Dynamic Tsuba Designs

[cspage]

Recently I brought attention to this site on the Board recently, http://tsuba-no-bi.com/tsuba/Tsuba/52/. I am very curious about some of the tsuba designs found at the website and would like to engender some conversation about them, just the designs, please, not whether they are real or fake or cast or not, etc…just the designs, please. The tsuba are T00018, T00021 and T00050 (I hesitate to post pics here without permission of the site owner). These three designs in particular, strike me as being unusually dramatic and dynamic, two of them full of smooth fast big motion, almost “modern” in style, attributed to Late Muromachi/Early Edo and Edo Period. They are so different in “atmosphere” (a word the AOI-ART website often uses that I find agreeable) that I would love someone else’s take on them. The lobster tsuba is especially intriguing because of the unusual clean shape that works so well with the lobster sukashi, it is reminiscent of a broken seashell, perhaps. Any observations would be welcome. I admit that I am new enough to all this to have not seen enough tsuba to possibly take these as ordinary designs. This is also obviously an attempt to keep alive Ford’s discussion of the aesthetics of tsuba design, something I think is valuable. Any observations welcome. Thanks.

 

Colin

[Mike]

Hello Colin,

 

There are some interesting tsuba on this site, I agree.

I have almost identical tsuba to No. 18 so as far as I know it depicts a bug called suzumushi, "bell ringing" insect (Homoeogryllus japonicus ) sitting on a fern. The Suzumushi is kept as a pet in some Japanese homes, giving off a ringing bell sound, reminding the tone of a Buddhist bell bringing a sense of serenity to the home.

Mike

[Ford Hallam]

I wonder if there hasn't been some error in the the measurement of the thickness's of many of those tsuba. Quite a few seem uncharacteristically thin for their type.

 

Pretty impressive to see so many that are illustrated in books too.

 

regards,

 

ford

[cspage]

Well, this isn't going anywhere quickly.

 

Mike, thank you so much for your contribution. If possible, could you post a pic of your tsuba? I would be interested in seeing it.

 

Ford, I don't know if you're being circumspect, facetious or straight in your almost laconic response. Quite unusual for you. The reference to tsuba similar to those in books could lead one down another path concerning designs and differences between the book versions and the website versions, but that's another topic.

 

Carry on.

Colin

[Mike]

Here is a photo of my tsuba.

 

Mike

 

[cspage]

Mike, thanks so much! And, in acknowledgement of Ford's observation, could you post the dimentions of your tsuba, please? It would be interesting to compare the thickness, etc. Thanks again.

 

Colin

[Mark Green]

Great looking tsuba Mike. I just love that very delicate sukashi. That had to be a bugger to do in period.

I like the swirl or whirlpool? as well.

Very pleasing to look at.

Thanks for sharing.

 

I agree, the site has some good looking tsuba. I feel it would be fun to talk about them some. We may want to ask the proprietor if it is ok?

Mark G

 

I like this one a bunch.

[Ford Hallam]

Mark,

 

the proprietor has put his stall out in the public arena. The public now have every right to discuss his wares. This is the essence of a free market.

 

Keith,

 

I am by nature generally quite laconic...unless I really fancy you , I tend to be somewhat more verbose in this particular media as it seems to me the more subtle meanings in one's comments are all too frequently not noted.

 

regards,

 

ford

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

  Mike said:

Here is a photo of my tsuba.

 

Nice one Mike. Really.

[reinhard]

  Ford Hallam said:

I am by nature generally quite laconic

 

If you say so.

 

reinhard

[sanjuro]

Ford

 

  Quote

Keith,

 

I am by nature generally quite laconic...unless I really fancy you , I tend to be somewhat more verbose in this particular media as it seems to me the more subtle meanings in one's comments are all too frequently not noted.

 

 

Not me...... Colin I believe.

 

I'm not weighing in for this discussion.

[Ford Hallam]

  reinhard said:

  Ford Hallam said:

I am by nature generally quite laconic

 

If you say so.

 

reinhard

 

I can also be quiet ironic on occasion

 

Sorry Keith, I did mean Colin....you all look alike from here

[Mike]

I should have thought of posting my tsuba dimensions :x Well mine is 70 x 67 x 4.8 mm, which is slightly different in the diameter comparing the other tsuba and is significantly thicker (the tsuba no bi dimensions are 6,9x6,6x0,36 cm).

There are slight differences in the bug design, also the tagsne-ato is not the same.

 

Another Akasaka tsuba I have, with dynamic design depicts gees in the rain, it is 73 x 69 x 3.5 mm.

 

This one as well as the other are ex. Rich T. collection

 

Mike

 

[Brian]

Oh my goodness. That geese tsuba is gorgeous!

 

Brian

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Indeed.

 

Mike, now I remember them. The 4th and the 6th from left in the 11 places display stand designed by your wife

 

What about pics of the 5th and 7th ?

[Mike]

You got me Carlo, but actually they are no. 6 and 7, here are no. 5 and 8. No. 5 is probably ko-Akasaka wild geese, peony and ginger plant in sukashi, no. 8 is Akasaka with the view of Matsushima islands (pine trees and waves), rather uncommon design.

 

Mike

 

 

 

[chuck]

I don't usually "understand" or "get" sukashi tsubas, but this one caught my eye.

 

http://www.nihonto.com.au/html/tsu226_t ... tsuba.html

 

I like the negative space. There's something about it that just keeps the eye moving. It's like you can't look at one part of it for too long.

 

I don't know if there's a word for that or not.

 

peace.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Thanks Mike. All very nice ones, especially the Ko-Akasaka with ginger and geese.

[ububob]

Great looking tsuba, Mike. I'm am a big fan of the Akisaka school.