Bat & Moon Themed Tosogu

[Lingonberry]

Hi All,

 

I've been dipping my toes into tosogu and have seen several pieces with a nice bat & moon theme. I quite like this theme and would like to learn more about it - is there a particular story behind it, symbology, etc.

 

I've also been looking for nice examples of it but so far have only found a few pieces. If anyone has any pictures to share of high quality tosogu featuring this theme I would very much appreciate it!

[Fuuten]

A quick search through my archive turned up the following pieces.

 

Menuki: (appears to be) shakudo - Ohtsuki Mitsuoki

Kozuka: Copper plate Ishime-Ji Kozuka with bat design engraved and inlaid with gold - Kanehara Isso

 

[SteveM]

Bat in Japanese is 蝙蝠 (kōmori). The second character kanji character 蝠 by itself has the Chinese reading of fuku, which is a homonym of good luck (福), and therefore bats are synonymous with good luck. I also read where rats were once said to turn into bats after living 100 years, and so bats are also considered a symbol of longevity.

 

Late Edit: Still looking for some explanation that encompasses both the bat and the moon. There must be one. 

Steve

[TETSUGENDO]

OTSUKI SCHOOL by Tenkodo Hidekuni

 

                                                                                 -S-     

 

 

 

 

[Fuuten]

After posting earlier I dug a little bit further and found some more.

 

Menuki

Moon and the flying bat carved on Shakudo plate with gold and silver color - mumei

Bats in shakudo - mumei

Bats in silver or shibuichi - Noriyuki

 

Kozuka

On Shakudo Shukumen-JI (wrinkle-Ji) plate, bat and fan is engraved and inlaid with gold - Yanagawa Naomitsu (Kao)

[CSM101]

A few weeks back Darcy had a wonderful iron tsuba by  Goto Ichijo on his site. You can find the tsuba in

"Iron Tsuba -The works of the exhibition Kurogane no hana" page 123. Since I have not the right of use/

copyright I will not show a pic. But perhaps Darcy will show his photos.

 

Uwe G.

[b.hennick]

Here is a Tembo tsuba with bat and moon stamps:

[DRDave]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113545884536

 

Saw a nice bat and moon tsuba recently, but can't for the life of me remember where.

[Lingonberry]

Fuuten, those bat menuki in your first reply are amazing! Any idea who the artist or school was? Looks like the photos came from aoi art.

[TETSUGENDO]

Adam,

 

They are identified in the post as by: Otsuki Mitsuoki, who is considered the best of the Otsuki school......the modeling is exquisite!

Good examples of this motif are very desirable and sell quickly.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[Lingonberry]

...so they are. Been a long day...

[Ron STL]

Thought I'd share a couple photos of a kurikata cover (name escapes me) that depicts a shakudo bat on a yellow brass plate. Interesting to see these examples of bat and moon shown in this topic. Ron STL

[Vermithrax16]

Great examples, love this thread!

[Fuuten]

I just stumbled over this one.

 

https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-050416.htm

 

[Lingonberry]

That tsuba is really nice but it doesn't seem $4,000 USD nice. I can't really base that on any facts, just a gut feeling.

[Vermithrax16]

Debated on that tsuba Axel posted a long time ago. Love the motif and the work, TH papers. Just did not "talk" to me but surely it's a great work.

[Ganko]

A couple more pieces. I believe the menuki are late Edo.  I wouldn't consider the tsuba high quality but I included it anyway, it has a bat with what appear to be ants.

 

TomC

[Ed]

The Bat/Moon tsuba Axel posted above is signed, Inshu Ju Suruga Takaoki.  According to Haynes, he became ninth master of the Suruga family school in 1837.  His father Takashige, was made a retainer of the Matsudaira Daimyo in 1818. Nice Tsuba.

[Ed]

Choshu Tomotsune 

[Bob M.]

Quick I-Phone image of Bat and Fog (?) together with moon and clouds - unsigned , any thoughts as to school ?

 

[Fuuten]

Sorry to revive such an old topic, but I just stumbled on the following:

 

 

https://yuhindo.com/omori-eiman-mitokoromono/

[Kurikata]

My Moon & Bats . Nara school ?

[Gunome]

Hello

 

Here is mine

[Vermithrax16]

Bruno, very nice!!!! If you were ever to move on from the piece, please let me know.