Help with school

[cdrcm12]

Dear NMB,

 

I've had this tsuba for a short time and have been studying it to identify a school. My thoughts are between Kyo-sukashi or Heianjo-sukashi. Whilst these school are very closely linked I'm leaning more to Heianjo.

 

Would welcome any expert thoughts please?

 

Details of tsuba below, with a couple of images:

Aoi or hollyhock design
Maru-gata
Kaku mimi ko-niku
H: 78mm
W: 78mm
Mimi: 5.01 - 5.45mm
Seppa dai: 4.75mm (Nakabiku)
Nakago-ana: 27mm x 8mm

[MauroP]

As far as I know Heianjo-sukashi and Kyo-sukashi are just two names for the same school/tradition. Heianjo-sukashi is possibly an outdated name (I've never found it on a NBTHK paper).

[FlorianB]

Doesn't look like Kyo Sukashi (or Heianjo sukashi).

It might be based on their composition, but it lacks their elegance and such modelled sukashi is untypical.

What about Shoami?

 

Best

Florian

[sabiji]

Oh Florian, don't always blame everything on the poor Shoami. They can do it better and more elegantly.
Maybe Kinai.

[lonely panet]

Dont pick on kinai, they do better then that

[cdrcm12]

Thanks all for your comments. I did think Kinai at one point.

[Spartancrest]

On 10/21/2024 at 1:26 AM, cdrcm12 said:

thoughts please

Hi Colin have you seen this? https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1158008208  obvious differences but a lot of similarity particularly the bottom of the guard where the stems come together.

I don't think the seller has attributed it to any particular school or smith which is a pity.

 

[cdrcm12]

Hi Dale, thanks, I hadn't seen this, very similar.

 

Will try copy the images for the record.

[FlorianB]

On 10/22/2024 at 8:05 AM, sabiji said:

Oh Florian, don't always blame everything on the poor Shoami. They can do it better and more elegantly.

Thomas,

 

Yes, they did - remembering Your fantastic pieces!

 

First of all I wanted to correct the Kyo Sukashi imputation (my personal favorite) without daunting a young collector.

I thought also of Kinai but didn’t dare to write it down because of my limited knowledge.

 

Florian

[cdrcm12]

I had a read of Malcolm Coxs' reference guide on Kinai, which very useful.

 

I'm more inclined to say Kinai, with possible Shoami influence.

 

Will look further into which of the two Kinai families it could be attributed to.

[sabiji]

6 hours ago, FlorianB said:

Thomas,

 

Yes, they did - remembering Your fantastic pieces!

 

First of all I wanted to correct the Kyo Sukashi imputation (my personal favorite) without daunting a young collector.

I thought also of Kinai but didn’t dare to write it down because of my limited knowledge.

 

Florian

You and limited knowledge? Typical Japanese understatement from you...

[Spartancrest]

On 10/22/2024 at 11:53 PM, cdrcm12 said:

Will try copy the images for the record.

Another - chunky version that sold recently. Not as nice as yours Colin but something to compare.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/186569600604  sold August 12th.

[cdrcm12]

Thanks again Dale.

[ROKUJURO]

A much older 'relative'? KO-SHOAMI?

[Spartancrest]

   Super chunky rim - I don't think it is a close "relative", naive or even crude?  https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/126135397583

[cdrcm12]

This one from Artur Drogameicza was posted on Facebook yesterday. Very similar, almost identical.