Tsuba Identification

[Curgan]

I have recently got this XIX century mumei wakizashi tsuba. Dimensions: 7,2 cm x 6,6 cm. It is made of shakudo with riserves in nanako and inlaid in gold. It's true colour is a brown/purple more glossy than the pictures where it looks like iron. I have found somewhere and another picture that shows the same tsuba with a black colour (probably because of the lighting) but can't remember where.

Can somebody help me with the identification?

[John A Stuart]

That's great. I responded on SFI, but, will do so here as well. This style of carving and subject matter leads me to some derivative artist of the Ishiguro school of carving. It mightn't be by a leading craftsman, but, it is competant work. A good buy, I'm thinking. John

[Curgan]

Thanks again John!

[John A Stuart]

Here is a picture of an Ishiguro school tsuba that illustrates my reckoning. This also is mumei, but, notice how the peonies are carved. There is quite a difference in the exquisite workmanship of the BMFA tsuba, I think you will notice. John

[Curgan]

Indeed. The flowers look almost the same, but the Bostom Museum tsuba is a masterpiece. Especialy the peakok. Birds of prey are a trademark to ishiguro and now depicted in perfection...

[John A Stuart]

Not neccessarily birds of prey, but, birds in general. I think that is a copper pheasant 山鳥 and plovers 千鳥 chidori.

[Curgan]

This is part of a daisho tsuba, as I noticed browsing the Boston Museum cataloque. Remarkable!

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

I think that is a copper pheasant 山鳥 ..... .

 

"Golden pheasant" http://pkhits.com/wallpapers/Animal%20and%20Birds/38397,xcitefun-golden-pheasant-chrysolophus-pictus.jpg

 

P.S. I could be completely off, but my feeling is this subject tsuba has more of a Goto connection. Kaga comes to mind, but perhaps not any of the mainline characters. Worth submitting to shinsa imo.

[John A Stuart]

Ah yes Franco, that is more like it.

錦鶏 The 'golden chicken', John

[DirkO]

Hi John,

 

I don't know where you bought it, but I recognized it immediately :

 

http://www.giuseppepiva.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=113

[Curgan]

Indeed, I got it from Giuseppe Piva!

 

Hi John,

 

I don't know where you bought it, but I recognized it immediately :

 

http://www.giuseppepiva.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=113

[Lorenzo]

ahaha I was going to post that link before ending the reading of the whole topic. I have seen this particular tsuba in my hands time ago, good buy.

[Curgan]

I am seeking its pair for a daisho,so if you have seen something let me know!