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

[Bob M.]

Re Item No. 285

 

Some corrected / additional information

 

The subject matter is revised to - mouse , mochibana and treasure sack - Best Wishes for an abundant New Year.

 

The branches with small balls are mochibana ( mochi flowers ) . These are small rice balls formed on twigs and can be coloured ( see wikipedia for more info. )

 

The mouse represents a symbol of Daikokuten, together with the sack ( takarakukuro ) of the God of Wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

 

The sack is a bottomless hoard of treasure.

 

The maker is Shigeyoshi ( Haynes 08584.0 ) in 1813.

 

In summary, an over 200 year old New Year Wishes Kozuka - appropriate for this time of year .

 

Many Thanks are due to George Miller for his help on this .

 

[rematron]

Thank you for the subject update @Bob M. . I really enjoy the mythology and symbolism of these depictions.  When I know the meaning, the artwork becomes even more beautiful and profound.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 286  Tsuba in shakudo with gold   7.84 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.40 cm

 

Subject of fishing boats in a lively sea with many billowing waves . 

 

Signed - Aizu No Ju Chuemon Matsumura Katsukata & Kao ( signature can also be read Katsumasa ). Can anyone find this artist in either Wakayama or Haynes ?

 

Good piece of craftsmanship from the Edo period , very engaging subject and composition. Nice detailing includes rows of nanako edging the seppa-dai.

 

Best viewed in partial silhouette against a light background.

 

Published in Shinsen Kinko Meikan, K.Kokubo, Tokyo 1993 , p.59

 

NBTHK Hozon Tosogu.

 

 

 

 

 

[DirkO]

The fact that the design goes over the mimi, the carefull nanako to highlight the seppa-dai and the hitsu-ana and the pleasing and original lay-out of the waves and boats,.... This all makes for a very nice tsuba!

Sadly no entry in Wakayama.

[Bob M.]

Re. Item No. 286

 

Haynes entry H 02787.0 states Katsukata, family name Matsumura , D: ca.1700

 

This would give the tsuba an age of 320 + years.

 

Thanks , George !

[kissakai]

I loved the waves and it wasn't straight away I saw that the sukashi where boats. A very nice tsuba

 

[Bob M.]

Item No. 287   Iron Tsuba with gold and mother of pearl   7.72 cm x 6.77 cm x 0.40 cm

 

Subject of Irises against a rock face background , a diminutive snail on a leaf to the rear . Made by Ford Hallam around 18 years ago.

 

Taking inspiration from the work of Kano Natsuo , Ford has produced a deceptively simple looking piece , where a great deal of attention has been given over to the ground work and texturing. The overall effect is seen much better in the hand, as photographs flatten out the detail and have insufficient depth of field to allow an overall oblique view .

 

 

[Brian]

You're soooo lucky to own that one. Wow.

[Stephen]

I remember when Ford first shared that, grown on me even more now.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 288   Kozuka in sentoku with gold and shakudo.

 

Subject of Cicada on a tree trunk by Ryuchiken Teruyuki , Edo period 19th cent. Haynes ref. H 09665.0

 

The Cicada carved in gold with shakudo feelers and veins inlaid into its wings. Nicely engraved bark and associated detailing.

 

Together with the artist's signature is a Chinese ? poem inlaid in gold . Any takers for a translation?

 

As usual with these pieces , photographs flatten out the depth of the carving. 

[rematron]

Amazing detail

[Bob M.]

Re. Item No. 288

 

After consulting with George Miller , we are able to add a little to the original post above.

 

The inscription on the rear of the kozuka is in Tensho or Japanese seal script and reads/translates to ' evening cicada clinging to old tree '.

 

Seal script usually appears as a suffix or adjunct to makers signatures in Japanese Art and is relatively common on Tosogu, often seen inlaid with gold.

 

It is however, not usually seen outside this context on fittings and is quite rare to appear as part of the design of the piece.

 

Regards

[Bob M.]

Item No. 289    Tsuba in shibuichi with shakudo and gold    6.24 cm x 5.30 cm x 0.34 cm

 

Subject of three  friends of winter by Norichika ( Hamano school ) late edo c.1866. Haynes H 07314.0  F:Miyamoto 

 

Mount Fuji , pine trees, eggplants and a Haiku poem are all skilfully depicted and carved. The three friends, if seen in the first dream of the year , are regarded as an auspicious symbol of good fortune to come.

 

The Haiku poem alludes to this wish where, meanwhile, reality has raised its head  -  ' I went to bed expecting the years good first dream, but when I awoke , it was morning '

 

NTHK Kanteisho papers.

 

Thanks to Morita-san for his help with the Haiku translation.

 

 

 

 

[MauroP]

Tsuba No. 289 looks like a variation in the theme called hatsuyume - 初夢. Hatsuyume is the first dream one has in the new year. It was considered to be particularly good luck to dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk (taka), and an eggplant (nasubi).
Beautiful tsuba, by the way.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 290   Kozuka Shibuichi with silver and shippo.

 

Subject of fallen cherry blossoms floating on water with the reflection of the moon in a light haze.  Signed Hamano Noriyuke ( 18th-19th Cent. )

 

Hamano Noriyuke l or ll ? They are referenced in Haynes H 07454.0 / H 07455.0

 

The beautifully carved inscription states that the piece is after a design by Shokado .

 

Shokado Shojo 1584 - 1639 was a famous artist who, amongst other things, was responsible for the revival of grass script calligraphy from the Chinese original sources of hundreds of years previous.

 

Whilst the theme might be regarded as too simplistic for modern tastes, it is a classic, subtly rendered depiction of ephemera that should be appreciated by anybody with artistic feelings. 

 

 

 

[kissakai]

The simplicity is it's strongest point - lovely

 

[Matsunoki]

Beautiful understated refinement. The use of the bi-metal back, the folding of the moon over onto the reverse and a painstakingly done Mei…..not to mention the delicate use of enamels. I can just imagine it on a sumptuous Tanto with en-suite mountings.

[Spartancrest]

On 1/18/2023 at 8:11 AM, Bob M. said:

Item No. 286  Tsuba in shakudo with gold   7.84 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.40 cm

 

Subject of fishing boats in a lively sea with many billowing waves . 

 

Signed - Aizu No Ju Chuemon Matsumura Katsukata & Kao ( signature can also be read Katsumasa ). Can anyone find this artist in either Wakayama or Haynes ?

 

Good piece of craftsmanship from the Edo period , very engaging subject and composition. Nice detailing includes rows of nanako edging the seppa-dai.

 

Best viewed in partial silhouette against a light background.

 

Published in Shinsen Kinko Meikan, K.Kokubo, Tokyo 1993 , p.59

 

NBTHK Hozon Tosogu.

 

 

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5438265

[rematron]

Wow!  That's a spicy tamale!

[Bob M.]

Item No. 291   Fuchi Kashira in shibuichi with silver , gold and copper.

 

Subject of Shoki and oni(s) signed Issando Joi ( Late Edo period )

 

Shoki about to deal out some retribution to some oni, hiding in a tree.

 

I was unsure about putting this F/K up on the thread as it is very difficult to photograph convincingly. However I am posting the standard file pictures together with some other views to bring out some of the detail.

 

As usual , looks much better in the hand than in photographs.

 

Ex Naunton Collection Plate No.41, no. 1309.

[Geraint]

Dear Bob.

 

Thank you for deciding to post these, the face of Shoki alone is enough to justify their inclusion!  Beautiful set.

 

All the best.

[Bob M.]

Item No. 292 Tsuba in Sentoku with silver , shibuichi , shakudo and gold.   7.10 cm x 6.55 cm x 0.46 cm

 

Subject of a tiger sitting on the edge of a cliff, a stream flows past and over the edge of the rock face. Signed Someya Kazunobu ( active around 1850 ).

 

The design wraps around the piece and is most beautifully done . The stream in particular is wonderfully rendered and the 3D effect , especially strong when held in hand, gives the illusion of moving waters that you can almost hear.

 

This tsuba is due to have some damage repaired and tlc in the next few months - lighten off some of the dirt to reveal obscured detail like the tigers stripes and areas around the foliage. The area around the stream will not be cleaned , the dirt in that area addding much to the overall effect.

 

George Miller has done some research on this piece and tells me that the signature is difficult to read - even Wakayama mentions this . Apparently the so called reptilian look to Japanese Tigers is a feature where artists , not having seen a tiger in real life , used skins brought back from China or Korea, and draped over a human model to produce their images from. Of course , later in the 19th century greater realism was also used as photographs and live specimens became available to study.

[terminus]

love the subtle stripes in the tiger on this tsuba! 

[Bob M.]

Item No. 293   Iron Tsuba with gold, shakudo and shibuichi   7.93 cm x 7.44 cm x 0.32 cm

 

Subject of night scene with moon , cuckoo and irises signed Oizami zu Funada Ikkin with kao - late Edo.

 

Second Generation Funada Ikkin tsuba with beautifully carved and inlaid irises . The detailing to the edge of the clouds near the moon and stars is also worthy of note.

 

Could perhaps do with some tlc on the patina ? or maybe not ?

 

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

[terminus]

I like the detail of the one flower petal being raised apart from the rest of the hira zogan inlays. 

[Bob M.]

Ref Item No. 293

 

Many Thanks to George Miller for his research into this piece and its background -

[Bob M.]

Item No.  294   A pair of menuki in shakudo with gold

 

Subject of two running shishi, signed Yanagawa Naomitsu with kao ( 18th cent. )

 

Really expressive of movement , fine carving and detail on menuki only 28mm long.

 

Part of an associated set of sword fittings , the other items to follow.

 

Bought as part of the set some 12years ago.

 

NBTHK Papered.

 

 

[rematron]

It's not very often that you see shishi depicted with actual necks doing their jobs as necks.  My observation is it's usually a head stuck on the shoulders and looking one way or another.  And the top shishi does indeed express movement by the neck being slightly exaggerated in its job of allowing the shishi to look behind itself.  Beautiful menuki.

[Bob M.]

Item No.  295   Kozuka in Shakudo with Shibuichi and Gold

 

Subject of Shishi by Yokoya Soyo ( 18th Cent. ) signed with kao .

 

Fine Nanako ground to front complemented by Gilt reverse with 'slanting rain' yasuri , with an imposing Shishi dominating the piece.

 

Part of the associated set of fittings featuring the menuki shown in previous Item No. 294.

[Bob M.]

Item No.  296  Fuchi Kashira in Shakudo with Shibuichi and Gold

 

Subject of Shishi , from the same set as the two previous items. signed Gyonen rokuju-san , Soyo with kao ( at the age of 63 )

 

Another pair of dynamic Shishi images, this time displayed on a fine nanako ground of a Fuchi Kashira.

 

NBTHK papered ( as part of a set )