Totally lost in Translation!

[Spartancrest]

I mentioned recently how some French translations describing tsuba images were a little WIDE of the mark [eg. Deer standing on a coffee table!] - well some in German are equally way off.

  These two guards from an auction catalogue 1922. The translation from the original German read: 

 

1001. Browned iron. Openwork rosettes : bottom right lobster in cut out, with shakudo. Inscribed. Oval, 17th century. 70 mm x 66 mm.      WRONG

1002. Black iron. Bottom right Sennin figure with fish. Relief with shibuichi and shakudo. Oval. 17th century. Inscribed 75 mm x 68 mm.     WRONG

 

Yes the images are very grainy but the entries should read : 

1001. Browned iron. Openwork Wheels: bottom right a Praying mantis in cut out, with shakudo. Inscribed. Oval, 17th century. 70 mm x 66 mm.

1002. Black iron. Bottom right Sennin figure with  a  Stork/Crane. Relief with shibuichi and shakudo. Oval. 17th century. Inscribed 75 mm x 68 mm.

 

These entries are only numbers 5 & 6 in a total of 72 that need translating - I can't wait to see what comes along next! 

[Robert S]

How on earth they mistook a mantis for a lobster... Any chance this was compiled during oktoberfest?

 

Robert S

[Spartancrest]

 

I found some more 'Octoberfest' translations.  Once again grainy images but Vampires? Fist fight with a Tiger?  Just how long were these writers on a bender? 

 

 

 

1052.  Browned iron, oval. Finely carved relief: insects below, vampire above. An early piece. 16th century. 60 mm x 50 mm.     [Bat obviously]

1127. Brown iron, oval. Raised and openwork relief on both sides with copper and brass inlay: Half-naked man in a fist fight with a tiger, 17th century. 90 mm x 80 mm.    [The Taoist Immortal Bukan and his Tiger]

 

Who knew tsuba translations could be so funny? 

[FlorianB]

Please take into account that knowledge about Tsuba and their motives were very limited in 1922.

There are several similar mistakes and misinterpretations in other catalogues at these times as well.

 

BTW: A Tsuba (seen on guiseppepiva.com) reminded me to an „Oktoberfest“-motif several years ago.

 

 

Cheers!

Florian

[Spartancrest]

45 minutes ago, FlorianB said:

knowledge about Tsuba and their motifs were very limited in 1922.

True for all nationalities - there are plenty in English, French you name it. It is fun trying to work out some subjects even when you know a little about them - the early guys were shooting in the dark.

[Oktoberfest is wasted on me, I can't stand Beer!  Unless it is Ginger Beer! ] 

 

  Cheers!    [Próst!]

[Spartancrest]

I hope Monsieur Louis Gonse doesn't mind me giving a little correction to the description in a 1924 catalogue. Octopus ? ?

 

        

 

34. Tsuba in iron, oval, roughly hammered and chiseled. Very powerful stylization of an octopus [Awabi, Abalone]. Work by Nobuiye of Echizen. 17th-18th century.