Thoughts on School or Age?

[cluckdaddy76]

I will add a second pic, just curious if anyone has an idea on the school or age of this tsuba? I have not seen another open work dragon with this particular theme, iron quality and carving is definitely better than average 

[cluckdaddy76]

Just the back , couldn’t fit both in first pic.

 

Jason

[Jake6500]

Hi Jason, 

 

This is a nice tsuba that looks well crafted. Whilst I usually don't gravitate toward open works in my own collection I am a fan of this one...

 

As for the theme, this is only an educated guess (I am not sure and would like to see what other forum members think) but the dragon appears to be holding a koku of rice on the reverse, and appears to be consuming the rice pouring out of the bag on the front side. My guess is that the theme is therefore from the Tawara Toda Monogatari from the 14th century in which the protagonist is awarded an inexhaustible/infinite bag of rice by a dragon as a reward for slaying a Mukade.

 

If this is indeed the theme it could have the implied association with wealth as Japan had the kokudaka system in which rice was measured and used as the primary form of currency for centuries. The symbolism of the tsuba might therefore be thought of as "infinite wealth" and may have been owned by a merchant (presumably an educated one!) Just my take on it, lets see what everyone else thinks!

 

PS/Edit: For the school, maybe Bushu Ito? It gives me similar stylistic vibes to a Bushu Ito tsuba I have in my collection!

 

 

[Spartancrest]

I think the theme is a dragon wrapped around a "Ken" - Which is not that easy to make out, especially as Ken are straight bladed swords and this is anything but straight! Artistic license gone riot but beautiful! 

 

These examples have Vajra handles - not sure about the one on the tsuba.  Jake's idea of Bushu Ito sounds good to me. Chosu also possible - I struggle with the differences unless they are signed by one of the schools as they copied designs back and forth. Kinai liked dragons but something about it does not say Kinai - besides Kinai was mad about getting them signed. JMHO

 

Whatever the school or theme it is a fantastic piece and gets us thinking!

   

[Steves87]

The rice theory is interesting, i never would have considered that, and now that you mention it, I can see what you are saying.

I initially saw the dragon wrapped around a "bent" ken (bent for the design in accommodating the Tsuba shape). The picture below is my example of the ken (although a modern replica supposedly based on a historic original).

The dragon is either swallowing it, or in my opinion, spewing it out... as history loves a good mythically produced sword.

[Steves87]

Beat me to it Dale! Nice work as usual!

[Spartancrest]

   From my understanding the "Male" dragon had a "Ken" at the end of his tail, so if this is correct, the Dragon on Jason's tsuba is a male?

[Jake6500]

I can see what everyone is saying with the sword. It certainly looks more like a blade than it does grains of rice... That said, the "handle" of the ken looks a lot more to me like a koku bale or a Daikoku style magic bag than it does a sword handle. Dale's Vajra handle example however gives me pause to reconsider.

[cluckdaddy76]

Thanks for all the responses. I also agree with everyone thinking it is an artistic interpretation of a dragon and ken. Dale, I also think you are right about it not being Kinai, I have a couple decent tsuba from that school and from my research, almost any decent piece is signed. The iron quality is also different than any Kanai piece I have seen, which is another reason I do not believe it came from them. Glad everyone likes it; I came into a larger collection all at once and have been studying away trying to learn. The original collector definitely seemed to be a tsuba person as they had more of these than the other fittings. They had many different schools in their collection and also seemed to pick out ones with less common themes and of fairly decent quality. 

[Spartancrest]

  A ken from the Walters Art Museum with a closer looking handle. 

https://art.thewalte...er-lotus-decoration/

 

   No dragon involved with this one    

I can see the rice bale idea on the tsuba though, so the handle could be modeled on that theme. 

[KungFooey]

Beautiful tsuba!!!

It's a Ken; handle and guard behind the dragon's head, twisted in a circle (held in claw at 6 o'clock) and point in dragon's mouth. Seems pretty clear to me.