tsuba promised to show Rich

[doug e lewis]

finally got camera/computer working at the same time.

 

if thisworks i will post more and varied pics so a decent opinion can be formed by any who care to.

 

my 1st nihonto post --non commentary -- 00ps!

 

rescued this on a katana {in poor shape from by younger brother

 

pics of katana in the works

 

ikki! ikki!!

 

doug e lewis

[Jean]

At first glance, It looks like a Soten Style Tsuba but I let Rich answer he is the authority

[doug e lewis]

Hi Jean,

my friend and mentor, John H., said Soten ca. 1640

 

i would have thought much younger than that considering the great shape it is in

but i know nothing ....

 

doug e

[doug e lewis]

here are both ura and omote, plus side view

 

doug e

[Jean]

Hi Doug,

 

Neither do I. The style is easy to spot (even for a layman - and god, I know I'm one (extract from "The house of the Rising Sun" - LoL) but there are probably the most copied ones and they can vary tremendously in quality.

[docliss]

Dear Doug

 

If I might be permitted to join in on this topic, I believe that your tsuba demonstrates only a minimal Soten influence. This is the silver and copper faces of the two figures and, to judge by your photographs, these do not show the high cheek-bones that are characteristic of this group. Neither does it demonstrate the 'busyness' that is usually a feature of Soten work.

 

I think that your tsuba is probably an example of the work of decreasing quality that came from the Aizu-Shoami school well into the C19. Your tsuba is surely no earlier than C19.

 

Regards, John L.

[Pete Klein]

I believe 'Hikone bori' would apply here as a descriptive (bori ~ carving). As the Soten school was of the Hikone area tsuba which have that general motif but are not of the Soten school are sometimes given this descriptive on orikami. As for the age and maker I would have to agree with the good Dr. L.

[doug e lewis]

Hi John & Pete,

 

good, good! the learning never stops. love this hobby!

something to discuss with John H. (friend/mentor re tsuba, etc)

 

i guess by C19 you mean ca. 19th century?

 

thankx for the opinions. now i want to hear from Mr. Turner [and if you want to hold it Rich i'll bring it to Australia -- right after i visit Japan. can ya wait a few years]

 

doug e

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

A good article about soten tsuba Wrote by Robert Haynes

 

Are kogatana ana and kogai ana usually inlaid in Soten School?

 

 

A very good soten:

 

[Rich T]

Kogatana are blades, I think you mean Kozuka. I have seen Fuchigashira by Sôten, I have not seen Kozuka or Kogai made by the Sôten school. This of course does not mean they do not exist. If I had to guess, I would think Kozuka maybe and Kogai unlikely. And what about menuki I hear myself asking ???, same applies, I have seen one pair from memory. Come to think of it, is there a book that specialises on Sôten work ?, I have not seen that either.

 

I agree with Doclis and Pete that this is late work and not really top shelf, there is a lot of this type of tsuba around and it is seen often.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[Pete Klein]

Have another cup of coffee Rich -- he was referring to the 'ana' of the tsuba. (LOL)

[Rich T]

Yes, you are right, it was too early for me, I missed the ana bit LOL.

 

Still, Kozuka ana not Kogatana ana. Do I at least get 1/2 a point ???

 

And I would say no, they are not always filled.

 

Rich

[doug e lewis]

Hey Mate,

 

Thought you might be on a trip to Japan and missed this -- note envey --

 

thanks for the attention to my first nihonto inquiry post

 

must study more

 

ikki! ikki!

 

doug e

[Rich T]

Hey Mate,

 

Thought you might be on a trip to Japan and missed this -- note envey --

 

Hi mate, no just buried at work, finishing up a project that has been going on for 7 months. 3 weeks and I am off to Tokyo. Boy do I need the break.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[doug e lewis]

need someone to carry your bags, Mr. Turner-San?

 

have a great trip. nice to get back in touch.

 

doug e

[Pete Klein]

Very good then -- silver star for today. (oh brother)

Anyway, I'd agree from my observations that they appear with and without the fukurin and ana liners (don't know the name for those). I would assume that some without had them either lost or removed, possibly for perceived metal value(?) as they were usually gold or silver. I have never found a book on the topic as this school unfortunately suffered the fate of over popularity and was so copied that they became somewhat looked down upon. Papered examples of the first two generations are of course sought after and the later Kanenori made incredible examples in the Hikone style, especially in shakudo. Torigoye in 'Tsuba Geijutsu-ko' makes the comment, 'The majority of the work in the style of this school is but a poor imitation made by shiiremono makers in the late Edo age at the docks of Yokohama. These imitations account for more than ninety five percent of all Soten tsuba extant. Even the best work of the students, though not common, is usually only slightly better than the shiiremono examples. The work of this school was so corrupted that a true idea of the real Soten tsuba is almost impossible to obtain. It is unfortunate that the best work of this school has come under the same pale of suspicion that surrounds the common work of the imitators. Had the work of this school been less popular, the true work of the first and second Soten might be regarded with more respect than it now receives'.

This is a papered (Hozon) Soten, probably second, with shakudo fukurin and inserts placed for conservation as the iron has become fragile. BTW -- the workmanship on the shakudo is something to behold as it is perfectly adapted with no seam apparent. I can never get over the craftsmanship of the Japanese, of old or new.

note: there is some distortion to the mimi from the scanner -- it is smooth and not jagged as seen.

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Sorry for my mistakes (kogatana an in place of kozuka ana and "wrote" in place of written) but it was late in France and i was tired :?