Jump to content

Nice tsuba on Yahoo auction


Recommended Posts

This tsuba just sold for a pretty high price on the Yahoo Japan auction site.  I quite like it, but can't tell if the Kanzan hakogaki attributes it to Matashichi.  It does seem to have a fantastic plate and a very elegant design (reminiscent of the default NMB logo!).  

 

post-620-0-86945300-1558874536_thumb.png

post-620-0-87936800-1558874552_thumb.png

post-620-0-11971100-1558874572_thumb.png

post-620-0-93125300-1558874583_thumb.png

post-620-0-11926800-1558874595_thumb.png

post-620-0-94973800-1558874607_thumb.png

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I couldn't find the character for shichi, and figured it was not attributed to him.  It appears to be quite thin (3mm) and I get the impression it is pretty old though.  Another thing I like about this one is that the two wings have a different feather pattern.  

 

Who is credited with the first example of this design - is it Hayashi Matashichi?  I'm not sure why that sticks in my mind.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't understand the appeal of these sorts of tsubas very well. These strike me as unoriginal productions from a popular template. 

 

1. It's a copy from an original design. There are a lot of them. 

2. the original design is excellent and the inventor deserves high praise. 

 

If the copy was in a way better executed than the original, I would understand the appeal. But I looked up the original maker and his work in this design is superior. 

 

What am I missing? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a good question Chris and applies throughout tosogu collecting.  Examples would be a Musashi design, or an eagle, a phoenix, a shishi or a dragon.  There are these themes that arise that are treasured in this art and artists talk to each other via their alterations in the theme and the form.

 

The early inventors of the stylized Goto shishi dog are being honored by the many, many emulations and modifications of their invention for centuries.  Art is basically a conversation and artists almost never come up with something new out of thin air. 

 

I think that I like this tsuba since it is a very, very early version of the form, that it seems to have a great hada and forging of the plate, and that the pattern of the feathers in the two wings are different, presumably based on what an actual bird may have done if it was preening under one wing and not the other. If you look at the  NMB one, it is virtually symmetrical, whereas the one in the auction is far from it.  

  • Like 2
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...