Odd Little Tsuba I Just Picked Up - Vines and Fireflies

[chuck]

Hi! My name is Chuck and I'm new here - 1st post!! - and I'm also new to collecting antique tsuba and suchlike. I actually just bought my first antique tsuba last week on eBay.

 

I wasn't planning on buying one so soon - I had wanted to educate myself a bit more before taking the plunge - but I was the quality of the carving on this one and I fell in love with it and I couldn't resist. I love the gold inlay representing the fireflies!

 

So being completely new to this, I was hoping y'all could tell me something about this piece.

 

 

 

 

It's very small. When I say the dimentions in the eBay listing, I assumed it was sized for a wakashazi. When I got it, I realized that the nakago was much too small for a wak, or even a tanto. It won't sit flat in the display case because the post in the center of the box is too long! If it were to actually be mounted, the blade would need to be very very slender.

 

 

 

 

Even though the tsuba is small, it is oddly thick, about 5 mm. The carving goes all the way around the edge. Sorry the pic is blurry, but you should get the gist.

 

 

 

 

Back of the tsuba:

 

 

 

 

So, to sum up - weirdly sized, exquisite carving and inlay... Edo period (so I am told).

 

Was this just a peice to demonstrate the skill of the carver? Or was it actually intended to be mounted on a blade? Is there a blade smaller than a tanto? A know some aikuchi are thin, but they generally don't have handguards.

 

What else can you guys tell me about this piece? It puzzles me. It's stunningly beautiful, but I'd like to know more about it.

 

And, more importantly, where can I find a similar one, only sized for a katana?

 

Thanks!!

[Brian]

Chuck,

The size you mention makes me think it was probably made for a child's katana or a Boy's Day sword (seach the forum for the term)

You see these with very thin and slender blades sometimes. I have a tsuka with nakago ana so small, that it can only have been for a sword scaled down for a child.

 

Brian

[chuck]

huh. Would something so elaborate really have been made for a child's toy?

 

makes sense, given the size tho.

 

I can't help but wonder if there is a matching adult size one.

 

Is anyone familiar with the smith?

 

peace.

[Brian]

Chuck,

These were definitely not child's toys. Some of these swords are high class items made by top smiths. The giving of a sword to a child was a serious and ceremonial act and you can find any quality of fittings on them from junk up to top level tosogu.

 

Brian

[chuck]

Wow. Obviously, I had no idea. My opioion of this piece has shot up, actually. I think this is something rarer and more special than I had orginally thought. I wish there was some way of finding out information about the boy who recieved this and his family.

 

much thanks for the info!

 

peace.

[Alan Morton]

Hi Chuck, what country do live in, there could be many collectors living around you. Alan.

[Michael 101]

Hi Chuck,

 

Thought I would add some detail about the maker for you.

 

Haynes lists your man as working in Kii province circa 1852 and as being a retainer of the Tokugawa Daimyo of Kii with a two koku stripend (salary paid in rice). His family name was Kanahara.

 

As for the size and nakako ana etc all points towards being made for a tanto, especially with the two hitsu ana.

 

Nice buy

 

Regards

Michael

[chuck]

Much thanks for the info!! I'm delighted to know more about the smith; now I'm going to have to do some research to find out who his employer was.

 

I'm not sure this piece is for a tanto - the shape and "heft" seems wrong to me. Also, it would have to be a very thin blade. All the tanto blades I've seen are far too wide for this tsuba. For a "standard" tanto blade, the tang would have to be filed or ground down almost by half for it to work.

 

My sensai seems convinced that it was a display piece, done as an example of the smiths ability. I'm not so sure of that either.

 

Anyway - tsuba are fun! I think I will get some more!

 

pax.

[Mantis dude]

Not that I can tell, but a lot of display pieces are not concerned with the seppa dai. In other words, the design goes into the seppa dai area which in normal conditions would be covered by the seppa/habaki/fuchi/tsuka. The design of this tsuba definately took this into consideration. You can look sometimes and see that there was wear around the area, indicating that it was indeed mounted. When this area is too clean or the decoration pours into it, you should think it was made as a tourist piece, ie not meant to be mounted. I certainly don't get that impression. Enjoy the piece!