Jump to content

Heianjo Tsuba Iron Plate


zanilu

Recommended Posts

Hello to everybody

 

I have just acquired a new heianjo tsuba (with recent NBTHK Hozon certificate). Dimensions 85.9 mm x 85.5 mm x 3.5 mm thickness.

 

post-3411-0-89629300-1506505727_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-40831000-1506505729_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-14297900-1506505731_thumb.jpg

 

As per recent posts by Mr. Hallam is seems that shinghu zogan can not be dated before approximately 1620. Thus this settle my mind on the dating of this tsuba, at least for the zogan part. 

 

According to common wisdom the first Onin/Heianjo tsuba where updated Tosho or Katchushi with the addition of some brass to shine them up. This information made me look deeper in the iron of this tsuba.

The sukashi design of this tsuba is perfectly in line with what usually found of Tosho or Katchushi, even though the number of them make me think to later specimens.

The iron surface is rather rough in certain region suggesting corrosion. The same roughness can me seen on the mimi and on the internal surfaces of the sukashi. Looking at the rim I see mainly the effect of corrosion and no traces of tekkotsu, even though I may not able to distinguish it from rust or other forms or corrosion since I have no experience with it.

 

post-3411-0-25451900-1506505732_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-64418400-1506505733_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-79482800-1506505734_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-38957400-1506505736_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-78897900-1506505737_thumb.jpg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another prominent feature is what seems to me the traces of folding of the plate. These are mainly visible on the region of the nakago-ana, in its thickness and of the walls of the puddle sukashi. This folding over reminds me of similar traces on another tsuba in my collection (Ex Haynes and Long collection) classified by Mr. Haynes as a late Muromachi  Katchushi tsuba.
 
post-3411-0-07367700-1506505994_thumb.jpg
post-3411-0-15516400-1506505995_thumb.jpg
post-3411-0-08892600-1506505997_thumb.jpg
post-3411-0-68055900-1506505998_thumb.jpg
post-3411-0-95130000-1506505999_thumb.jpg
post-3411-0-40249800-1506506002_thumb.jpg

post-3411-0-98908700-1506506000_thumb.jpg

 

Being a  novice in this field I would like to have the opinion of NMB more experienced members on this tsuba and if it is possible to put a date on the plate at least.
 
Thank you for your attention.
 
Luca
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Luca,

folding and fire-welding the steel of a TSUBA plate is a common process, especially for the earlier TSUBA. Scrap steel was often used to make these TSUBA, so some pieces were welded together and hammered out to a plate.  

In the case of your new TSUBA I don't believe in an early date (former KATCHUSHI TSUBA) because of the considerable thickness of the plate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think the plate is katchushi, and if anything it would be more tosho.  But it being one or the other is redundant as the tsuba is clearly Heianjo.  Looking at the plate is not going to tell you much about the date IMHO.  I think the brass inlay, and its composition in relation to the ko-sukashi is more revealing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ken,

3.5 mm is perhaps not too thin for a HEIANJO TSUBA I think, but it would be too thick for an early KATCHUSHI or TOSHO TSUBA. On the other hand, there was not much sense in repurposing an old TSUBA plate, as making a new one was not so much work.

In my understanding, using an older plate for decoration was not very often done, and in many cases, you wouldn't end up with a much better or more beautiful TSUBA.

Just my two ¥.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello:

 With all due deference to the NBTHK if they called the tsuba  Heianjo, it appears to be a Onin piece done at the end of their span. The evidence is the precast zogan placed into prepared spaces in combination with a small number of taka-zogan, all standing proud. It has a somewhat early look with the ko-sukashi elements sometimes found on the ko-katchushi antecedents, but the entire composition looks rather "commercial" and not bespoken to anyone's particular case as might occur if an early ko-katchushi-Onin transition period work.

 The brass dating origin is controversial, however from Onin (1467-68) to Temmon (1532-55) would be reasonable, and some argue that such material came from China as early as Ekiyo (1429-41).

 Arnold F.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...