Help with tsuba "school"

[Dan tsuba]

Hello all!

 

So, I recently purchased what I consider a beautiful and “delicate” tsuba.  It has obviously been “overcleaned” (but not by me!).  Others may not even consider this as a “collectible” tsuba.  But then “others” are not me!  I can only afford “low cost” and therefore “low end” tsuba.

 

Although the learning gleaned from even “low end” tsuba is of value to me and extremely educational.

 

I believe this tsuba may be attributed to the Akasaka school?

 

Any opinions on the school would be greatly appreciated!

 

Pictures of the tsuba are attached.

 

With respect,

Dan

[rematron]

Looks nice and collectible to me. Obviously used which is cool. I was surprised to like it after your description. lol. The last owner might have cleaned it to get rid of red rust as I don’t see any on it. Pure speculation. Maybe you could patinate it. Sorry I can’t help with the school but nice find. 

[FlorianB]

Hello Dan,

 

it looks not like Akasaka. As far as I remember they never made mokko-gata.

Large seppa-dai and the symmetrical design - in my opinion here we have Shoami again, probably Edo because of the lack of displacement of centre lines.

 

Best,
Florian

[Spartancrest]

 

5 hours ago, FlorianB said:

As far as I remember they never made mokko-gata.

 

Bonhams auctions would disagree. https://www.bonhams.com/auction/21861/lot/121/an-akasaka-tsuba-mid-18th-century/

Not that auction houses always get it right - I can't translate the papers but I can only assume Akasaka appears somewhere on the document? [Not that papers always get it right either!]

Other shaped guards are also known to be made by Akasaka masters, so the precedent for non-maru guards is set.

https://to-ken.uk/onewebmedia/Akasaka Tsuba.pdf

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/tsubanbthk-hozon-paper-mumei-akasaka-school/

 

Slightly 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Spartancrest
more examples

[Spartancrest]

On 2/17/2023 at 12:08 PM, Dan tsuba said:

Any opinions on the school would be greatly appreciated!

Might be an Owari pattern? I see similarities with this one [but I do struggle between Akasaka/Owari they seem to have copied each other at times]

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Owari1.html  Note the small birds making up the hitsu outline, the leaf joining them to the rim and the boxes rather than separated lines top and bottom of the seppa-dai [which is narrow, while yours is somewhat thicker]

[Spartancrest]

Also close elements to your example.

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m10648878624

[FlorianB]

Dale,

 

actually it is the first I see with mokko-gata. Thanks for posting.
The Akasaka attribution is encircled:

 

BTW, the rusty one on the Japanese sales page is described as "Ko Shoami".

 

Florian

[Spartancrest]

56 minutes ago, FlorianB said:

actually it is the first I see with mokko-gata. Thanks for posting.

Thanks Florian, there always seems to be exceptions, it is very hard to set firm boundaries between one school type or another. Ko Shoami - Akasaka - Owari I have no idea how to narrow down the attribution on Dan's guard. I guess that is what makes collecting so much fun, it would be pretty boring if we knew it all. 

The rusty one seems to be expensive for the condition it is in - I bet Dan didn't pay near that much for his 'clean' one. 

[FlorianB]

Agreed, Dale!

 

Alas we can only judge by images. It’ll become clearer holding those pieces in hand.

 

As I mentioned above the large seppa-dai on Dan’s Tsuba seems a clue to Shoami.

Concerning the karigane it is said Owari often made curled wings, Shoami wings are slightly bend.

 

Florian

[Dan tsuba]

Wow!

 

Thank you all so much for your help and assistance!

 

I will research the different schools of tsuba makers that were mentioned to see which one looks like the “most possible” maker of my tsuba.

 

Again, the research continues!  This hobby is too much fun!

 

With respect,

Dan

[paul tsubadotinfo]

Hi Dan, it might be an Akasaka Tsuba or even an early Akasaka from the time these were still made in Kyoto. 

check out some good reference Tsuba by the school www.tsuba.info/akasaka

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Dan

 

I have to agree with Dale's suggestion that it might be more Owari. Personally speaking I wouldn't have inclined to Akasaka at all.

My first impression was late Kanayama (up until the 18th cent) though. It lacks the classic Kanayama 'lumpiness' but generally it might fit, certainly the seppa-dai fits.

There's even a slight suggestion of aspects of Umetada work here to my eyes too.

 

Having said that I think it's really important to take into account that both Akasaka and Owari school work was hugely popular and therefore frequently emulated. Placing a work definitively with a school is very speculative without a mei or some pretty solid material evidence I think, simply because copying of successful work and designs is relatively simple.

 

 

 

 

[FlorianB]

So at least some more shots in an angular view would be helpful so we could see the rim and the inner sides of the sukashi.

 

Florian

[Dan tsuba]

Hello Florian,

 

Thanks for your assistance!  Have included more pictures of the tsuba per your request.  Hope it helps!

 

With respect,

Dan