Tsuba with grapes and some kind of animal

[TomMcRei]

I would like to ask users of NMB, what do You think is this animal below grapes?

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

With grapes the default creature is usually 栗鼠 Risu, squirrel. (Yes, there are symbolic reasons.)

[TomMcRei]

Squirrel and vine is it really a word pun?

 

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/6609/grapevine-and-squirrels-unknown-Japanese

[Spartancrest]

There is a similar themed tsuba in the Walters Art Museum.  https://art.thewalters.org/detail/20774/tsuba-with-grapevine-and-squirrels/

There is also a Cloisonné piece in the Brooklyn Museum - unfortunately all their examples are in B&W

 The Ashmolean Museum also has several in the same theme of which these are two.  http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10374

 

[Kurikata]

Topic on squirrels and vines......

[SteveM]

  On 3/16/2021 at 11:34 AM, TomMcRei said:

Squirrel and vine is it really a word pun?

Expand  

 

It is wordplay, but not the one claimed by that link.

Grapes and Squirrel = 葡萄に栗鼠 (budō ni risu).

Budō ni risu sounds almost identical to budō ni rissuru (武道に律する) which can mean roughly "pursue the discipline of the martial arts" "uphold the way of the warrior".

Plus, both grapes and squirrels symbolize fertility, so they are considered good luck or auspicious symbols. 

 

[Peter Bleed]

Steve hit the nail on the head - - IMHO

P