pcfarrar Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 Whilst browsing Buxton antiques fair today, I noticed an interesting sukashi tsuba mixed in with a pile of Chinese fake trash. As it was very inexpensive I decided to purchase it. I think its a late edo, has a good patina and rings like a bell when struck. I wondered if anyone might have any ideas for a potential school? Also any thoughts on what the design represents? I can see the two bird mon but I'm not certain what the round object at the bottom represents? Size is 6.9 x 7.1 x 0.4cm. Thanks, Peter Quote
Ford Hallam Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 Hi Peter, that circular motif immediately struck me as a trivet, the metal stand used to support the hot tea kettle in the tea ceremony. A sprig of plum blossom and a cup suggests cha-no-yu to me Quote
Mark T Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 Hi Ford, I think that gotoku are usually used the other way up - the wider section forms the base, with the 'ring' section providing even weight distribution in the furo (or irori, or hibachi). The three 'feet'-looking tabs, pointing upwards, are able to accept different sizes of chagama, and the design allows for the rounded base of the chagama to sit lower than the top of the gotoku, and closer to the charcoal. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted February 19, 2012 Report Posted February 19, 2012 Mark, yes, I'm aware of that. :D It isn't my photo, I simply searched on-line to illustrate the form and to make a comparison to the design in the tsuba. Quote
Mark T Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 :D ... so the reason I'm not sure the element in the tsuba is a gotoku is that it's wider at the top than the base ... Quote
Ford Hallam Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 It's an abstracted design element, Mark. It never works to try and read Japanese art like this too literally. Actually this is a fundamental 'mistake' most art fanciers make. Because they are not educated in the peculiarities of different aesthetic expressions that were prevalent in different periods and the actual artistic concerns of the artists of those times they tend to judge, or asses, works from a modern literal/realism perspective. But I suppose it's all in the eyes of the beholder. Quote
pcfarrar Posted February 20, 2012 Author Report Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for the help Ford. I should have released it was tea ceremony related as its quite obvious now. Am I correct in assuming late edo, shoami? Thanks, Peter Quote
Marius Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 I think that the "chawan" is reather a sumitori, a charcoal basket used in the tea ceremony. I recall, we have discussed a tsuba with a similar motif here, an Akasaka. Will try to find the thread later... Here it is: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9429&hilit=Akao+akasaka Quote
pcfarrar Posted February 21, 2012 Author Report Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks Mariusz, not too dissimilar to my tsuba. Is there a possibility of mine being Akasaka? Quote
Soshin Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 Hi Peter F., I was thinking Shoami circa middle Edo Period early 1700s. The iron is very similar to a one I have in my collection. I don't see any kebori on your tsuba like the one refernced. Kebori and very sharp ji-sukashi is often seen in Akasaka school work. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
Jimmy R Posted February 22, 2012 Report Posted February 22, 2012 The oval is a sort of 3D representation of the mouth of a vase The sprig is a spring cherry branch with buds, freshly picked. Very common in Japan to pick them early and young and wait for them to bloom. Very nice tsuba. I would love to own it. Jim Quote
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