Aizu Shoami tsuba: motifs and other questions

[GoldenDrachen]

Hello gentlemen

 

Today got this one from the auction ( pictures from the seller description)

I would be delighted, if someone could help me with more understanding of the following

1. To me it looks like early Shoami work, would it be correct to call it Ko Shoami?

2. Some of the elements of the motif are unclear to me. So I can recognise hats ( Kasa?),  Sukashi on the top in the shape of aoi leaves, I think.  What are those sacks? 

And gohst like figure on the side?

 

Tsuba is large: 9.5 cm.

 

Thank you all in advance

 

Regards

Vitaly 

[Rodenbacher]

The ghost like figure depicts a traditional rain cloak. Together with the hats and the bottle made from a gourd it has something to do with wandering around, maybe wandering monks. 

[Tanto54]

Some of the Takara Zukushi (lucky treasures): the kakuregasa (hat of invisibility), kanabukuro or kinchaku (endless treasure bag), kakure mino (cloak of invisibility) and hojyu (flaming jewel or treasure ball - grants any wish).  By depicting only some of the lucky treasures the maker is referring to a legend that only incorporates these treasures - can you figure it out?

 

 

[GoldenDrachen]

17 hours ago, Tanto54 said:

Some of the Takara Zukushi (lucky treasures): the kakuregasa (hat of invisibility), kanabukuro or kinchaku (endless treasure bag), kakure mino (cloak of invisibility) and hojyu (flaming jewel or treasure ball - grants any wish).  By depicting only some of the lucky treasures the maker is referring to a legend that only incorporates these treasures - can you figure it out?

 

 

Thank you so much, George!

All I found so far is:

These treasures are part of Takaramono, collection of objects carried on the Takarabune by seven Lucky gods.

I recon the particular set depicted on my tsuba are "lucky charms" serving to bring it's owner  luck in battle.

 

Anyway, I had about 2 hours of very interesting reading on that subject.

Found this list in Hokusai's Manga

 

During that I have learned that there are more similar pattern concepts ( zukushi - "full of.".), that also found in Tsuba motifs:

gakki-zukushi - set of musical instruments

kai-zukushi - collection of shells

 

Edit:

And I think the proper name for heart shaped sukashi is inome

 

 

Regards

Vitaly 

Edited June 18, 2023 by GoldenDrachen

[Rodenbacher]

This forum is so helpful - anytime I come here, I learn something new! Thanks!!! 

[Soshin]

On 6/17/2023 at 10:35 AM, GoldenDrachen said:

To me it looks like early Shoami work, would it be correct to call it Ko Shoami?

 

Nice tsuba thanks for sharing. My answer to your quoted question above is No. I would tend to agree with the attribution of Aizu Shoami on the old NBTHK paper. These tsuba dated from Edo and therefore calling them Ko-Shomai isn't correct as that attribution is only associated with works older than the Edo Period and were produced in and around the capital of Kyoto. I had a tsuba papered to Ko-Shoami and it was stylistically and technically quite different.      

[GoldenDrachen]

14 minutes ago, Soshin said:

Nice tsuba thanks for sharing. My answer to your quoted question above is No

Thank you so much, David, for clarification.

I was judging on its appearance, but then when I got understanding of the motif, it's become clear to me that usage of  this particular motif would be possible only during Edo period.

Although, perhaps you can explain to me how the "Ko" -prefix works with conjunction with the school name?

If we say "Ko - Shoami" do we mean a specific school, or just period in the school timeline? 

 

 

[FlorianB]

I can see Your point that Your tsuba appears to look old. But for example the treatment of the surface is a sophistication clearly made in later times. Maybe there could be a connection with the wabi-sabi-taste.

 

As David pointed out the Tsuba was produced in Edo-Period. The Ko-Shoami works date back to Muromachi- and Momoyama-times. (Ko-)Shoami is not a school but mere an style produced in and around Kyoto as mentioned.

Later Shoami tsubako founded numerous schools all about Japan.

For further information have a look here: www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#shoami

 

Best, Florian

[GoldenDrachen]

2 hours ago, FlorianB said:

For further information have a look here: www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#shoami

Thank you for the explanation and the link. !

Regards

Vitaly 

[Soshin]

11 hours ago, FlorianB said:

As David pointed out the Tsuba was produced in Edo-Period. The Ko-Shoami works date back to Muromachi- and Momoyama-times. (Ko-)Shoami is not a school but mere an style produced in and around Kyoto as mentioned.

Later Shoami tsubako founded numerous schools all about Japan.

 The large Shoami group did not organize into regional schools (Aizu Shoami, Bizen Shoami, etc.) until the artists started moving out of Kyoto area into the castle towns of the various provinces. The artists of these regional schools had specific artist names that can be identified. These named artists represent the leaders of the peritubular regional school during the Edo Period.