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]

  On 5/12/2023 at 4:18 PM, Matsunoki said:

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

 

 

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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]

  On 5/12/2023 at 5:13 PM, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

connected only in one spot drew me to it.

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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]

  On 5/12/2023 at 5:10 PM, Matsunoki said:

Wonder if @Spartancrest can find something comparable.

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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]

  On 5/12/2023 at 8:44 PM, SteveM said:

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

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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]

  On 5/13/2023 at 1:48 AM, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

looking at a different one

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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]

  On 5/12/2023 at 4:15 PM, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

an Unfurling fern

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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]

  On 5/13/2023 at 2:25 AM, Spartancrest said:

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

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……I should have known🙂🙂

[Spartancrest]

  On 5/12/2023 at 5:10 PM, Matsunoki said:

Wonder if @Spartancrest can find something comparable.

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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 7:33 AM, Matsunoki said:

I should have known🙂🙂

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_{=  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!