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Jiryusai Tomohide Minogame Tsuba

Vermithrax16

By Vermithrax16
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Vermithrax16 Grand Master

Vermithrax16

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I like stories, legends, and a tsuba that tells one. So of course I fell for this tsuba, even though by decision I shy away from smaller tsuba. Really glad I did. Arrived yesterday, picked up today at Post Office. Had fun all evening so far in study.

 

A short link to tell the tale of the Minogame in Japanese Culture (most probably know it, but it was new to me):

http://the-turtle-cove.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-minogame-in-Japanese-culture.html

 

Snippet:

"The minogame is said to live at least a thousand years (with some living up to 10,000 years!) and have a long, hairy tail, which is actually seaweed and algae that have grown on its shell due to its ripe old age! It has very similar to the real-life common tortoise, which can live for hundreds of years. In Japanese culture, the minogame represents longevity and wisdom, and is a long-revered symbol of both. In art, it is often shown with other gods and symbols of longevity, such as the crane, or Taoist deities such as Jurōjin. The minogame is also depicted with the Three Jewels, which represent fortune."

 

This work is by Miyake Jiryusai Tomohide, son of Miyake Terumitsu, Yokoya School (was some confusion in Haynes index on this point). 

 

NBTHK Hozon in November 2018:

nihiki-minogame no zu tsuba (⼆匹蓑⻲図鐔) ‒ Tsuba depicting two old turtles with seaweed growing on their backs
Signed: Jiryūsai Tomohide + kaō (⾃⽴斎友英「花押」)
Oval shape (tatemaru-gata), of shakudō with ishime ground, takabori relief, sukisagebori engravings, zōgan inlay, iroe accents, angular rim with some roundness (kaku-mimi ko-niku)
 
Size: 70.6mm X 66mm X 4.7mm
 
I am super excited about this piece, it's a stunner in hand. Detail work and accents/inlays are wonderful to look at. I don't want to over talk it. Only negative (knew this going in, so was my choice) as it's shakudo, there is some tarnish (verdigris?) in some areas. I am fully prepared to have this restored if it can be done (Ford Hallam) but it's wonderful right now and maybe dehydrate then protect with ren wax could be an option. 
 
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post-4009-0-54172200-1555460924_thumb.jpg

 

 

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Bazza Grand Master

Bazza

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Mmmmmmmm...  I'd take advice on using Renaissance Wax ('ren wax').  Personally I wouldn't - the Japanese didn't have it, right??  But what DID they have?  They had ibota - was that used on fittings??  Then somewhere rattling around in my brain is a kernel of a thought that I've read somewhere in the dim past that the Japanese did use a "vegetable" wax on their fittings.  I have no idea.  Does anyone know??  I think its an important question for tosogu preservation - I have some nice items that I wonder about in terms of both lifting their appearance as well as enhancing their continued preservation.

 

BaZZa.
 

EDIT:  Mmmmmmmm...  as in "Lovely" rather than questioning the use of wax...  Just to be clear.  Stunning tsuba Jeremiah.

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John A Stuart

John A Stuart

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"Ibota-ro is a natural insect wax. The larvae of the wax scale insect (ibota mushi; Ericerus pela) live on the ibota-no-ki bush (a species of privet, Ligustrum ibota), and frequently form an infestation. The larvae protect themselves by producing a fine waxy thread that form little balls on the branches of the ibota privet. Eventually branches are densely covered by the waxy deposits, which are then collected, heated, and cleaned to extract the high melting point wax.


The wax has a wide number of applications. In polishing it prevents friction between the migaki-bo and the blade. It is used in tsukamaki for polishing samekawa prior to doing the wrapping. It is also used for as a final polish for shirasaya, as a traditional finish for Japanese coloured metalwork, and has been used in Japan to coat tsuba in order to inhibit rusting. Ibota-ro is also used to polish furniture, cabinet work, wooden utensils, and to make sliding doors move smoothly and noiselessly." Ryujin site.

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Ford Hallam Grand Master

Ford Hallam

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It's correct that Ibota wax was traditionally used on tosogu.

 

However we now know that this is not wise in the long run.

 

"..Over time the wax will inevitably degrade due to the presence of atmospheric oxygen, moisture and ultra violet light resulting in a break down of their esters into their component fatty acids.

 

 

 

This break down of the wax is greatly accelerated by the presence of copper.

 

These organic fatty acids then react with copper or zinc (in brass) ions by a process known as saponification to form a corrosion product called copper or zinc soaps. The copper soaps appear as deep green surface encrustations whereas the zinc soaps are typically white. There is evidence to suggest that this process may in fact be further accelerated on patinated copper."

 

The Technology of Japanese Art Metalwork - Metals, alloys and patination.

 

A History and practical manual.

 

by Ford Hallam

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Ford Hallam Grand Master

Ford Hallam

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Stephen,

 

in laboratory tests this effect can be triggered in a matter of days but as I described there are a number of contributing factors, worst case scenarios are probably not helpful but from my own work as a restorer I would suggest there's no immediate panic required in terms of older pieces rather it would be a matter of improving our 'best practice' moving forward.

 

If there's an ugly green staining visible, that's also a bit slimy, that's a good sign it needs dealing with pretty quickly.

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Vermithrax16 Grand Master

Vermithrax16

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Actually, it's a question I have that the more experienced members maybe can help with.

 

This tsuba has NBTHK papers and the picture matches the work of course, but shows the blemishes. If I have this restored/cleaned/etc I think as long as I document it, it won't be an issue. Any input?

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Vermithrax16 Grand Master

Vermithrax16

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After the outage here on NMB, a bunch of comments for this thread were lost. As Ford Hallam was kind enough to allow us a look at an episode of his Patreon video collection in regards to this tsuba, here it is again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvnRoOgsOaM&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0BsR2ADYoK0jIPj3CB9cXGeZw_ImNskxM_mCmgIfI3JhIHm3QrGETJYmA

 

The Tomohide is finished cleaning and repair now. When I have it back in hand will do a proper reveal of the restoration. I can assure Ford is a magician, and you should have zero concerns if you want to work with him.

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Vermithrax16 Grand Master

Vermithrax16

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Ford has completed the Tomohide work, and the results are exceptional. If you are a subscriber on the Patreon page, there is a new video which documents the final work:

https://www.patreon.com/FordHallam/posts

 

I am hoping to have the tsuba in hand soon, but why not give a tease look at what was done? Full pics to follow later on. Can't wait to have it back. And something else will be coming as well, something in the works for a long time now.

 

Before and after; I know lighting is different but you can get an idea. Lighting will be same when I have it in hand. A saved piece that was at risk for verdigris damage, I can't be more thankful as I love the tsuba:

post-4009-0-76815800-1565655331_thumb.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
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..

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