Bob M. Posted February 4, 2022 Author Report Posted February 4, 2022 Re Item Nos. 188 & 189 Sorry , no papers for either of these ... Rgds Quote
Bob M. Posted February 5, 2022 Author Report Posted February 5, 2022 Item No. 190 Iron tsuba 7.94 cm x 7.88 cm x 0.57 cm Subject of snowflakes - Kyo shoami Mid edo Good colour / patina Item No. 191 Iron Tsuba 7.10 cm x 66.2 cm x 0.65 cm Akasaka Kiri & Tomoe - NBTHK papered 2 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 6, 2022 Author Report Posted February 6, 2022 Item No. 192 Iron Tsuba 8.18 cm x 7.94 cm x 0.52 cm Myochin Mokume Ji . An unaltered original condition guard ( without additional hitsu-ana ). Strong mokume grain pattern also visible in the mimi. NTHK Kanteisho papers Item No. 193 Kozuka in shibuichi with gold , silver , copper and shakudo Subject of Benten and attendant under a flowering cherry tree. Very finely detailed scene of Benten reaching out to her attendant , who is carrying a Biwa ( traditional Lute ) wrapped in a Furoshiki cloth for travelling. The piece painstakingly engraved and inlaid , signed Hamano Naoyuki ( Hamano School , 19th Cent. ). 3 3 Quote
GRC Posted February 6, 2022 Report Posted February 6, 2022 Really nice mokume Bob, and a beautifully detailed kozuka Quote
Bob M. Posted February 7, 2022 Author Report Posted February 7, 2022 A little late , I am afraid - Item No. 194 Tsuba in yamagane with gold , silver and shakudo 6.67 cm x 5.72 cm x 0.48 cm Subject of Setsubun ritual . Signed Jo-I Nagaharu - 19th Cent. This wakizashi / tanto sized tsuba appears to have been mounted at some time . It shows soybeans being thrown about with great relish during Setsubun - an unimpressed Oni hides and watches . The word for bean - mame - is also a homophone for ' destroying evil ' in Japanese , hence the association of bean and setsubun. Illustrated in Hawleys' Sword Fittings in Southern California publication , somewhere near the back , No. 1409 , I believe. 2 5 Quote
PietroParis Posted February 8, 2022 Report Posted February 8, 2022 On 2/7/2022 at 11:15 AM, Bob M. said: Illustrated in Hawleys' Sword Fittings in Southern California publication , somewhere near the back , No. 1409 , I believe. Yep: Quote
GRC Posted February 9, 2022 Report Posted February 9, 2022 Love the carved trellis with vines growing on them (on the back). It's also interesting that the mei is done on an inlayed bean pod shape, which adds yet another layer of bean references in this tsuba's design. Quote
Bob M. Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Posted February 12, 2022 Item No. 195 Iron Tsuba 7.38 cm x 7.43 cm x 0.48 cm Subject of bird in bush - thought to be Mid Edo Akasaka More classic design work - the piece looks to have remnants of lacquer on its surface. Item No. 196 Iron Tsuba 7.15 cm x 6.80 cm x 0.55 cm Subject of Paulownia ? Akasaka , 18th Cent. Good , deep patina. Sorry , Program has reversed images again... 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 13, 2022 Author Report Posted February 13, 2022 Item No. 197 Iron Tsuba with brass inlay 7.81 cm x 7.78 cm x 0.45 cm Subject of waves and fans - looks to be around mid / late 16th Cent. - any ideas on school - Heianjo ? In good order with very few losses to inlay. Item No. 198 Iron tsuba with copper/brass and mother of pearl 7.48 cm over corners x 0.88 cm overall thickness Subject of rain dragon and pearl Unusual design , heavy piece . The mother of pearl eyes really show up well in low light conditions. Ex Clarence McKenzie Lewis Jr. collection 1 Quote
kissakai Posted February 13, 2022 Report Posted February 13, 2022 Hi Bob There is a similar tsuba to your 197 in the Birmingham museum, Described as Heianjo circa 1600 I sold one similar to your 198 Identical form (Mt Fuji and it's reflection) but no dragon. Mine was covered in 'dots' I couldn't give it a school but Myochin did fold the edges of some of their tsuba although it does feel like this school Quote
Bob M. Posted February 17, 2022 Author Report Posted February 17, 2022 Item No. 199 Iron Tsuba 7.50 cm x 7.03 cm x 0.55 cm Akasaka Nobuie , 19th cent. revival piece. Item No. 200 Iron Tsuba 7.44 cm x 7.12 cm x 0.68 cm Subject of either crane or mantis, Akasaka ? 18th cent.? Nice , deep, almost waxy patina. 2 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 20, 2022 Author Report Posted February 20, 2022 Item No. 201 Iron tsuba with gilt 7.86 cm dia. x 0.48 cm Subject of Wisteria unsigned - mid Edo ? Nice , delicate carving showing the progression of flowering down each stem. The rim is possibly a fukurin - very difficult to tell. 5 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 21, 2022 Author Report Posted February 21, 2022 Item No. 202 Tsuba in sentoku with copper , gold and shakudo 7.13 cm x 6.58 cm x 0.49 cm Subject of eagle hunting a monkey. Signed Hirochika ( Haynes 01300.0 )( Thanks, George ) - Mito school , early 19th cent. Fine detailing with tiny inlays of shakudo ( eagle's talons ) , golden eye and shading above the eye . See Item No. 119 for a different version of the same subject by Hiroyoshi , also Mito school. In fact , both the maker of this piece - Hirochika - and Hiroyoshi were in the Mito school and are shown next to each other in Sesko's Genealogies - it is tempting to speculate that in real life they may have occupied adjoining work spaces also and co-operated whilst producing the same design... 6 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 22, 2022 Author Report Posted February 22, 2022 Item No. 203 Iron tsuba 7.21 cm x 7.14 cm x 0.45 cm Sukashi Iron tsuba described as ' Koshoami Middle Momoyama '. I have no way of knowing if this is correct - opinions please ! Appears to have a deal of age - some of the design elements are smoothly worn , making for a tactile piece. Item No. 204 Iron Tsuba 7.53 cm dia x 0.44 cm Subject of Buddhist symbolic weapons - Vajra . Signed Akitomo ? Not shown in Genealogies , does he have an entry in Haynes or Wakayama ? 1 Quote
GRC Posted February 22, 2022 Report Posted February 22, 2022 Hi Bob, hate to say it, but that second one with the Vajra looks like it's cast. That might also explain the unlisted name. 1 Quote
GRC Posted February 24, 2022 Report Posted February 24, 2022 Bob, I must apologize for the earlier post. I should have sent a PM. I don't want to mar this fantastic thread of "show and tell" you have been entertaining us with for such a long time. Quote
Shugyosha Posted February 24, 2022 Report Posted February 24, 2022 Hi Bob, There's nothing corresponding to this in Haynes under "Aki", "Mei" or "Myo" so I'm inclining towards a made up name unless there's anything in Wakayama which I don't have. Quote
Bob M. Posted February 24, 2022 Author Report Posted February 24, 2022 Thanks for the responses - Glen , don't worry about saying what you think , especially as you are quite right , this is cast . I said at the start of this thread that it would be 'warts and all ' .This is one that got through from the recent old collection purchase from about six months ago , without proper scrutiny on my part. John , I think you are probably correct about the made up name - sorry to have given you a wild goose chase. The thread was started on the 25th Feb. last year and has been kept alive by the interest of board members - I thank you all. Best Regards Bob 2 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 25, 2022 Author Report Posted February 25, 2022 Item No. 205 Iron Tsuba 7.91 cm x 7.74 cm x 0.28 cm Described as ' Kamakura Circles' does this make sense ? Thin plate , seems to have some age to it . Has been mounted several times at least . In good order with intact patina , archaic shaped Hitsu Ana and single Uda Nuki Ana. Item No. 206 Iron Tsuba 7.39 cm x 7.14 cm x 0.52 cm Subject of insects and flowers Bushu School NBTHK papered 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted February 27, 2022 Author Report Posted February 27, 2022 Item No. 207 Iron Tsuba 8.30 cm dia x 0.32 cm Subject of Monkey toys - described as Ko Toshu Kukurizaru - NBTHK papered Typical large diameter , thin plate Item No. 208 Iron Tsuba 7.58 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.35 cm Described as NBTHK Hozon Hoan Appears to have some age - mounted multiple times , good patina. 4 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted February 27, 2022 Report Posted February 27, 2022 Hi Bob, No. 207 is a nice KO-TOSHO TSUBA, TSUBA No. 208 has a 'Two Komma'-Design ( FUTATSU DOMOE SUKASHI (二巴透鐔)). This common heraldic symbol was used by several schools, e.g. KO-KACHUSHI, KO-TOSHO, YAMAKICHI BEI, NOBUIE and others. Obviously there is also a HOAN attribution. I like both TSUBA! Quote
Bob M. Posted February 28, 2022 Author Report Posted February 28, 2022 Item No. 209 Iron Tsuba 7.68 cm dia. x 0.51 cm Subject of bridge - described as ' Owari Gojo Bridge ' Mid Edo A classic sukashi theme , good condition and patina. Item No. 210 Iron Tsuba 7.62 cm x 7.46 cm x 0.68 cm Subject of foliage - ' wind blown branches ' Akasaka 5th generation. Smooth , intact , charcoal grey patina. 2 Quote
Bob M. Posted March 1, 2022 Author Report Posted March 1, 2022 Item No. 211 Iron Tsuba with shakudo , brass and gold 7.93 cm x 7.88 cm x 0.45 cm Described as ' Echizen Nobuie ' Is this another Akasaka Nobuie ? With lots of detail including ' sun burst ' engraving , sprinkled with gold flecks , arabesque carvings ,Hitsu Ana liners in Shakudo and brass , nicely upset split rim and deep ,chocolate brown patina. Someone ' went to town ' on this one - with the amount of decoration , possibly for a merchant rather than a samurai. Item No. 212 Iron Tsuba 7.50 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.50 cm Subject of Chrysanthemum flowers and leaves, thought to be Kyo Shoami mid to late Edo. Very dark grey , almost black patina, 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted March 6, 2022 Author Report Posted March 6, 2022 Item No. 213 Iron Tsuba 7.38 cm x 7.33 cm x 0.64 cm Item No. 214 Iron Tsuba 7.60 cm x 7.38 cm x 0.58 cm Both pieces with the subject of snow covered pine trees ? Item 213 in very heavy build, could this be another Sado ? Item 214 I wondered at first about Hayashi , but somehow it seems too crude . Excellent patina on both. As usual , any help gratefully received. Quote
Bob M. Posted March 8, 2022 Author Report Posted March 8, 2022 Item No. 215 Iron Tsuba 7.79 cm x 7.69 cm x 0.55 cm I have no idea as to subject or school on this one - ideas ? Item No. 216 Iron Tsuba with brass 6.48 cm x 6.20 cm x 0.42 cm Described as ' early 18th cent. good luck Ko Shoami ' Brass liners to both Hitsu Ana . Sunburst effect surface finish - seems to have been mounted on numerous occasions. 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted March 10, 2022 Author Report Posted March 10, 2022 Item No. 217 Iron Tsuba 7.04 cm x 7.10 cm x 0.34 cm Subject of temple bells ? described as ' Monyo Hoan '. Item No. 218 Iron Tsuba with brass 7.03 cm x 6.99 cm x 0.48 cm Described as ' Onin / Katushi / Higo ? 17th Cent. ' Comments ? 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted March 12, 2022 Author Report Posted March 12, 2022 Item No. 219 Iron tsuba with gold highlights 7.27 cm x 6.97 cm x 0.46 cm Subject of blossom on water - can anybody read the signature , please ? Bushu Masatsune ? Nicely done compact design giving a real sense of flowing water. Item No. 220 Iron Tsuba 8.07 cm x 8.12 cm x 0.43 cm Subject of kiri mon in positive and negative silhouette Very dark , almost black patina - not a casting ! 5 Quote
MauroP Posted March 12, 2022 Report Posted March 12, 2022 About No. 217: the tsuba below is described as shi-hō warabide sukashi (四方蕨手透 - openwork of fern sprouts in four directions) 1 Quote
Bob M. Posted March 14, 2022 Author Report Posted March 14, 2022 Item No 221 Daisho pair of Iron Tsuba 7.28 cm x 6.96 cm x 0.53 cm & 6.83 cm x 6.52 cm x 0.48 cm Subject of Aoi Leaves signed but not translated - look to be Bushu / Choshu ? Item No. 222 Iron Tsuba 7.69 cm x 7.63 cm x 0.52 cm Akasaka - difficult to make out subject matter on this - there are possible hints of Mantis and other bugs. Hazard a guess anyone ? Smooth , intact patina. 1 Quote
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