A series of fittings ( or how not to build a collection )

[ROKUJURO]

Tony,

mostly it is the other way round: The purer (in terms of alloying metals) the iron, the softer it will be, and less likely to corrode. Carbon content always enhances the build-up of corrosion.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 274   A Kozuka in shibuichi with gold, silver and shakudo

 

Subject of Onna San no Miya ( the Third Princess ) and Prince Genji's wife. Carved by Hamano Teruchika at the turn of 18/19th cents.

 

As expected , a finely detailed and inlaid piece depicting the moment when the princess's cat escapes onto the balcony .

 

Kashiwagi then gets a brief view of the princess as she tries to retrieve her pet and falls in love with her.

 

 

[terminus]

21 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

Tony,

mostly it is the other way round: The purer (in terms of alloying metals) the iron, the softer it will be, and less likely to corrode. Carbon content always enhances the build-up of corrosion.

Thanks Jean, that makes more sense. Tanaka iron might have more carbon content then. 

Lovely kozuka Bob, and the mei of Hamano Teruchika is beautiful! 

[Bob M.]

Item No.  275   Tsuba in shibuichi with shakudo and gold and silver details   5.02 cm x 4.08 cm x 0.38 cm

 

Subject of leaping carp with water plants. Signed Tsuchiya Takachika with kakihan , and dated - a day in the tenth month , in the year of Kanoto-tori. ie. Bunkyo 1 1861

 

Smallest tsuba in the collection , showing good workmanship , as one would anticipate from a student of Tsuchiya Yasuchika .

 

The treatment of the water weeds and the Lotus flower are matched by the intricate modelling of the leaping carp in shakudo - a model of persistence and therefore much admired.

 

My thanks to George Miller for his invaluable assistance on this piece.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 276   Tsuba in sentoku with shibuichi and gold   7.95 cm x 6.96 cm x 0.28 cm

 

Subject of snails signed Otsuryuken Shozui ( 1696 - 1769 ). Therefore dates to approx middle 18th cent.

 

Unusual subject matter purportedly by the student of Toshinaga and founder of Hamano school.

 

Can anyone give an opinion on this or possibly look in Wakayama or Haynes ?

 

Delicate and subtle engraving and carving work to both sides with gold inlaid feelers ( horns ) and slime trails . The textures of the stone lantern on the reverse are also worthy of mention.

 

I will try to take some better pictures and post in the next few days .

 

[SteveM]

Here is an authenticated Otsuryūken Shōzui piece from the Wakayama/Masumoto mei reference.

 

And here is one from Ginza Seikōdō.

https://ginzaseikodo.com/product/fittings/shozuitaka/

 

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Bob I find this product good for keeping the snails off my Tosogu.   Very nice guard by the way! 

[Bob M.]

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks for the examples , there looks to be a fair degree of similarity - one for the shinsa I suspect.

 

Regards

[DirkO]

Here's yours in line with some papered examples - it seems to compare favorably - which obviously isn't a guarantee as you well know

[Bob M.]

Re Item No. 276

 

A few extra pics to give a better idea of the texturing etc.

 

Thanks, everyone for your interest !

 

[Bob M.]

Item No. 277   Iron Tsuba with sahari and gold    8.24 cm x 7.77 cm x 0.45 cm

 

Subject of a basket weave fence in front of Holly branches. Can anyone identify the inlaid characters at 11 o'clock ?

 

This tsuba by Teiei ( Kunitomo / Hazama Group Artists ) dating from late 17th/early 18th cent.

 

In very good condition for a piece 300 year old plus.

 

With inscription by Kanichi Sato ( Kanzan ) on box.

 

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papered.

 

 

[SteveM]

No idea. Does the TH paper or hakogaki have anything to say about it?

(I imagine they don't, otherwise you wouldn't be asking... but might be worth a look anyway, just to satisfy curiosity if nothing else)

[Bob M.]

Hi Steve ,

 

I will try to take some pictures and post them on the board in the next few days.

 

Regards

[DirkO]

Stylised bonji perhaps?

[Bob M.]

Re Item No. 277

 

Papers / Hakogaki ( outside of lid ) / Hakogaki ( inside of lid ) as promised...

 

Thanks !

[SteveM]

Thanks Bob!

Interesting, both Kanzan and the NBTHK are avoiding any mention of the unusual glyph at the top of the tsuba. Too bad.

It doesn't seem like a bonji to me, but I have no other plausible hypothesis. 

[Bob M.]

Item No. 278   Iron Tsuba with shakudo , gold and copper    7.51 cm x 7.16 cm x 0.54 cm

 

Subject of a European, possibly a Dutchman , with his matchlock gun and hunting dog ( definitely a male ). Signed Toshinaga with kao, early 1700's.

 

A foreign devil caricature of a huntsman wearing his best outfit and generally lording it about with the assistance of his canine companion.

 

Early Nara school piece in good original condition.

 

Ex. Roland Hartman collection

Ex. Edward Wrangham collection

[Spartancrest]

 

A previously published image of the same guard. Someone please feed the poor dog! 

[DirkO]

The dog is one of those typical Spanish greyhounds. This fact, together with the clothing style, hat, ... would make me think Spanish rather than Dutch.

[Bob M.]

Re. Item No. 278

 

Or perhaps a Portugese ?

[DirkO]

Ah yes, that's more likely!


 

[Bob M.]

Item No. 279   Tsuba in Makie   8.32 cm x 7.80 cm x 0.65 cm

 

Subject of dragons by a Makie artist called Momoe , made in the autumn of Manen 1 ( 1860 ) when he was 63 years old.

 

A rare 160 + year old leather based tsuba  , again the craftmanship speaks for itself.

 

A prime example , in my view , of the Japanese ability to picture dragons that you can believe in , unlike the cartoon characters in the chinese versions.

 

Bought on ebay direct from Japan over 20 years ago.

 

 

[Brian]

Wow..that looks phenomenal for a leather tsuba! And that lacqerwork is superb. Well done.

[Curran]

On 11/10/2022 at 12:43 PM, Bob M. said:

Item No. 277   Iron Tsuba with sahari and gold    8.24 cm x 7.77 cm x 0.45 cm

 

Subject of a basket weave fence in front of Holly branches. Can anyone identify the inlaid characters at 11 o'clock ?

 

This tsuba by Teiei ( Kunitomo / Hazama Group Artists ) dating from late 17th/early 18th cent.

 

In very good condition for a piece 300 year old plus.

 

With inscription by Kanichi Sato ( Kanzan ) on box.

 

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papered.

 

 

 

This tsuba was mine for many years, before I sold it in 2013 or 2014. According to the Japanese owner from whom I bought it, the character is a Tale of the Genji reference. I never verified that claim, but was told something similar by another Japanese authority.

[kissakai]

Nice tsuba and I've been looking for a leather tsuba for ages

 

[Steves87]

There are a few leather ones out there, but this one is by far, the best of them. Most of comparable age are in very bad condition, and none are of a quality that can compete with this one. 

[Matsunoki]

On 11/15/2022 at 6:45 AM, DirkO said:

The dog is one of those typical Spanish greyhounds. This fact, together with the clothing style, hat, ... would make me think Spanish rather than Dutch.

 

On 11/15/2022 at 9:08 AM, Bob M. said:

Or perhaps a Portugese ?

 

On 11/14/2022 at 8:14 PM, Bob M. said:

A foreign devil caricature of a huntsman wearing his best outfit and generally lording it about with the assistance of his canine companion.

I am inclined to think that he is a Mongol Archer. His clothes are not recognisably European. See the tsuba in this link.

https://www.zacke.at/auction/lot/303-nobuchika-a-fine-and-rare-silver-mito-school-tsuba-depicting-a-mongolian-archer-with-dog/?lot=16858

[Spartancrest]

Colin I have seen the same sort of thing - some references call the figure a Tatar "Dattan" or even a "Corean"  - I think most are a guess. Pity they don't have something written on the guards 

This image from my collection of utsushi book. The common feature in this case is the dog.

 

 

That darn dog is still getting around - this time on a kashira!

Edited November 23, 2022 by Spartancrest
new data

[Bob M.]

Item No. 280  Iron Tsuba in Mokko Gata form with silver , gold , copper and shakudo   7.54 cm x 6.90 cm x 0.42 cm

 

Subject of butterfly and Iris blooms , a horsetail and grass depicted on the rear. Signed on two raised cartouches Yasuchika Masahide  ( Nara School, Early Edo period, late 17th/early 18th cents. ).

 

Surface hammered and punched to create the impression of a rock face , also using the natural folding of the plate to good effect . The iris flower is accurately shown , the leaves of the plant resembling a sword blade, a great symbol of victory in battle.

 

On the reverse , near the bottom we see what appear to be chips and gouges in the surface . The tsuba was given a worn effect and made this way , the inlay extending into the ' damaged ' areas.

 

Although heavily suggestive of military aspiration , the design also evokes a longing for the peace of a gentle spring day.

 

Acquired direct from Japan some 16 years ago.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 281  Kozuka in shibuichi with silver and gold

 

Subject of the spirit of the willow tree , from the well known ghost story. The artist is Hamano Naoyuki ( 1745-1819 ), a student of Hamano Noriyuki.

 

A beautifully decorated piece with a convincing image of the ghost  , sorrowful and vulnerable, but possessing hidden depths of power.

 

The use of green tinted gold adds masterfully to the scene.

 

Excellent overall condition.

 

Provenence -

Ex M. Gueneau collection

Ex Paul Corbin collection