Odd design to have on a tsuba?

[Spartancrest]

Never seen ladders used on a tsuba before! Stairway to heaven? From the scale, perhaps they are for climbing Fuji-san seen on the ura. Not that you need a ladder to climb Fuji-san in real life. Must be an interesting story linked to this design.

 

[Matsunoki]

Hi Dale

google Fuji san ladders and select images.

bell towers?

[Spartancrest]

26 minutes ago, Matsunoki said:

bell towers

They must have forgotten the bell!   Would have made more sense with the tower tops. 

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Spartancrest said:

They must have forgotten the bell! 

Maybe Benkei nicked that one as well?

[Curran]

Ladders for picking olives? The rickety things we would use in Italy before automation.

In Japan, maybe for some other sort of fruit?

 

Just a guess.

[Toryu2020]

I believe the theme is New Years...

Festival of Ladders: New Year's Stunts (Hashigo matsuri dezome no harewaza) – Works – Worcester Art Museum (emuseum.com)

 

-t

[Spartancrest]

Not the same as this sword ladder stunt - it would keep them on their toes [or stumps] 

[Mark S.]

[Bugyotsuji]

No bells or firefighters on top. But it all seems to come back to firefighters' ladders, symbols of protection of the towns and villages. The matsuri would have evolved from these. Zogan in gold would draw heart-warming attention to their importance. Unusual theme indeed!

[Toryu2020]

It is a new years tradition so I look at this tsuba as depicting the quiet serenity of new years morning before all the noise begins...

 

-t

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, the New Year's first dream is considered most lucky if it is of Mt Fuji, and second most lucky if it's of a hawk....

[rematron]

I bought this tsuba shortly after this thread was posted. I was struck by the motif and many layers of symbolism. I was also attracted to it because it was once mounted.  Was it a special order by a samurai who found a new way to feel useful in a time of peace?  Samurai turned fire fighter?  Who knows. 
 

Anyways, this is also another tsuba that needed to be saved from active rust and I thought I’d share the results of me working on it. 
 

Enjoy.