Pincheck Posted November 27 Report Posted November 27 I’ve had this tsuba for about 35 years but I know absolutely nothing about it. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts? It has no markings, it’s the same design on both sides, it’s made of iron with some kind of yellow metal inlay. Any comments would be very much appreciated. 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted November 27 Report Posted November 27 Posted upside down but that is ok. Better than this design Aoi leaves [mallow] a symbol of longevity, top and bottom. I am less sure of the long thinner leaves around the seppa-dai. Sen-zogan a metal inlay technique in which thin lines of metal are inlaid into a surface. Kebori (?) hairline thin carving of the lines making up the veins of the leaves. I am not at all sure of the school. A nice piece, similar to a friend's who I hope won't mind me sharing his image. also a rather grainy image that looks like it has a Manji pattern on it which would make it Heianjo perhaps. Someone will have a better idea of what school or time period your piece is I am sure. 2 Quote
Jake6500 Posted November 29 Report Posted November 29 Hi Jack, Your tsuba definitely gives me Kinai school vibes, the Hollyhock/Aoi leaf design at the top and bottom looks a lot like a smaller version of the design commonly featured in Kinai school works. I myself have a couple of Kinai tsuba featuring the Aoi leaf. Not certain it's Kinai school (especially as the Kinai school works are often signed) but I think it's a reasonable possibility... What do you think Dale? I'm thinking the other leaf in the design might be bamboo leaf? Not 100% sure, as the leaf appears less straight and a bit more jagged round the edges than one might expect for bamboo leaf. If it is bamboo leaf however, both leaves would be considered symbols of good luck in the Japanese and Chinese tradition. 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted November 29 Report Posted November 29 35 minutes ago, Jake6500 said: What do you think Dale? Well I thought it had an Umetada "look" - but it would just be a guess. Aoi leaves were as you say, a staple for Kinai. Although I found some similar shaped pieces they don't necessarily look the same workmanship - hard to tell the school but I do like the style and the quality. [Not much help sorry!] Quote
Pincheck Posted November 29 Author Report Posted November 29 Thanks guys. I naively thought the outer leaves were lily pads, not sure what the other ones are. Aoi leaves make more sense I suppose. It’s not big, only 75mm across, and correct me if I’m wrong but I was under the impression that a lot of the more functional tsuba were a bit bigger than that, so I’m guessing later (maybe edo) rather than earlier (muromachi or before). But I really do know nothing about tsuba. I got it for a sword I used for Iaido, back when my knees still worked. Quote
Iekatsu Posted November 30 Report Posted November 30 Definitely Edo, but size is not necessarily a determining factor. Quote
Spartancrest Posted November 30 Report Posted November 30 As you can see this one is attributed to Kyo-Shoami image from "Catalogue of Tsuba in the permanent collection of City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery." 1940. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted November 30 Report Posted November 30 Dale, thank you, but I am not sure I can agree to this attribution. At least, I have seen some KYO SHOAMI in a very different style. Quote
Spartancrest Posted November 30 Report Posted November 30 23 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said: a very different style Just an image from an old book - museums what do they know anyway? 1 Quote
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