Mokko-Gata Tsuba - origin?

[Grevedk]

Dear NMB members,

 

I am in need of help to identify the origins (history, name of artist, place of manufacture) if possible on the Tsuba pictured below - unless it’s a fake / copy.

The Cleveland Museum of Art have a very similar sword guard (Tsuba) with “Dragon in storm and sea”, Japan and possible Edo period, in their collection with a citation from NMB (some of you) saying: “Edo Higo Kumagai work done in the style of Shimizu Jingo?”

 

The Tsuba in my care is made of iron (magnetic) and it measures approximately 7,7 cm x 8,4 cm. It has a motive of a dragon in a storm with lightning, clouds and waves. The yellow metal appears to be inlaid gold (not confirmed) as it seems very well positioned in the iron. Both the Kozuka-Bitsu-Ana and the Kogai-Bitsu-Ana are of the same “distinct” form which I haven’t seen on that many Tsuba’s before (really only on the one from the Cleveland Museum.

 

I would greatly appreciate any of you comments on this subject.

 

Best regards

 

Soren

(new member from Denmark)

 

[Grevedk]

Backside

[Grevedk]

Tsuba from the Cleveland Museum of Art as a reference.

[Dan tsuba]

Hello SG and welcome to the forum !!

I don't know enough about tsuba to help you out.  I am certain that others will tell you exactly what you want to know about the tsuba.  The only thing I can tell you is that I really like it and great pictures!!!

With respect,

Dan

[Kurikata]

Hizen school tsuba to me.

[Spartancrest]

Hizen school also from me - which is good, it is made in Japan and not a Chinese or Southeast Asia import.

Like Dan says great pictures and its a nice guard. 

[Grevedk]

Hi Dan, Bruno and Dale,

 

Thank you for your comments - appreciated 😎👍

 

One question - why Hizen and not Higo province? How do you see (or tell) the difference?

 

Soren 😎

[Spartancrest]

Soren, in the case of your example it is the shape of the seppa-dai that points toward Hizen. Hizen are often confused with Namban/Nanban from whom it is believed Hizen drew their designs. Not all Hizen had this Namban style seppa-dai but from what I can find Higo never had Namban style seppa-dai.

So your piece would fit Hizen from the shape of seppa-dai - if you had one with a standard Japanese seppa-dai we would still be debating which school to attribute.

 

More knowledgeable members feel free to correct me!

[Kanenaga]

FWIW, this looks to me like something that could be attributable to kodai Jingo (i.e., Higo), or a late, derivative Jingo subgroup like Kumagai or Tsuboi.

 

Les

[Spartancrest]

Les, any images with a similar seppa-dai? I had a look but can't find an example. Also what about the niku around the hitsu-ana, any Higo like that? Comparable images might help Soren to narrow it down. I am not an expert on either school so I am just going on visual similarities. Wouldn't brand names have been helpful! 

[GRC]

Re the distinct hitsu shape. You see that in some of the Nanban tsuba like this one:

I think the motif is supposed to be a lotus flower petal, which is a common motif found around the inside of the mimi of some of the early Chinese guards (like these two) that inspired much of the Nanban-style:

These two Chinese guard images are from Mandarin Mansion online... a great info resource

[Spartancrest]

When you see a namban like this - run, run, run!  Same design as Glen's first example but it came out of the mold a bit different. 

 

I know, I know!

[Grevedk]

Hi everyone,

 

Again thank you all for taking time to respond. Dale - your pictures and detailed comments are very much appreciated as they put me on a new path (and possible understanding) on how to distinguish between different regions.

 

I have found several descriptions of similarities that could point to Higo province (Shimizu Jingo I - III or Kumasi) such as:

 

• size
• thickness 
• round edges 
• no sukashi cuts
• chocolate color patina
• clear traces of Nunome Zogan
• leaf of spades form of the Kozuka- and Kogai-Bitsu-Ana

but the dragon motif seems a bit gaudy (or flashy), and it somehow resembles the dragon in Disney’s Mulan - so maybe 🤔 there is a slight chance that the maker of this Tsuba let himself be inspired by Hizen (or Namban) 🤓

 

But wow - I am beginning to really enjoy this quest and opportunity to learn from somebody who have been doing this for some time.

 

Thank you.

😎