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Share your early iron tosogu


Winchester

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Chris,

don't be offended. It has nothing to do with Brian, it is just my personal opinion.

I think it is a pity to show bad photos when they could be made much better without more effort. In cases where translations are requested, I feel it would be more polite to post the best photos possible and not expect that the experts try to read from crappy images (upside-down...).

 

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14 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said:

Chris,

don't be offended. It has nothing to do with Brian, it is just my personal opinion.

I think it is a pity to show bad photos when they could be made much better without more effort. In cases where translations are requested, I feel it would be more polite to post the best photos possible and not expect that the experts try to read from crappy images (upside-down...).

 



Not offended at all. People are aware if their photos are poor quality. Not all of us can afford or desire the latest crap. My phone is about six years old at this point. You can ask kindly if they can furnish better photos, or you (as you do) can come off as rude and pretentious in the request.

 

Perhaps it is a cultural thing? Perhaps it is just you.

And I am fully aware that your canned response to photos you don't like comes as a result of Brian getting after you for your 'personalized' responses.

 

That all being said, when I do get a better setup, I'll try again.

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Iron Kozuka

 

What is represented here is a bamboo flower container that is used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This type is normally hung on the wall of the Tokonoma in a Soan, or Wabi style tea room. A very famous example, and considered to be a prototype of bamboo flower containers is the Enjo-ji, made by Tanaka Soeki (Rikyu) while in attendance to Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the siege of the Hojo in Odawara in 1590. This flower container is named in reference to the bell at the Enjo-ji temple which is cracked. See here for a picture of the flower container in the Tokyo National Museum.

http://www.tnm.go.jp...geId=E15&colid=G4217

 

Because the Enjo-ji flower container is cracked, it leaks a bit, and this is evoked by the four dots, representing water drops, below it.

 

Age:

It is likely that this kozuka was made sometime after 1590. My guess is Bunroku through Genna, by which time the new capital in Edo is firmly established. I have seen two other kozuka like it, so I think it is a production item sold to warriors who practiced the Tea Ceremony.

 

Maker:

Heianjo Zogan

  • Inlays of copper and silver in addition to the brass suemon (excludes Onin)

  • Inlays being raised slightly above the iron surface (excluded Yoshiro)

  • The archaic and stylistic “Onin-like” nature of the design (Umetada, Higo, etc. are more naturalistic)

 

 

123_2333.JPG

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1 hour ago, Tim Evans said:

What is represented here is a bamboo flower container that is used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony

Tim, a large following of tsuba used the same flower container motif. It would not surprise me if your Kozuka went along with a matching tsuba.  Numbers 5 & 6 look like the oldest? [straying a little :offtopic:]bamboovase.thumb.jpg.9c2bac14cd146a8bbe435b6fbf79b1c0.jpg   and may as well add one extra.  image.png.6964acaf3f4fc1c642af1b160063f25d.png

 

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Age unknown, but it's definitely iron. It's possible it's on the older side, but I'm not experienced enough to say so with any confidence. 76mm wide, quite thin, maybe 2mm on average, chigaibishi or chigai kuginuki mon, patina is a little darker in person, pitting considerably heavier on reverse side.

 

image.thumb.jpeg.50ed46063c0a246580bbff2402f3860a.jpegimage.thumb.jpeg.46591a14b23c918d10c079bef33b4c17.jpeg

 

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