Help with Mon Identification

[Curran]

This tsuba is signed 'Isso' with kao and has NBTHK Hozon papers.

He was an interesting fellow, who had Isshi as a teacher and was assistant to Ichijo.

Later in life he was a retainer to the Kii branch of the Tokugawa family.

 

I would like to identify to identify the family Mon on the tsuba.

I have not yet found a good online reference, though I know it must exist.

 

Can anyone help identify the two mon?

[Brian]

Curran,

 

This is the best one I have found online so far: http://www.geocities.com/kazenaga23/crests.htm

Doesn't have everything of course, but an amazing Samurai reference page.

They run out of bandwidth frequently, but it will be back a few hours later.

 

Regards,

Brian

[sencho]

Here they are... from a great book on Mon that I have with 4,700 mon in it!!! Nice tsuba, Curran!!

 

A feeble attempt at translation!

 

1st... TO ICHI WARI SUMITATE (sumidate/kumitate/kumidate) YOTSUME???

 

2nd... MARU NO UCHI NI FUTO (buto) FTATSU HIKKE (bikke)???

 

 

Cheers!

[kusunokimasahige]

first one: three diamonds

 

Sassa and Kamei

 

http://www.geocities.com/kazenaga23/crests3.htm

 

second one:

 

Katsumoto (same page)

 

KM

[Curran]

KM,

 

I'd found the Sassa reference via another website, but wasn't sure it was correct. I have not had time this evening to research the family.

 

Stein's website has been down all day, so your link didn't work for me- but I am very thankful to know the name "Katsumoto" as I hadn't been able to find anything for that mon.

Thanks again-

 

Curran

[Ford Hallam]

Katsumoto!, you don't think it might have been used in "the last samurai" do you? . Just imagine, Tom Cruise might actually have touched it. :D

 

cheers, Ford

[kusunokimasahige]

Curran, It seems top be online again..

 

however, as I understand it double mon tsuba and pieces of armour often represent inter-clan marriages, alliances etcetera.

 

The problem with Mon often are that nearing the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, even traders and merchants would have their own Mon, often based on the Mon of Samurai they either respected or just simply stolen...

 

the rigidness of Mon wearing for Samurai alone subsided gradually..

 

That is why in later swords and tsuba you often do not know wether one was owned by a merchant or a Samurai, unless it is clearly stated in the tang or the sword was handed down a single family for generations.

 

KM