How rare is this Tsuba?

[Akitombo]

Is this tsuba that rare and has the school it's been put against correct?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0323978513

 

Regards

David

[Bugyotsuji]

Carmen says: "Box is of suitable (exceptional) quality."

 

It looks like a regular Tsuba box to me...

[John A Stuart]

Well, It says Yoshiro school, but, I would have called it Heianjo if asked. Rare? I have not seen this theme before although the type is not rare. There were a few Yoshiro tsubako. Nice example though. John

[kusunokimasahige]

Accordiung to the experts this is a legit item

 

KM

[Brian]

Henk-Jan,

I think you had better clarify that statement pretty fast. As far as I know, this is a reputable dealer and I don't see any reason to think it is anything else besides what it says it is. If you are going to make that statement, please clarify it in detail and without doubt.

 

Brian

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

IMHO this is not a real Tsuba of the Heian era.

 

Seller says :

 

Yoshiro school. Dates to the late 1500's to early 1600's (Momoyama period).

[Brian]

This is a recognised pattern, and I have seen similar ones in high end auction catalogs. I think it is exactly what it says it is. I bet if someone has the catalog for this auction or the time to look it up online, they will see the same tsuba pictured.

That statement was rash and liable for serious comeback from the seller. Please take this as an official warning.

I am not verifying the tsuba...but there is no real reason to make that previous claim at all..especially with the clear provenance that the seller gave.

 

Brian

[kusunokimasahige]

Post edited no fuss..

 

shitsurei shimastita, gomen kudasai.

 

KM

[reinhard]

It is of no big importance, but the box was not made for this particular tsuba. The boxes might have been exchanged a long time ago, but calling it "suitable" is somewhat strange (to say the least).

As for the tsuba itself: It is a tsuba with Kaga-style inlay. That's about all one can say. Many western museums with collections of Japanese swords and fittings are nowadays confronted with the fact, that their masterpieces, acquired during Meiji- until early Showa-time, won't stand closer examination anymore. This is not a judgement on the tsuba in question.

 

reinhard

[IanB]

I had one like this, on a sword carried in WWII so I suspect not terribly rare. It is done by soldering lengths of brass wire onto the iron base. I was under the impression it represented pine needles clustered on the surface of the pond.

Ian Bottomley

[reinhard]

Hello Ian,

 

I agree with you. This tsuba was made in the "pine needles on water"-design. It was very popular in Kaga province and should not be confused with Kyo work such as Heian-Jo or Yoshiro. Two Kaga-examples added for comparison.

 

reinhard

[Bungo]

not rare at all,check the hamilton catalog.

Sometimes they are referred to in the western world as " junk inlay ".............you can interpret whatever you want from that description.

 

milt

[Tavroch]

I like the for sale one best.

[Guido]

Sometimes they are referred to in the western world as " junk inlay "......

This type of inlay is called "Chirigami-zôgan", either written 散紙象嵌 or 塵紙象嵌. While 散 means "scattered, dissolved", 塵 means indeed "junk, waste".