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Can anyone tell me more about this tsuba

Yves

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Yves

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Maybe a dumb question but which craftsmen in tsuba's used a golden seal instead of a regular signature? Does such a seal contain words or is it an image of sorts. 

It bears some resemblance to this one that is aparently choshu den, Kawaji Han

Masasada1.gif

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Spartancrest Grand Master

Spartancrest

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The Daffodil is called Suisen 水仙 or Secchuka [Setchuka?] 雪中花 (a flower blooming in snow) in Japanese. [the "Herald of Spring"]

An iris or narcissus in the same layout in the Cleveland Art Museum by Tomonobu  https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1915.93

6 hours ago, cdrcm12 said:

Could be Tetsugendo Seiryūken?

Most Tetsugendo also have a 'grass script' mei  - [some show signs of erasure] https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/38984-tsuba-“grass-script”-and-kao/

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/37409-seiryuken-eiju-tetsugendo-school/#comment-387794

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45100-seiryuken-eiju-design-tsuba/#comment-468449   - Possible erasure

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/41370-seiryuken-eiju-tsuba-again/#comment-425205  - lots of seal examples some close but none exactly like the first post.

 

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Bugyotsuji Grand Master

Bugyotsuji

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20 hours ago, Yves said:

Maybe a dumb question but which craftsmen in tsuba's used a golden seal instead of a regular signature? Does such a seal contain words or is it an image of sorts. 

It bears some resemblance to this one that is aparently choshu den, Kawaji Han

Masasada1.gif


Here is a tsuba with a gold seal in a pot, also reading 谷 Tani, (Koku?) I think, possibly referencing the artistic works of Tani Bunchō rather than being the tsuba maker’s mark per se.

 

IMG_9837.thumb.jpeg.afad2f56a1d065b3c96b6b73f0cf9971.jpeg

 

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Spartancrest Grand Master

Spartancrest

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https://www.bonhams....-early-19th-century/  same style.

94435520-94-1.jpg&height=430&quality=90

One in the Ashmolean Museum http://jameelcentre..../7/10237/10352/19763  I can't see the signature very well but it is described as Chōshū school

http://jameelcentre....0/EA_X_10342-a-L.jpg

 

One in the Metropolitan by Tomonobu - but the style and seal are very much different so it could be a different person - https://www.metmuseu...lection/search/25711

 

Two with gold seals from a Christies sale - the images don't allow a good view of the signatures or seals unfortunately. https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-4870271

THE DAI SIGNED TETSUGENDO OKAMOTO NAOSHIGE AND SEAL, THE SHO SIGNED SEIRYU KEN EIJU (NAOFUSA) AND SEAL

The closest I can find to the seal on the original post is this one - https://www.bonhams....arly-19th-century-2/   Attributed to Tetsugendo Shoraku (Naofusa) - if true it means Naofusa used several slightly different seals over his life time. :dunno:

 

 

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Northeastern Port Apprentice

Northeastern Port

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I love this work Yves!

I have a similar tsuba which started me on a journey to find any info relative to this style.  I believe mine was made by Takahashi Masatsugu.  I am going to make a post about this tsuba asking for information regarding it.  The gold seal is called a “kao“ and is a stylized signature that an artist would use to label their work.  Also used by other powerful or notable figures throughout the hierarchy of Japanese life in those times.

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Shugyosha Grand Master

Shugyosha

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On 8/20/2023 at 7:19 PM, Yves said:

Maybe a dumb question but which craftsmen in tsuba's used a golden seal instead of a regular signature? Does such a seal contain words or is it an image of sorts. 

It bears some resemblance to this one that is aparently choshu den, Kawaji Han

Masasada1.gif

Hi Yves,

A bit of a long shot maybe, but could the seal be that of the guy who added the gilding? I have a Kaga tsuba with only a seal on and I’ve long suspected that the Kaga zogan was added to embellish an already forged plate. 

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Yves

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1 hour ago, Northeastern Port said:

I love this work Yves!

I have a similar tsuba which started me on a journey to find any info relative to this style.  I believe mine was made by Takahashi Masatsugu.  I am going to make a post about this tsuba asking for information regarding it.  The gold seal is called a “kao“ and is a stylized signature that an artist would use to label their work.  Also used by other powerful or notable figures throughout the hierarchy of Japanese life in those times.

version=1&uuid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000002F9&mode=compatible&noloc=1.jpeg

version=1&uuid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000002F8&mode=compatible&noloc=1.jpeg

Hi, that is also a briljant tsuba and I agree. However it seems that in this style the tsuba are quite small and around 65-70 mm meaning they are more for wakizashi, which kinda defeats the reason why I bought it in the first place. I will however keep it as I really like it. 

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Yves

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1 hour ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Yves,

A bit of a long shot maybe, but could the seal be that of the guy who added the gilding? I have a Kaga tsuba with only a seal on and I’ve long suspected that the Kaga zogan was added to embellish an already forged plate. 

I wouldn't know. I posted that photo but it is not my tsuba. 

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Yves

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7 hours ago, Northeastern Port said:

Yves!  This is a window I’ve kept open in my browser.

https://www.touken-m...uct/shousai/TSU-2417
Lots of good stuff on here!

Yes, I bought it from them. Very good and high quality items. Price is likewise. They are also very good to deal with. Unfortunately it turns out the tsuba is a tad too small for the katana I wanted to have made. (ca. 7 cm) and originally more likely to be intended to be used on a wakizashi. I had bought it anyway because the tsuba is elegant and subtle. 

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Bugyotsuji Grand Master

Bugyotsuji

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On 8/21/2023 at 2:53 PM, Yves said:

I have bought it as I'm really in love with this tsuba and it's waiting to be fitted onto a new sword (nihonto) I have made. The smith will make the tang fit this tsuba. 

Are you asking about this one, Yves?

 

And originally did you mean they will make the tsuba fit the tang?

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