Old Iron X3 With Papers (Looks Good On A Christmas Tree)

[kazarena]

Below are 3 excellent tsuba, some with papers. This is a great opportunity for European buyers as all the import duties have been paid already.

 

1. Kyo-Shoami Iron sukashi tsuba, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.

 

Dimensions: 80mm x 80mm

Thickness: 3.5mm (centre), 2.5mm (mimi)

Age: Momoyama period

 

 

This tsuba comes from Richard Turner's collection and below is Rich's description of it, which you can also find in his Kodogu No Sekai blog: https://richardturner.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/kiki-ji-sukashi-tsuba/

 

Ko Shôami Ji sukashi tsuba- 古正阿弥透鍔, Azuchi-Momoyama period 安土桃山時代. Excellent iron surface. Maru Gata 丸形 and the mimi is maru also 丸耳. The surface is nicely finished and the plate in excellent condition. There are small tekkotsu (鉄骨 hard iron bones) in the mimi (耳 edge).

 

The tsubas dimensions are 80mm x 80mm. The thickness at the centre is 3.5mm and at the mimi, 2.5mm. This is quite thin for Ko Shôami work. Most Momoyama period pieces are on average 3.5 – 4.5mm thick. I have owned and seen thinner works that have been attributed to the late Muromachi period. I still feel this work is Momoyama period work, however nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to tsuba. Opinions and ideas are forever being reassessed.

 

The design is described by the NBTHK as Kiku sukashi 菊地透鍔, There are however other elements here that bare more examination. There are two matsukawa kamon 中陰松皮家紋 or double lozenge mon at 12 and 6 o’clock. The rest of the sukashi is made up of what appears to be leaves. The actual leaves of the chrysanthemum plant however are a distinct shape and these appear quite tubular. Perhaps the shapes represented here are clouds or something else.

 

The NBTHK attested to the quality of this tsuba by awarding it Tokubetsu Hozon. 

 

Location: Ireland

 

€2000 including worldwide shipping, PayPal extra.

 

2. Kyo-Sukashi Iron tsuba, NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho.

 

Dimensions: 82.5mm x 81.9mm

Thickness: 4.8mm (centre), 5.2mm (mimi)

Age: Momoyama period

 

 

This tsuba comes from Richard Turner's collection.

 

This is an interesting one. The pictures (even the ones from Rich) don’t do it justice, you have to hold it in hand to fully appreciate it. The design is rather common, but the execution is exceptional. All the elements, especially karigane, are very sharply done, and the colour is much better than on any pictures. It really looks more like an Owari work, not Kyo.

 

Below is Rich's description of it, which you can also find in his Kodogu No Sekai blog: https://richardturner.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/kyo-sukashi-testu-ji-sukashi-tsuba-%E4%BA%AC%E9%80%8F-%E9%89%84%E5%9C%B0-%E9%80%8F%E9%8D%94/

 

Kyō Sukashi tetsu ji ji sukashi tsuba 京透 鉄地 地透鍔. Kiku gata (菊形), Kakumimi – koniku  (角耳小肉), ji sukashi 地透, ryohitsu shi  両櫃仕. This tsuba is likely to date to the Late Muromachi or Momoyama periods.

 

The motif would be described as Myōga Kari Kai Zu 茗荷雁繋図 and includes Karigane 雁金 (Wild geese), Myōga 茗荷 (Japanese ginger) and Fundo 分銅 (Japanese weights). The Myōga are carved in slight relief with simple Kebori  毛彫. All 3 of these items, enveloped in and including the kiku gata mimi are an elegant element of classic design. Karigane and Myōga are also winter elements and may allude to both travel and the higher society lifestyles of Kyōto at the time. The Kiku in various guises was the emblem of the emperor and weights would have been used for, amongst other things, the counting of gold and so could also allude to the affluence of the place and time. Together as a group, these 4 elements display a feeling of prosperity, movement and health.

 

The tsuba has an old green NBTHK Neiteisho – Tokubetsu Keicho designating it Kyō Sukashi.

 

Location: Ireland

 

€1000 including worldwide shipping, PayPal extra.

 

3. Saotome Iron tsuba with shakudo and golden plugs

 

Dimensions: 91mm x 89mm

Thickness: 3.5mm

Age: late Muromachi - Momoyama period

 

 

This is a stunner, and it’s massive in size. Dark chocolate patina, moist surface. Finest details of waves on shakudo and golden plugs (a thin sheet of gold, not gilded, with beautiful kinsabi).

 

As I was told, per Robert Haynes, it’s a Nobuie school tsuba circa 1550. I think, along with a good few experts I showed it to, it’s a Saotome tsuba.

 

You may find more hi-res photos here:  https://nihontoclub.com/items/Saotome-Tsuba-with-Plugged-Sukashi

 

Location: Ireland

 

€700 including worldwide shipping, PayPal extra.

 

Kind regards,

Stan

 

[Henry Wilson]

That is a nice Saotome tsuba. Good luck with the sale.

[Ray Singer]

The Nobuie / Saotome was mine for around six years. A wonderful piece which is even better in-hand.

[kazarena]

For this festive season only, 10% discount on all the tsuba listed above. If you buy all three, it's 15%. This offer expires on Dec 27th.

 

Regards,

Stan

[kazarena]

Bump

 

Belated Happy New Year! I hope you all had great holidays. Now it's time to come back to serious tsuba studies 

 

There's a lot to learn from each piece listed above! 

 

Regards,

Stan

[kazarena]

Saotome is now SOLD. Thank you very much.

[kazarena]

Tsuba 2 is not available.

 

I’m offering the first tsuba (Tokubetsu Hozon to Kyo-Shoami) at 1500 euro.

 

PM me with questions.

 

Stan

[kazarena]

Number 2, Kyo-Sukashi Iron tsuba (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho) is not available (sold offline).

 

1. Kyo-Shoami Iron sukashi tsuba (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon) is still for sale. I've advertised it on Facebook for €1700, but will give a discount to NMB members.