New Suzumushi Tsuba - Whats the squiggle?

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Picked this guy up recently.  Thinking it is Aizu.  Whats the circle squiggle on the bottom?  an Unfurling fern?

 

[Matsunoki]

First impression……looks like the curled tongue of a butterfly

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

2 minutes ago, Matsunoki said:

First impression……looks like the curled tongue of a butterfly

 

 

A great observation!  You may well be right Colin!

[Matsunoki]

…..and the little bug on the top half is a bell cricket…..

 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Yep! Suzumushi!

[Matsunoki]

That is one whacky unusual design. Really creative/inventive (imo) ….. Wonder if @Spartancrest can find something comparable. Enjoyed it very much.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

The antennae and leg being finely made and connected only in one spot drew me to it.

[Matsunoki]

6 minutes ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

connected only in one spot drew me to it.

Hadn’t noticed that! Must pay more attention. Finely done.

[SteveM]

Is the long antennae only connected at that one spot on the wing/body/head joint?

[lonely panet]

bell cricket and a curled fern shoot??

[Spartancrest]

6 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Wonder if @Spartancrest can find something comparable.

Well who do you think told Jesse where to find the one he has - on the 29th April  https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1081411806

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Yes indeed @Spartancrest!!

was looking at a different one and you twisted my arm and made me go for this one instead! 😉

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

5 hours ago, SteveM said:

Is the long antennae only connected at that one spot on the wing/body/head joint?

Hi Steve! It actually has a tiny connection at  7:30/8:00 PM n the pic above. I’m glad it does actually. But you have to look close…

[Spartancrest]

39 minutes ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

looking at a different one

 

A bit more common and almost twice the price as I recall? 

 

 

As for finding another similar design, this one was for sale $700  https://www.flickr.com/photos/thekevinz/33700899720/

 

 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

I like it when knock offs of mine go for $700 @Spartancrest 😉

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

PS

i am thankful for you @Spartancrest ❤️

[OceanoNox]

15 hours ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

an Unfurling fern

It feels like a plant to me, too. It also reminds me of the coiled insect repellent incense sold in Japan (katorisenkou), but that would be anachronistic.

[Matsunoki]

5 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

As for finding another similar design, this one was for sale

……I should have known🙂🙂

[Spartancrest]

On 5/13/2023 at 3:10 AM, Matsunoki said:

Wonder if @Spartancrest can find something comparable.

These are more common than you might think!  A little less of a curled 'frond' and a shorter outside feeler on the Suzumushi.

 

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/lot-tsuba-247-c-18e455b85f  One of six tsuba designs from an auction June 1, Auktionshaus Zofinge  Switzerland

On 5/13/2023 at 5:33 PM, Matsunoki said:

I should have known🙂🙂

_{=  x 2}

 

[C0D]

Classic Akasaka school design, bell cricket and fern.
I used to own one myself with Kanzan hakogaki

 

other examples :

[Spartancrest]

Same basic design but all constructed differently, the maker has left his own take on it - amazing!