Tsuba, please advice

[andreYes]

What could you tell about this tsuba?

It seems that it's signed "Kaneie" (山城国伏見住　金家作)... But is it the style of Kaneie?

Thanks for any comments...

[Soshin]

Here is a another topic about "Kaneie" tsuba:

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4251

 

On the second page of the topic I posted a photo of mine tsuba which is a 19th Cen. late Edo period Shoami school copy that was signed with a fake Kaneie signature. The signature on my tsuba is in a style trying to fake the second famous Kaneie tsuba-ko. I still like my tsuba but it isn't a lost masterpiece as I was hoping. :lol: I hope you find the topic URL helpful in your study.

[andreYes]

Thank you, Soshin, for the link. Very useful topic about Kaneie copies.

 

I'm almost sure that this tsuba is gimei. It looks so different from Kaneie style that I've noticed that it's signed "Kaneie" much later than I saw it for the first time.

I just would like to know the estimated age, and opinions about the quality in general.

[IanB]

Andre, It may be gimei. but I like your tsuba - a variation on the 'Dew on the grass (sasa)' theme. However, it is the back which I find most interesting. Note the three aoi leaves which have little or nothing to do with the design on the front. Could this be an anti-Tokugawa piece? The Royal Armouries has a tanto with a kozuka that I was convinced was anti-shogun. It was the usual shakudo nanako with three aoi leaves in gold, drifting down a stream, indicated by swirling silver lines, above which was a butterfly / mayfly in gold. The fact that the leaves were separate, and floating away, combined with the short life of the insect suggests the idea of the destruction of the Tokugawa. Whilst yours isn't quite so blatant, the separation of the leaves might show the same sentiment.

Ian Bottomley

[IanB]

Sorry Andrey, I missed the y key in the above. Ian

[Mike]

Very interesting Ian, thanks a lot. I sure light an angel I wasn't aware of.

Mike

[andreYes]

Thanks, Ian! The symbolism of tsuba designs is a very interesting theme!

 

PS Without "y" - it's my name in French style :D

[SSt]

A tranquil and well balanced design.

I see a moon reflected in water, with water plantain (omodaka).

The back has water lily/spatterdock (kohone) leaves floating on the water.

 

Spatterdock (kohone) - water lily

Although the spatterdock bears a large yellow flower, crests based on this motif depict the leaf

- primarily, it appears because of its close resemblence to the prestigious holloyhock (aoi).

Reference: The Elements of Japanese Design, John Dower - page 78, illustrations 951-62

[IanB]

Steve, I see no omodaka or water. I admit the moon is placed in a very low position that to me suggests it is rising or setting and being seen through the vegetation. Since there is dew on the sasa it suggests early morning.

Ian Bottomley

[SSt]

Ian

An image of the plantain (different season?). I trust that you can see the resemblence in the wide striped leaves.

The plant grows very close to the ground, in or around water, especially boggy areas.

Therefore the moon rising/setting is most likely to be a water reflection.

If water is alluded to, then the three leaves on the reverse are probably water lilies (kohone).

The thinner leaves could also be interpreted as grass with dew drops.

 

Whatever the theme actually is, its still a nice example of the kaneie school, at least to my eye.

[IanB]

Steve, I had posted an answer to your last entry, but it seems to have dropped off the end somewhere - so here is the gist of it again.

The reason I said I could not see omodaka is because I was referring to the arrowhead plant - Sagittaria sagittifolia. This is usually depicted with its flowers - whereas the various species of Sasa are invariably shown with twigs sticking up above the leaves as per the tsuba. Either way, I agree its a very nice design. As for what species is on the back, and hence my reference to the shogunate, we cannot now know for definite. If it is aoi, it may be (and this is only speculation) an anti-shogunate indication.

Ian

[andreYes]

I've finally received this tsuba!

After observing it closely, I have two more questions. Please, help to understand:

 

1. The surface is very uneven, especially the omote. Is it the ishime-ji?

 

 

 

 

2. The most of the surface is covered with strange lines. Is it a kind of yasuri? Do these lines mean anything?

 

[John A Stuart]

Yes, a hammered surface, tsuchimeji 槌目地. I think pitting has occured that may obscure somewhat the original surface and the kebori 毛彫 patterning that you can see remnants of. The pattern seems to have an organic look in line with the whole theme. I wonder how much of the surface had this feature originally. A handsome tsuba still. It must have been really something at one time. John