Green paper translation help

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

Picked up this nice tsuba and it comes with NBTHK papers which are green (I believe that is a good thing!). Very nice tsuba with multiple bugs including...you guessed it a Praying Mantis. I do much better with sword translations, but I can't translate any of this, if someone would be so kind as to do a full translation for me, I would be most appreciative. I can't even get the date, I believe it starts off showa? but then I am lost from there. Most importantly, it is an elegant tsuba and a unique addition to the collection. I have 2 other tsuba to add as well so this is #35. Thanks in advance for your help.

Kamakiri Ken

 

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

That is a paper for Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu (特別貴重小道具) issued by NBTHK at Mar. 2nd, 1963.

 

Aki kusa mushi zu tsuba (秋草虫図鐔): tsuba with pic. of autumnal grasses and insects

Tetsu-ji (鉄地), maru-gata (丸形), niku-bori (肉彫), ji-sukashi (地透): iron ground, round shape, relief, openwork

Mumei (無銘), attributed to Hagi (萩)

[John A Stuart]

Hi Ken, Just for fun I think the date is 1963 3rd month 2nd day. John

[Mantis dude]

Thanks Guys. Can anyone tell me about Hagi? Is this an individual or a school? Never heard of him. Didn't find name in Haynes "Japanese names and associated metalworkers", maybe I missed him. Any help appreciated. Would love to learn more about guy.

 

Also These being green are indicitive of being higher quality than normal?

 

Thanks again in advance. All the best

[Bungo]

hagi is good.......... there's a write up in Haynes catalog about ko-hagi, usually they are kiku design . I think old Bushu tsuba resemble ko-hagi.

 

milt the ronin

[Nobody]

Also These being green are indicitive of being higher quality than normal?

FYI; its status

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/origcomp.htm

[Nobody]

BTW, Hagi (萩) is the name of a city in Cho-shu (長州 = 長門国; Nagato no kuni).

[Mantis dude]

Nobody thanks on the link, funny how many times I have been on his site and never saw this. I guess I never had need to research, testament to all the information on Rich Stein's website.

 

Milt which issue? I can't wait to read about it.

 

Thanks for yet more information.

Ken

[Brian]

Yes...I also only know Hagi as a town in Choshu.

I have a very nice f/k signed Choshu Hagi Tomonobu saku.

So would this attribution go to a specific town, or is it something else in this context?

 

Brian

[Stephen]

please post a pix of the tsuba also ....very nice find.

[Bungo]

mantis dude,

this could be a Hagi tsuba............ thinking of submitting this one for the Chicago NTHK shisa in April.

 

 

http://www.esnips.com/doc/c682102d-b0e3 ... b6e24/hagi

[Mantis dude]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for all your help. I was a little behind, but I finally was able to take pics of the tsuba. As you can see lots of insects depicted. I appreciate everyone's help and look forward to reading more about this group. Thanks.

 

 

Backside of tsuba

 

[Bungo]

http://www.esnips.com/web/tsuba?docsPage=16#files

check out bug and bug2.jpg................

 

what school you think they are ?

 

milt the ronin

[Mantis dude]

HArd bugs in general to decipher

bug 1 - not sure if they had lady bugs? but could also be a beetle?

Bug 2 beetle? or

 

bug 1 or 2 could be bell insects

http://www.freewebs.com/kamakiriken/kozukaupload.htm

 

Not an entomologist, but a bell insect would be consistent with the autumn grass theme. Best guess. Hope that helps.

[Bungo]

they are most likely bell insect but I am not interested in that........

what tsuba schools you think they are ? Bushu ? Akasaka ? Choshu ?

Hagi ?

 

 

milt the ronin

[Mantis dude]

sorry didn't read right, what are dimensions of each?

Bug has same feeling as mine at least somewhat

Bug 2 seems more choshu? Bushu?

 

My guesses so far

[Mantis dude]

Milt,

 

I think more study on hagi is required, the little I have read is that it is one of the Choshu schools. I don't know enough to make a call. found this but I don't think it matches yours very well

 

http://www.japancollection.com/uview_wo ... tsuba&y=1#

 

Picture from link above

[Bungo]

I have two similar design ones, different schools............

 

 

http://www.esnips.com/web/tsuba?docsPage=23#files

klick on condi rice.jpg :lol:

 

 

and...........

 

http://www.esnips.com/web/tsuba?docsPage=12#files

 

masafusa.jpg

 

milt the ronin

[Bungo]

" I think more study on hagi is required, the little I have read is that it is one of the Choshu schools "

 

I think Haynes mentioned "ko hagi is what an old choshu tsuba would look like " or something along that line..................

 

 

milt the ronin

[Mantis dude]

I have been searching this evening on hagi tsubas and it seems even most of them that are signed are signed "choshu hagi" ....

 

I didn't even know that Choshu had so many schools, I thought it was just one didn't know there was like eleven or so branches. Most interesting.

 

I have found that measuring chart to be very helpful and accurate in pointing to the correct school, although which sub-school is much harder. But it will help narrow the field.