Kanayama Tsuba

[Steve Waszak]

This is a very fine Momoyama Period Kanayama Tsuba.  The dense iron is accented with lightly-applied tsuchime, and features both linear and granular tekkotsu (most visibly on the rim).  The iron is blackish with soft purple-mauve undertones, and while a bit coarse in texture visually, is actually quite smooth to the touch like the glaze on a ceramic work.  The color of the tsuba is especially fine in sunlight (the almost midnight-purple is rich in such lighting), where its patina just glows.

The motif of this tsuba has been interpreted in two or three ways, one being the hiragana character “no” (“の”), a rather mysterious allusion, while another may see the representation of the concept of “Mu,” which can be understood to refer to “emptiness” or the preparedness (for battle) that comes from emptying the mind.  Mu is sometimes associated with “Mikkyo,” or Japanese Esoteric Buddhism, which, despite its great influence on many aspects of Japanese culture, has seen relatively little about it published in English.  This may be due in part to its great emphasis on experiential learning and on knowledge passed directly from teacher to student.  It is possible, too, that the tsuba’s motif is a reference to “enso,” or the Japanese “Zen circle.”  Whichever reading one might make, the design is punctuated by the presence of two wild geese, a motif element tightly associated with sword guards of Owari, the province in which Kanayama tsuba were made.  The eyes of the geese are fashioned in such a way as to endow the birds with a certain spiritedness.

Kanayama tsuba are among the most highly prized of all pre-Edo iron guards, valued for their esoteric motifs and bold forms, as well as for their “ceramic-like” textures (these tsuba are sometimes associated with the high Tea Cultures of the Momoyama Period).  Sasano-sensei's publications on iron sukashi tsuba are particularly effusive in their praise of Kanayama works.  This is an excellent sword guard, a superb expression of the sentiments and tastes of Owari bushi of the Momoyama years.

As is well-known, Kanayama tsuba are usually rather small, but thick.  The dimensions of this guard are 68 x 67.5mm, 5.5mm at the seppa-dai, 5mm at the mimi.  Marugata.  Kakumimi.  There is a single hitsu-ana, which likely held sekigane at one point.  $1750.  Boxed.

Cheers,

Steve

[Steve Waszak]

Forgot to mention that payments could be divided across two or three months, if desired...

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Marius]

Steve, I'll take it.

[Steve Waszak]

Tsuba is SOLD.  Many thanks...

 

Cheers,

 

Steve