Identify Sukashi

[Okan]

Hey guys,

 

My latest flea market find. Can you help me identify sukashi? 

 

[Spartancrest]

Could it be a stylized image of a person at prayer? The Amida-yasuri  [symbol of Buddha's aura] radiating lines on the guard would tend to have a Buddhist devotional meaning.

 

 Closest I can find in traditional garb. 

[Okan]

Hmm thats very interesting Dale. I'm not sure but it can be Definitely looks like one of those early sukashi motifs but can't figure it out. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Maybe there is a clue in the Amida yasuri?

阿弥陀鑢鐔 - Bing images

 

[FlorianB]

I vote for some kind of insect, a bug or a butterfly.

 

Florian

[Spartancrest]

Could it be a form of udenuki-ana? One of mine on the right.  More examples on this thread - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14733-udenuki-no-ana-two-holes-near-edge-of-tsuba/

 

[Grevedk]

FWIW - I believe @Spartancrest is spot on 😎👍

 

/Soren

[FlorianB]

Possibly. At least every sukashi could be used as udenuki-ana...

 

My recommendation to Okan (?): Research Tosho- and Katchushi Tsuba to get a feeling for the simplified or abstract designs. Maybe You get the answer by yourself.

 

Florian

[Mark S.]

A bit esoteric maybe, but a silhouette of a monk (with head bowed?) or other person holding a sugegasa (large straw hat) or other item in front of them?  Not sure if such a pose would have any deeper meaning for Japanese?  End of a trip?  Respect before entering temple?  Etc.? Like a ‘tip of the hat’ means something in the western world (at least it used to).  I’m just throwing it out there because sometimes little things are lost in translation over time and/or between cultures.

 

Only photos I could find quickly.

 

 

[Mark S.]

[Okan]

5 hours ago, Mark S. said:

Hmm this is interesting Mark. Thank you! 

[Okan]

10 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Could it be a form of udenuki-ana? One of mine on the right.  More examples on this thread - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14733-udenuki-no-ana-two-holes-near-edge-of-tsuba/

 

Maybe? I liked your person at prayer theory more   But this makes more sense. 

[Okan]

5 hours ago, FlorianB said:

Possibly. At least every sukashi could be used as udenuki-ana...

 

My recommendation to Okan (?): Research Tosho- and Katchushi Tsuba to get a feeling for the simplified or abstract designs. Maybe You get the answer by yourself.

 

Florian

 

Thank you Florian. But I've already been researching them for many years now. I usually don't ask if i'm not stuck. Nothing beats spending the weekend researching a 15 euro tsuba.

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

If I compare this TSUBA's SUKASHI with others of that time frame, I usully find motives from crafts, animals and other objects from nature like plants and flowers, spritual motives like TOMOE or GÔRINTÔ, family KAMON, and from time to time toys (like KUKURIZARU). There are still a lot more, but I don't remember seeing human subjects, so I suspect that in this case, it might rather be a bug than a kneeling or standing person.  

UDENUKI ANA are usually simple and functional round holes.

Just my two YEN.