Yves Posted August 20, 2023 Report Posted August 20, 2023 Hi, Attached a photo of the Tsuba. Anyone can tell me more about it? 6 2 Quote
GoldenDrachen Posted August 20, 2023 Report Posted August 20, 2023 I like this type very much. Daffodils? I see Bushu/Choshu style in this tsuba. But I have very little experience yet. Just testing my eyes here... Regards Vitaly 2 Quote
SteveM Posted August 20, 2023 Report Posted August 20, 2023 I think Vitaly is correct. Image of daffodil/narcissus (水仙 - suisen). My guess would also be Bushū school. Mid-to-late Edo. Can't quite read the gold seal. 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted August 20, 2023 Report Posted August 20, 2023 The treatment of the leaves and the surface finish make me think of Chōshū, but if Bushū did this type of work too then I’m willing to learn! 2 Quote
Yves Posted August 20, 2023 Author Report Posted August 20, 2023 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 Quote
SteveM Posted August 20, 2023 Report Posted August 20, 2023 The tsuba in the first post is the one below. http://www.touken-ma...uct/shousai/TSU-2417 The gold seal presumably contains the artist's name, but nothing on the NBTHK paper indicates what that name might be. 1 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 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. 3 Quote
Nobody Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 I think that the gold seal reads 谷双 - Tanitomo (reading?). Howeve, I could not find such a name among metalworkers. 2 Quote
Kurikata Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 11 hours ago, cdrcm12 said: Could be Tetsugendo Seiryūken? +1 Quote
Yves Posted August 21, 2023 Author Report Posted August 21, 2023 7 hours ago, Nobody said: I think that the gold seal reads 谷双 - Tanitomo (reading?). Howeve, I could not find such a name among metalworkers. Tomonobu? Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 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 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. 2 Quote
Spartancrest Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 https://www.bonhams....-early-19th-century/ same style. 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. 3 Quote
Yves Posted August 21, 2023 Author Report Posted August 21, 2023 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. 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted August 21, 2023 Report Posted August 21, 2023 Chōshū, but similar to your design. The leaves go onto the mimi too. 2 Quote
Northeastern Port Posted August 22, 2023 Report Posted August 22, 2023 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. 1 Quote
Shugyosha Posted August 22, 2023 Report Posted August 22, 2023 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 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. 2 Quote
Yves Posted August 22, 2023 Author Report Posted August 22, 2023 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. 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. Quote
Yves Posted August 22, 2023 Author Report Posted August 22, 2023 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. Quote
Ed Posted August 22, 2023 Report Posted August 22, 2023 There were several schools which made tsuba in this style. This one looks like "Bellflowers" to me. ?? This a Choshu school depicting a crab and Ran (orchid). Sunagawa Masayoshi Irises 2 Quote
Yves Posted August 23, 2023 Author Report Posted August 23, 2023 On 8/21/2023 at 4:31 PM, Bugyotsuji said: Chōshū, but similar to your design. The leaves go onto the mimi too. In my search for information i found a couple of this type for sale. 1 Quote
Northeastern Port Posted August 23, 2023 Report Posted August 23, 2023 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! 1 Quote
Yves Posted August 24, 2023 Author Report Posted August 24, 2023 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. Quote
GoldenDrachen Posted August 24, 2023 Report Posted August 24, 2023 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! It says that tsuba in question attributed to Bushu. I am quite happy that I could recognise this style Quote
Spartancrest Posted August 26, 2023 Report Posted August 26, 2023 A fresh from the factory repro - https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1004740173 Watch out the paint is not dry yet! 1 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted August 28, 2023 Report Posted August 28, 2023 On 8/20/2023 at 10:46 PM, Yves said: Anyone can tell me more about it? Alva museum replicas has a similar style guard. https://www.ebay.com/itm/313858134566 These date from the 1980's 2 Quote
Yves Posted September 1, 2023 Author Report Posted September 1, 2023 Any idea what a tsuba like this might be worth (70 mm in diameter and intended for wakizashi) Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted September 1, 2023 Report Posted September 1, 2023 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? Quote
Yves Posted September 1, 2023 Author Report Posted September 1, 2023 I'm talking about the tsuba on the first post. Untouched btw. Quote
Deez77 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Posted September 6, 2023 Here is a somewhat similar example with some (what seen to me to be) very unusual signature markings. https://www.ebay.com...r=artemis&media=COPY Quote
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