dot-punch, and the very border consists of eight shapes best described as drawer handles reminiscent of European work. These can also be extremely stylized clouds in the Chinese fashion. The whole effect of the decoration feels like it is mimicking tooled leather.

 

A very interesting piece, worthy of further study."

 

https://archive.mandarinmansion.com/images/nanban-tsuba/lobed-guards/lobed-guard1a.jpg

https://archive.mandarinmansion.com/images/nanban-tsuba/lobed-guards/lobed-guard1b.jpg

 

 

 

Excerpt from 'Nanban Tsuba and Asian Export Sword Guards'
by James Lancel McElhinney.

"A couple of mystery pieces. The numbers six and eight are auspicious in Buddhist iconography. The drawer-handle motif is a common enough device in Asian decorative arts. The central flower might be read as a stylized lotus, but the nanako-like stippling is a curious feature on an iron guard. Tekkotsu exists in the rim of the smaller of the two. Both are relatively thin, carved wrought iron plates, not cast, The late John Lissenden referred to Nanban guards that copied Iberian leatherwork. Portuguese sea-chests were often made of tooled leather, as was some upholstery and wall-coverings. I suspect this may be the effect the makers of these pieces were trying to achieve. ("Nanako" by the way is also a special nubby weave of silk that resembles fish-roe). At an antique arms show recently I saw an identical piece lying on a table. The owner told me that it had been made by a member of the Yagyu family in 1928!"

 

http://www.shibuiswords.com/asianexportguards_files/alpha1.jpg

http://www.shibuiswords.com/asianexportguards_files/alpha2.jpg

[Spartancrest]

Just purchased number six in this series - that's near half the worlds supply (well maybe, I've only found thirteen in 30yrs!   )

[Kurikata]

Very interesting thread as I didn't how to classify this tsuba of my collection.

[Spartancrest]

Bruno P.

 

Did you buy it from Japanese Antiques.com ? Listed as 'Bushu', You have removed the the catalogue number I see. (I stole the image from them for my records) I like the kagome ategane (ume if you prefer) - One that got away! I notice one small detail that is different to the guards I have, the background is more like ishime rather than dot punched (I won't go as far as calling it nanako.) Let me know if the ura is the same or if I have trouble with my eyesight!

 

PS. mine were lot cheaper.

[Kurikata]

Hi Dale ,

 

I purchased this tsuba 13 years ago..... directly in Japan to a dealer in Tokyo. Funny to discover the same tsuba on this specific site.... but yes, it is the same.....and i bought it without stickers..... .

 

PS. The price was less than 1/3 of the amount published in the site