What do you see?

[Stephen]

Description said flower in a pot whereas I see a axe.

[Bugyotsuji]

Me too, an axe and a Matsukawa-Bishi (Hishi) Kamon.

[Nobody]

The seller of this tsuba says that the theme is an ax.

Ref. ヤフオク! - ⑦『 尾張 斧透かし 鐔 』§検索§ 鍔 肥後 甚吾 刀... (yahoo.co.jp)

 

 

[Curran]

Repatinated or questionable tsuba.

Theme:  axe-lightening or chopping of matsukawa (pine bark?)

 

 

 

[SteveM]

From Sasano (p.240)

  Quote

 

Sukashi Design: Potted Plant (hachi-no-ki)

 

"Triple diamonds and an axe comprise this design based on the story of "hachi-no-ki". The shape resembles a ball used by nobles in a field game (kemari-gata)."

 

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I think it's this direct translation of "hachi-no-ki" (potted tree) that gives rise to subsequent collectors in the US to jump to the description of "potted plant" or "flower vase". In reality, "potted tree" is a Noh story of a traveler (Hojo Tokiyori) who stopped at an inn in the middle of winter, and the innkeeper showed his hospitality by building a fire for the traveler. But, to build the fire, the innkeeper had to chop down his precious potted plants and trees; a kindness which was later repaid by Hojo Tokiyori.

 

https://www.the-noh.com/en/plays/data/program_100.html#:~:text=These events take place during,and part of Tochigi prefecture).

 

The tsuba in Sasano

 

 

[Ford Hallam]

A masterpiece of graphic design, one of my all time favourites. 

 

I got my copy of Sasano, in a random bookshop in Cape Town!, in 1986. My mother, an artist, and her contemporaries, had never seen anything like tsuba and were quite blown away by the brilliance of so many of those fine examples. This one was particularly admired, especially for the visual interest and strength of the negative spaces.

[robinalexander]

  On 10/6/2023 at 12:52 PM, Stephen said:

Description said flower in a pot whereas I see a axe

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 i see a VERY angry chook running to the left.

[Spartancrest]

A tsuba designed by Gene Simmons - he does love to play with his Axe!