Marius

Gents, While it is probably easy to find tsuba which were mounted on tachi koshirae in the late Edo or Meiji period, this tsuba is a whole different story. It is a tachi or kodachi tuba, made of bronze, which has been gilded once, as can be seen thanks to some remnants. While the guard is small, it is heavy and its large nakago ana points at a substantial blade. A small tsuba mounted on a long blade has often been the custom in the turbulent Sengoku period. This tsuba is likely to date back to mid-Muromachi period, late 15th century. Measurements are: 6.7 x 6.3 x 0.6cm Nakago ana 3.15 high 0.9 wide Tsuba of this style are described by some collectors as "Northern", which I think is due to the fact that there have been tachi tsuba of this style excavated together with some Emishi-to in Hiraizumi, the capital of the Northern Fujiwara. Also, the much used (and abused) term Ezo is often applied to early tachi tsuba. I attach a pic from a Japanese magazine showing the excavated guards (and swords). In any case, this here is a wonderful tachi tsuba the type of which is very hard to find. It is small, so pne can speculate it was used on a kodachi or even a naginata (yes, naginata did have this type of tsuba). You can also find some tachi tsuba in this thread, with excellent photographs by Richard George (two of those tsuba were once in my collection, BTW): https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/38844-tachi-tsuba/ please scroll down to see the tachi tsuba. $1,650 incl. shipping to Europe and US. Wire transfer please (either $ to a bank in the US or € to a bank in the EU).

Bought, many thanks!

Thanks Jean, will do.

Gents, I will start with a disclaimer - this is on behalf of a friend, who has stumbled upon a problem with his tsukamaki. He would like to do a Tensho tsuka, with a horn kashira, ito going over the kashira, of course. He complains that the ito always ends up being loose. In other cases everything is OK. Any kind of manual how to do it properly? Any advice? My friend will be obliged, and so will I. Thank you so much for any piece of information I attach a picture of a tsuka, just to be sure you know what I, being a complete ignoramus in these things, am talking about.

That went fast. As it should! Someone got a great tsuba, congrats!

Absolutely iconic. The iron is to die for, amazing quality. The price is ridiculously attractive. For that amount of money you can buy two very average tsuba or something like that. This here is a masterpiece.

Gents, I used to own this tsuba and can attest to its quality. The NBTHK paper says “tosho”, but unfortunately the NBTHK is - to say it diplomatically- very cautious with their tsuba verdicts. I have seen a great Nambokucho tachi tsuba with a… “tachi tsuba” attribution. With such verdicts, it is not uncommon to see serious collectors of pre-Edo tsuba simply ignore NBTHK papers as worthless. Sad but true, and especially painful for an NBTHK member as me. This tsuba with its intriguing little hole (for the purpose of which Boris Markhasin had once a theory) is likely a product of the mid to late Muromachi period. It has been extremely well preserved and was used on a nodachi, I believe. Try to find an ubu piece like that one! A great opportunity for this price.

Spot on Thomas. Thank you!

Height: 10.2 in (26 cm)/ Width: 4.8 in (12.1 cm)/ Depth: 6.3 in (16 cm)

Colin, I thought about tachi stands, where the sword is "upside down" with handle resting on the base of the stand.

Colin, Thanks, but I doubt that. The recess at the base is a hole of only 8mm. That is not enough to accommodate the butt of a handle of a jitte or kabutowari. A tessen? Maybe...

Gents, I rarely buy stuff from eBay, if so, then only accessories. And I bought this one on a whim, actually knowing that no tanto in koshirae can be used with this stand. The seller described it as a stand for kabutowari, jitte, saihai. No tanto will fit, that is sure. What is this? Thanks for your thoughts!

Well, buying a published tsuba that is papered to Owari and that has this strong Yagyu connection for $850? Gentleman, I am now focusing on very early tsuba, but this one makes me really jealous! Whoever buys it, will acquire a great tsuba made for a warrior, and not some fat samurai bureaucrat. Great iron, great presence, radiating power, this guard can be a cornerstone of any advanced collection. And it is a real bargain. Remember my motto about those tarts passing... This is one real masterpiece tart, and knowing Steve, he will rather keep it than cutting this attractive price further. This gentleman has a keen eye and great knowledge when it comes to this kind of tsuba. Just go for it, or I will, even if it outside my focus!

One always learns… Thanks Andi!

I think that might be something to think about: Kozuka on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276029834358? I have menuki, that might fit, though one of the kittens seems to be a leopard... I planned to use my menuki for a project, but heck, I got several others, so if you think they would go well with the kozuka... They are from the same seller on eBay.

And one of the members finally nailed it: „Your menuki is Choryo with a shoe (not a tide jewel) and Kosekiko with the military strategy scroll (that he gives to Choryo after Choryo retrieves his shoe...)“ Thank you all!

And the motif has been already discussed, although the representation was somewhat different than on those menuki: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27799-motif-tale/

Chris, You have suggested the Tide Jewels theme, and I think it was spot on, here is an illustration - "The Dragon-King of the Sea gives his son-in-law the tide jewels" Thank you, I would have never found it.

Dear All, any idea what the motif of these menuki is? Seems like a Chinese tale, but which? Thanks for your ideas!

Kind of you Stephen, thanks Alas, it must be copper with black inlay

Dear Gents, If some of you has suaka kozuka decorated only with thin black inlays of clouds on the omote, I would be very interested. I attach two photos of the issaku kodogu that I think such a kozuka would match. I know, this may be impossible, but why not try? Thanks and best regards Marius

The menuki motif is quite nice, it is Raikō and Shuten-dōji. The former sits next to a sake bottle, while the latter is getting drunk on the sake. Cool legend! I think that potential buyers would benefit from measurements of both tsuba and menuki

That sounds very convincing, thank you! The hole would represent a mistletoe berry in such a case…

Gents, any idea what is depicted here? I shall be grateful for your thoughts…

SOLD