Long shot - do you recognize this book?

[Surfson]

I just bought a tsuba that looks just like one listed in a book that they shared with the ad.   I am including a photo of the tsuba as well as two photos of the book shown in the listing that has a tsuba attributed to Hayashi Matashichi.  Sadly, they didn't  mention the book name in the listing. The tsuba I bought has NBTHK H papers to Higo.  Do any of you by any chance recognize the book that is pictured?  I can't read the page number but it looks to be 1XX.  

[Shugyosha]

Hi Robert,

I can’t help with that reference but there’s a very similar one in “Higo Tsuba shou - Kurotetsu no Hana” at page 57. It’s down as Tsuboi school (坪井流).

 

If you think it will help I can sort out some pictures and post them tomorrow - it’s late in the UK now. 

[Gakusee]

Bob, it does indeed look almost identical but with some subtle differences. Clearly from the same “playbook”. 

[Ford Hallam]

The book appears to be volume one of the two part Tsuba Kansho Jiten by Sato and Wakayama. I have the 1977 edition and the upper tsuba is shown on page 173, alone. I imagine there's another edition that included this design tsuba.

[k morita]

Hi,

 

[Tsuba Kansho Jiten ]by Sato and Wakayama.   

Pic from  unknown web site....

 

[Surfson]

Thanks to all of you.   I am amazed that Ford San and Morita San could figure it out just by looking at the photos!  Is that an important book for tsuba collectors to have?  Cheers, Bob

[Surfson]

6 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Robert,

I can’t help with that reference but there’s a very similar one in “Higo Tsuba shou - Kurotetsu no Hana” at page 57. It’s down as Tsuboi school (坪井流).

 

If you think it will help I can sort out some pictures and post them tomorrow - it’s late in the UK now. 

That would be greatly appreciated John!

[Curran]

One of the books I don't have.

[Surfson]

I know of the fame of Wakayama.   Was Kanzan Sato considered to be a true expert in kodogu?   I see many hakogaki by him and have several myself.

[Spartancrest]

There seem to be a few of the design about, this image is from the Varshavsky Collection blog.

 

https://varshavskycollection.com/collection/tsu-0258/

The Higo example can be found at Iron tsuba. The works of the exhibition “Kurogane no hana”, The Japanese Sword Museum, 2014, p. 69, №56: Sugomori-tsuru sukashi-tsuba (Nesting Crane). Mumei: Matashichi (1st generation), early 17th century.

 

http://www.nihonto.us/CRANE SUKASHI TSUBA.htm  has a variant that is not very far from the design.

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Robert,

Here's the reference:

[Mark]

9 hours ago, k morita said:

[Tsuba Kansho Jiten ]by Sato and Wakayama. 

this one?

https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b1009-tsuba-kansho-jiten-sato-%26-wakayama

[k morita]

Yes.

[Surfson]

Thank you John, Dale, Mark and Morita San.  Is that a book worth having?  

[Shugyosha]

Which book are you talking about? The Kurogane no Hana one is a bit disappointing: a bit on the thin side and still over $100 IIRC. 
 

Spotted this one with a Hayashi attribution:

 

https://www.touken-matsumoto.jp/en/product/shousai/TSU-1847

[Surfson]

Thanks John.   It's funny how some paper to Higo, others to Hayashi.   Yet they look nearly identical.  Well, I am happy with mine, considering the one you just found is nearly 5 times as costly!   

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Hi Bob , you asked about Tsuba Kansho Jiten . Like any other book by Sato Kanzan the pieces shown are also in lots of other books . For example there are twenty two tsuba by Kaneiye pictured all of which I am sure could be found in other references . Grey Doffin implies that it contains iron tsuba but there are also plenty of Kinko items shown . There are some pieces though that I don't recall seeing elsewhere such as the unusual one attached . 

Ian Brooks

[Bazza]

Surely there is more to this than meets the eye???  Dale???  It looks like the Christian version of Hell (or a Macbeth performance, even a Hieronymus Bosch utsushi!!) dressed up in Buddhist clothing!!  Perhaps a Ghost story for children??

 

BaZZa.

[Surfson]

Ian, is that a recommendation or are you neutral?  

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Bob , it is a nice book and if you didn't have many tsuba books then it would be well worth having. However if you have an number of other books by Sato and /or Wakayama then I would give it a miss because much of the contents of Tsuba Kansho Jiten will be in those other books . Ian

[Surfson]

Thanks Ian, much appreciated.  Cheers, Bob

[Spartancrest]

Very late post but this should go in this thread.  [Before it goes into the recycle bin!]

    https://www.jauce.com/auction/g1129383035  the Ura view is just a laugh!! No points for guessing this lot are all cast. Nice attempt with the sukashi cut-out nakago-ana  [NOT!]