Tsuba- Snow on bamboo theme?

[Mark S.]

Trying to figure out theme of this tsuba.  Snow on bamboo?  Bamboo and another flower?  Or another plant I haven’t thought of? I liked the fine cut out work of this one.

 

A rather thin tsuba.  Also trying to figure out what the ‘stain’ is on the front.  Picture and lighting make it stand out more than it shows in hand.  Old tape or sticker? A ‘cleaner’ spilled on it?  I don’t expect a diagnosis by picture, but knew your good eyes would spot it, so I figured I might as well address it.

 

Thanks all

[Spartancrest]

I think your first instinct is correct, the straightness of the plant stems would seem to depict the segmented stems of bamboo. I see what you mean though the leaves are a little wider than normally depicted.

https://www.Japanese...anori-sukashi-tsuba/   This one has similar wider leaves, though the stem size is on a different scale to yours. Lots of bamboo species I suppose.

 

   Snow on another plant, I wonder if the height of the snow reflects a particularly cold Winter? Some designs have flatter snow piled on leaves?

6 hours ago, Mark S. said:

 I don’t expect a diagnosis by picture, but knew your good eyes would spot it, so I figured I might as well address it.

Get the "Luminol" out and test for blood stains!  

[BIG]

Bamboo ..

 

Best

[BIG]

Sorry forget the tsuba

 

https://www.aoijapan...schoolbamboo-leaves/

 

Best

[FlorianB]

Snow on Bamboo is correct.
Obviously a middle to late Edo Tosho-style Tsuba, but a nice design.
Here’s something similar on a wakizashi-sized Tsuba of mine:

 

Concerning the spot: The origin is impossible to tell by picture.

Take it as it is.

I remember removing glue remnants from a Tsuba - the glue had gone, but the patina below the glue was not the same, so I saw the spot anyway...

 

Best,
Florian

[Bugyotsuji]

Perhaps something very fleeting, snow balanced on sasa leaves...

 

Reminds me somehow of the snow on the cartouche post of Hiroshige etc., Toyokuni Ga.

Mitsuke () (nms.ac.uk)

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[Winchester]

That's really cool, Mark. Thank you for sharing.