Strange little tsuba long mei

[Ron STL]

The photos show a rather small tsuba of an unusual shape with a long mei that I haven't been able to translate. It was recently purchased by a good friend. I see a Masa-somebody in the mei but suspect there might be two makers names on it. The tanto sized tsuba ia unusual and may represent folded paper (?). I had hoped to translate it but without a solid name to go on I'm at a loss. Any help on this would be wonderful to get. Appreciate the help. 

Ron STL

[Bugyotsuji]

Work with:

伊與正阿弥 Iyo Shoami

秀延 Hidenobu

松壽齋

 

(Fabulous clunky tsuba!)

[Mark S.]

Looks like an obi knot?

 

[Ron STL]

Okay, I see part of this (missed Shoami, thinking Masa...), but I don't fully understand the other side ending in saku koreo. Was hoping to get some thoughts on what the design might represent. Just an interesting little piece, I think. 

I have another tsuba of very unusual and puzzling design that the NBTHK shinsa couldn't understand, no opinion, so perhaps this might fit that thinking, too? 

 

Mark, your reply just came in and yes, an obi knot make good sense! Good eye, Mark! 

Ron STL

[Bugyotsuji]

七十　有?　裁?　者?　以+?　作之

Made this at 70...?

The writing seems deliberately hard to read, emphasizing old age??? Someone will be able to fill this bit out, I am sure! 

 

Possibly a word play on the time you reach 70, you write your 栞 shiori, life story.　(Also, folded paper note on trail for others to read.)

[kissakai]

Nice observation about the knot

I'd seen this before and had no idea what this represented until this thread

 

[uwe]

I think it’s “松壽斎” (Shōjusai), Piers…

[uwe]

….and for the age, I guess we have “七十有餘作之”.

[Mark S.]

  On 2/10/2024 at 6:27 AM, Bugyotsuji said:

 

Possibly a word play on the time you reach 70, you write your 栞 shiori, life story.　(Also, folded paper note on trail for others to read.)

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[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you Mark, that is exactly the image I had in mind but could not find yesterday!

 

And I think the obi knot and the folded paper express the same thing, so they are not mutually exclusive.

[Ron STL]

Thanks for this excellent information guys. I passed this on my friend who is equally thrilled to learn about this little tsuba's background.

Ron STL