Needy samurai?

[FlorianB]

I want to introduce a tsuba which isn't worth mentioning because of the artistic value but maybe as a historical evidence. It measures 6,1 x 5,5 cm i.e. 2,4" x 2,16" . As You can see the plate is in Ito sukashi style (signed Yukiyoshi or Koreyoshi) but later four aoi-mon (four more identically on the reverse) have been added which of course don't match the original design. Note also the lack of accuracy in placement, although necessary because of the space.

 

In my opinion (if I'm allowed to speculate) this tsuba was owned by a samurai who became a retainer of some Tokugawa clan and needed a formal fitting. Yet he couldn't afford a proper made formal tsuba so he let altered this one he possessed. Thus it seems to be a symbol for the increasing poverty of the samurai in the Edo-Period.

 

Or am I wrong and such procedure was usual?

 

I wonder if there are other similar modified tsuba or fittings because I haven't seen any. Alas, in literature only the better pieces are displayed, rarly the common ones (whatever common means).

 

Florian

[John A Stuart]

I don't know if it was because of increasing poverty of the bushi or just someone's whimsy, but, there are examples of embellishment to tsuba around. here is a Kamakura tsuba I have that have had ginzogan karakusa added. In my opinion the tsuba would have looked better without it. John