what mon/plant is this?

[rkg]

Hi,

I am trying to write up a description of a tsuba (no small task when you're hopped up on interesting chemicals) and I am having trouble trying to figure out what one of the decorations on the tsuba is. 

Does anybody recognize what mon/plant this is?

 

A pal suggested it might be a tachibana plant, but I am unsure/seems like they normally show the fruit bigger.

 

Thanks in advance for any help,

rkg

(Richard George)

[FlorianB]

I remember my research on a somewhat unusual myoga.

Although I suppose You have tried myoga already, there is a very similar design with apricot or gyoyo 杏葉 .

Maybe this will be fruitful .

 

Best,
Florian

[Bugyotsuji]

That's a tough one. Possibly something dreamed up in later (post-Edo) years? It does give me flashes of peony.

 

I have been looking (unsuccessfully) for kamon examples of Zakuro (pomegranate), or Tsubaki (camellia) fruit...

椿の実 - Bing images

[BIG]

Hi Richard, I give up..

 

NBTHK probably judge it as a „fantasy design“

 

Best

[rkg]

Peter,

Fantasy design = mon I guess...

 

The NBTHK most recently called the piece a tachishi, but its stranger than that - the tsuba is shaped like a 4 lobed mokko tachi tsuba (has that "waist" thing going on where the mune side of the tsuba is wider than the edge side), but has an ubu kozuka ana (and the decorations are meant to be viewed with the blade edge facing upward).

 

Thanks to everybody who replied to this fruitful discussion.

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[MauroP]

Hi Richard, I’ve found this (unfortunately no better images):

 

The paper says: 波貝に変り花抱茗荷紋鐔 - namigai ni kawari hana dakimyōga-mon tsuba.

Just a suggestion directly from a NBTHK shinsa panel.

[rkg]

Mauro,

Here's a better image of the piece:

 

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[BIG]

HI Richard, (very) late answer..

 

Gyoyo alternative crest of the Tachibana family

 

Best Peter