Sukashi motiff?

[Brian]

Hi all,

 

I have been pondering over the motif of this sukashi for a while now. On first examination, it is easy to conclude that there are a few parts that are broken off or missing, but close examination of the sukashi does not make this obvious. It is very possible, but even with some extra links in there, I am unsure of what it represents? Of course the ume blossom part seems fairly obvious, but what is this combined with?

 

Thanks,

Brian

[Pete Klein]

I believe it is supposed to be (zakura) cherry blossom in snow. The upper form is sometimes seen in conjunction with other motifs, such as umbrellas. Plum (ume) have a round outer petal (and I'm forever getting the two mixed up).

[Brian]

Doh!...I should have gotten the sakura vs ume :D

Too quick when looking at the various mon designs instread of thinking a bit further. Ume does have rounded petals. Doesn't the sakura usually have 2-lobed petals though, where this has 3?

 

Thanks Pete.

Brian

[Nobody]

I was unsure about the upper part. Maybe snow as Pete says?

As for the lower part, I think it is Karahana and not Sakura.

 

Karahana; http://www.otomiya.com/kamon/kika/karahana.htm

[Mike]

My first impression was also snow fleck over some kind of flower or leaf, but not sakura or ume. Mike

[Brian]

Thanks Koichi

Am I correct that karahana is a Chinese flower? Looks to me like this is the one.

Does this tsuba look a bit awkward with the large sukashi like this? Doesn't come across to me as simple and elegant as some I have seen.

 

Brian

[Nobody]

Am I correct that karahana is a Chinese flower? Looks to me like this is the one.

According to the explanation on the ref. page;

Karahana (唐花) does not mean any specific flowers but only an imaginary flower with the taste of Tang. Its original motif came from the Tang Dynasty and was already used in Nara period in Japan.

[Henry Wilson]

Pretty sure cherry blossom with a flake of snow on it.

[Pete Klein]

I wouldn't be surprised if Koichi is correct. The shape of the petals bothered me a bit and this would explain it. I wasn't aware of this stylistic before. Always good to learn something new!

[Bungo]

more like snow on top of pawlonia( spelling ?, those kiri mon thing )leaf.

 

milt the ronin

[Stever]

To me, it looks like a profile shot of chrysanthemums. But I obviously defer to the more knowledgeable.

 

cheers,

/steve

[Nobody]

At first, I also thought of Kiri (paulownia). But Kiri does not match snow, because Kiri is a deciduous tree and it loses the leaves in winter.

[Rich T]

Hi all, I did a bit of poking around and looking through Sasano's book Japanese Sword Guards Masterpieces, think this lower part of the motif is known as Hanabishi or Flower Lozenge. Sasano says that this motif was cherished by the samurai and often used in family crests and displayed on weapons and armour.

 

I think this is a mid Edo period tosho style tsuba mimicking the older guards. I also agree with Pete and others in that the top section is a snowflake. It may be just a general theme of flowers fallen on snow.

 

I have attached an image of Tosho and Katchushi tsuba from the book.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

 

Edit: I just found this at E-sword also. By Toda Hikozaemon, described as snow flake and flower I think at first glance.

 

http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/0710_6045syousai.htm

[Brian]

Thanks all for the help, great info.

 

Regards,

Brian