Tanto Tsuba....mounting

[CurtisR]

I'm working on a project mounting od a Gendai Tsuba...what I cannot see ti find in all my books is whether the "hole" on the Tsuba(see photo) should be traditionally on the left or right of the blade as it points outward. I'm thinking (the 'hole" as no kozuka would fit) it should be mounted away from the body when worn with the edge downward as most tanto were (to my knowledge?)?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Curtis R.

 

(photo attached)

[IanB]

Curtis, Irrespective of whether your tanto has provision for a kogatana or not, the hole in the tsuba goes next to the body when the tanto is being worn, edge upwards of course.

Ian Bottomley

[sanjuro]

when worn with the edge downward as most tanto were

 

What makes you think that tanto were worn edge downward? Tanto were worn in the obi edge uppermost and the Kozuka hitsu ana would be closest to the body. Of all Nihonto only a Tachi is worn edge downward and is mounted to facilitate that method of wearing.

[Eric H]

comment: the freedom of the artist :D

 

Eric

[CurtisR]

Sorry for the late reply...and Eric, *nothing* makes me think it might be worn edge-down...but it's nice to have some input regardless! Thank you all...the project is coming along well (yet slowly, so I don't screw the proverbial pooch ).

[CurtisR]

My Mistake...I was referring to Keith's comment. And Eric, that is one beautiful print!

 

Curtis R.

[IanB]

Eric, Curtis, What an interesting painting! Look carefully at the wakizashi the gent is holding. The kogai points downwards

Ian Bottomley

[Brian]

The print is deceptive. What looks like a tsuba, isn't. Just a loop that the wakizashi is going through. The tsuka is downwards, in his hand. The saya goes upwards, and the end is hidden by his arm. Looks like a waki due to the fact that the saya doesn't emerge above his arm. But probably meant to depict a katana. No tsuba.

Artistic license at work I think.

 

Brian

[Pete Klein]

Or it's Uesugi Kenshin. BTW -- that is a kogai on the omote so it's probably a wak as katana were not usually so equiped.

[IanB]

Oops - you are right mea culpa. That is one very deceptive image. I had to take a similar second look when I was mounting the famous painting of Honda Tadakatsu for an exhibition. His tachi and what seems to be his wakizashi are obvious, but then you see this tiny tanto and realise his 'wakizashi' is really an uchigatana, but worn edge down.

Ian Bottomley