Tosho tsuba, Large and old, w/paper

[johnnyi]

Tosho tsuba, The small round hitsu are consistent with early Muromachi or perhaps earlier. The paper simply says "Tosho". The iron is finely worked; easy to get lost in, The surfaces show a subtle design of rain; more pronounced on the ura, also consistent with an older piece. 

Height is 91.6 mm.  Width 91.4 mm, Thickness 2.1. mm at seppa dai, 1.7 mm at rim.   An outstanding piece demonstrating the finest in skill and execution. $600  plus shipping  (with portion going to Brian)

[Bazza]

I'm absolutely intrigued with the hole where the kozuka hitsu is usually placed.  Anyone???  More than curiosity I have a solid reason for asking.

 

BaZZa.

[Marius]

Gents,

 

I used to own this tsuba and can attest to its quality. The NBTHK paper says “tosho”, but unfortunately the NBTHK is - to say it diplomatically- very cautious with their tsuba verdicts. I have seen a great Nambokucho tachi tsuba with a… “tachi tsuba” attribution. With such verdicts, it is not uncommon to see serious collectors of pre-Edo tsuba simply ignore NBTHK papers as worthless. Sad but true, and especially painful for an NBTHK member as me.

 

This tsuba with its intriguing little hole (for the purpose of which Boris Markhasin had once a theory) is likely a product of the mid to late Muromachi period. It has been extremely well preserved and was used on a nodachi, I believe.

 

Try to find an ubu piece like that one! A great opportunity for this price.

[Winchester]

I am a total novice, been studying for a couple years only… my impression (probably worth the admission price) is that the hole is related to Buddhism and signifies the moon and pertaining to one’s enlightenment.

 

Feel free to burn or flame me, it’s all good. But my feeling is that this subtlety was to be both peaceful and aspirational.

 

Edit To Add: As long as I am speculating…Bazza you mentioned the placement of the hole being a question….it is my limited understanding that this reflects the time period (earlier or later) depending on location (left or right side) given use.

Edited October 14, 2023 by Winchester
Further proving naïveté

[johnnyi]

Sold

[Bazza]

Winchester/Brian,

 

Thanks for your comments.  I have seen three circular copper tsuba that are I think 'modern' with such holes.  These have long puzzled me.  When I organise myself I'll put some photos up in a new thread

 

BaZZa.

[Stephen]

I know very little on this matter.

 

May I ask was there a Mei that was stippled out or is that Mei that rusted,  sorry for the novice question.

 

Looking forward to Bazza's theory