Bob M.

Item No. 297   Tsuba in Shakudo with gilt   8.00 cm x 7.85 cm x 0.36 cm

Subject of Shishi and cub with peonies and stream signed Soyo with kao

Together with the three previous items makes up the Yokoya Soyo/ Yanagawa Naomitsu set of fittings.

High quality workmanship in katakiri and kebori on the theme of a Shishi testing its cub.

NBTHK papered.

Item No.  296  Fuchi Kashira in Shakudo with Shibuichi and Gold

Subject of Shishi , from the same set as the two previous items. signed Gyonen rokuju-san , Soyo with kao ( at the age of 63 )

Another pair of dynamic Shishi images, this time displayed on a fine nanako ground of a Fuchi Kashira.

NBTHK papered ( as part of a set )

Item No.  295   Kozuka in Shakudo with Shibuichi and Gold

Subject of Shishi by Yokoya Soyo ( 18th Cent. ) signed with kao .

Fine Nanako ground to front complemented by Gilt reverse with 'slanting rain' yasuri , with an imposing Shishi dominating the piece.

Part of the associated set of fittings featuring the menuki shown in previous Item No. 294.

Item No.  294   A pair of menuki in shakudo with gold

Subject of two running shishi, signed Yanagawa Naomitsu with kao ( 18th cent. )

Really expressive of movement , fine carving and detail on menuki only 28mm long.

Part of an associated set of sword fittings , the other items to follow.

Bought as part of the set some 12years ago.

NBTHK Papered.

Ref Item No. 293

Many Thanks to George Miller for his research into this piece and its background -

Item No. 293   Iron Tsuba with gold, shakudo and shibuichi   7.93 cm x 7.44 cm x 0.32 cm

Subject of night scene with moon , cuckoo and irises signed Oizami zu Funada Ikkin with kao - late Edo.

Second Generation Funada Ikkin tsuba with beautifully carved and inlaid irises . The detailing to the edge of the clouds near the moon and stars is also worthy of note.

Could perhaps do with some tlc on the patina ? or maybe not ?

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Item No. 292 Tsuba in Sentoku with silver , shibuichi , shakudo and gold.   7.10 cm x 6.55 cm x 0.46 cm

Subject of a tiger sitting on the edge of a cliff, a stream flows past and over the edge of the rock face. Signed Someya Kazunobu ( active around 1850 ).

The design wraps around the piece and is most beautifully done . The stream in particular is wonderfully rendered and the 3D effect , especially strong when held in hand, gives the illusion of moving waters that you can almost hear.

This tsuba is due to have some damage repaired and tlc in the next few months - lighten off some of the dirt to reveal obscured detail like the tigers stripes and areas around the foliage. The area around the stream will not be cleaned , the dirt in that area addding much to the overall effect.

George Miller has done some research on this piece and tells me that the signature is difficult to read - even Wakayama mentions this . Apparently the so called reptilian look to Japanese Tigers is a feature where artists , not having seen a tiger in real life , used skins brought back from China or Korea, and draped over a human model to produce their images from. Of course , later in the 19th century greater realism was also used as photographs and live specimens became available to study.

Item No. 291   Fuchi Kashira in shibuichi with silver , gold and copper.

Subject of Shoki and oni(s) signed Issando Joi ( Late Edo period )

Shoki about to deal out some retribution to some oni, hiding in a tree.

I was unsure about putting this F/K up on the thread as it is very difficult to photograph convincingly. However I am posting the standard file pictures together with some other views to bring out some of the detail.

As usual , looks much better in the hand than in photographs.

Ex Naunton Collection Plate No.41, no. 1309.

Item No. 290   Kozuka Shibuichi with silver and shippo.

Subject of fallen cherry blossoms floating on water with the reflection of the moon in a light haze.  Signed Hamano Noriyuke ( 18th-19th Cent. )

Hamano Noriyuke l or ll ? They are referenced in Haynes H 07454.0 / H 07455.0

The beautifully carved inscription states that the piece is after a design by Shokado .

Shokado Shojo 1584 - 1639 was a famous artist who, amongst other things, was responsible for the revival of grass script calligraphy from the Chinese original sources of hundreds of years previous.

Whilst the theme might be regarded as too simplistic for modern tastes, it is a classic, subtly rendered depiction of ephemera that should be appreciated by anybody with artistic feelings. 

Item No. 289    Tsuba in shibuichi with shakudo and gold    6.24 cm x 5.30 cm x 0.34 cm

Subject of three  friends of winter by Norichika ( Hamano school ) late edo c.1866. Haynes H 07314.0  F:Miyamoto 

Mount Fuji , pine trees, eggplants and a Haiku poem are all skilfully depicted and carved. The three friends, if seen in the first dream of the year , are regarded as an auspicious symbol of good fortune to come.

The Haiku poem alludes to this wish where, meanwhile, reality has raised its head  -  ' I went to bed expecting the years good first dream, but when I awoke , it was morning '

NTHK Kanteisho papers.

Thanks to Morita-san for his help with the Haiku translation.

Re. Item No. 288

After consulting with George Miller , we are able to add a little to the original post above.

The inscription on the rear of the kozuka is in Tensho or Japanese seal script and reads/translates to ' evening cicada clinging to old tree '.

Seal script usually appears as a suffix or adjunct to makers signatures in Japanese Art and is relatively common on Tosogu, often seen inlaid with gold.

It is however, not usually seen outside this context on fittings and is quite rare to appear as part of the design of the piece.

Regards

On the ' Series of fittings ' threads, Item Nos. 248 & 274( small )bear images of cats ...

Regards

Item No. 288   Kozuka in sentoku with gold and shakudo.

Subject of Cicada on a tree trunk by Ryuchiken Teruyuki , Edo period 19th cent. Haynes ref. H 09665.0

The Cicada carved in gold with shakudo feelers and veins inlaid into its wings. Nicely engraved bark and associated detailing.

Together with the artist's signature is a Chinese ? poem inlaid in gold . Any takers for a translation?

As usual with these pieces , photographs flatten out the depth of the carving. 

Item No. 287   Iron Tsuba with gold and mother of pearl   7.72 cm x 6.77 cm x 0.40 cm

Subject of Irises against a rock face background , a diminutive snail on a leaf to the rear . Made by Ford Hallam around 18 years ago.

Taking inspiration from the work of Kano Natsuo , Ford has produced a deceptively simple looking piece , where a great deal of attention has been given over to the ground work and texturing. The overall effect is seen much better in the hand, as photographs flatten out the detail and have insufficient depth of field to allow an overall oblique view .

Re. Item No. 286

Haynes entry H 02787.0 states Katsukata, family name Matsumura , D: ca.1700

This would give the tsuba an age of 320 + years.

Thanks , George !

Item No. 286  Tsuba in shakudo with gold   7.84 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.40 cm

Subject of fishing boats in a lively sea with many billowing waves . 

Signed - Aizu No Ju Chuemon Matsumura Katsukata & Kao ( signature can also be read Katsumasa ). Can anyone find this artist in either Wakayama or Haynes ?

Good piece of craftsmanship from the Edo period , very engaging subject and composition. Nice detailing includes rows of nanako edging the seppa-dai.

Best viewed in partial silhouette against a light background.

Published in Shinsen Kinko Meikan, K.Kokubo, Tokyo 1993 , p.59

NBTHK Hozon Tosogu.

Re Item No. 285

Some corrected / additional information

The subject matter is revised to - mouse , mochibana and treasure sack - Best Wishes for an abundant New Year.

The branches with small balls are mochibana ( mochi flowers ) . These are small rice balls formed on twigs and can be coloured ( see wikipedia for more info. )

The mouse represents a symbol of Daikokuten, together with the sack ( takarakukuro ) of the God of Wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

The sack is a bottomless hoard of treasure.

The maker is Shigeyoshi ( Haynes 08584.0 ) in 1813.

In summary, an over 200 year old New Year Wishes Kozuka - appropriate for this time of year .

Many Thanks are due to George Miller for his help on this .

Item No. 285   Kozuka in Shakudo with copper , silver and gold.

Subject of a rat with a sack and a branch . Signed Tsuneyoshi and , unusually for a Kozuka , bearing a date. This is shown as 1813 which would seem to place the artist in Kyoto's Ichinomiya School.

A full translation of the inscription would be most welcome.

Good quality work , the rat appears to have been carved in a brownish shade of shakudo with many contrasts of texture and detailing shown through the piece.

The confident execution of the signature adds to the overall effect.

Item No. 284   Fuchi Kashira in Shibuichi carved in Shishiabori.

Subject of Guan Yu & Zhuge Kongming . Signed Issando Joi ( 18th Cent. )

Important figures from 3rd cent. China, symbolising wisdom and strategy , they are depicted with almost photographic realism on these fittings.

Provenence - Ex Mosle Collection No. 951

Thanks to George Miller for his help.

Item No. 283   Tsuba in Shibuichi with red copper , gold and shakudo details   6.10 cm x 5.63 cm x 0.40 cm

Subject of a Tiger from the Sekibun school. Signed Yurakusai Sekibun, ( mid 19th Cent. ).

A highly accomplished work with much quality katakiribori work. 

   Picture lightened to better show detail.

Hi Marco,

Nice start !  Look forward to seeing more...

All the best ,

Bob Morrison

Item No. 282   Tsuba in Copper with shakudo and gold    7.15 cm x 6.62 cm x 0.39 mm over plain , 0.65 cm over inlay.

Subject of deer, possibly moon watching . Unsigned but attributed to Tsuchiya Yasuchika.

I believe this to be quite a well known piece showing very good craftsmanship and decorative skills. The image extends seamlessly around the edge .

In the hand, the light reflects off the deers coat in the same way as seen in nature , following the contours of the animals body.

Ex Naunton Collection No. 3641

Item No. 281  Kozuka in shibuichi with silver and gold

Subject of the spirit of the willow tree , from the well known ghost story. The artist is Hamano Naoyuki ( 1745-1819 ), a student of Hamano Noriyuki.

A beautifully decorated piece with a convincing image of the ghost  , sorrowful and vulnerable, but possessing hidden depths of power.

The use of green tinted gold adds masterfully to the scene.

Excellent overall condition.

Provenence -

Ex M. Gueneau collection

Ex Paul Corbin collection 

Item No. 280  Iron Tsuba in Mokko Gata form with silver , gold , copper and shakudo   7.54 cm x 6.90 cm x 0.42 cm

Subject of butterfly and Iris blooms , a horsetail and grass depicted on the rear. Signed on two raised cartouches Yasuchika Masahide  ( Nara School, Early Edo period, late 17th/early 18th cents. ).

Surface hammered and punched to create the impression of a rock face , also using the natural folding of the plate to good effect . The iris flower is accurately shown , the leaves of the plant resembling a sword blade, a great symbol of victory in battle.

On the reverse , near the bottom we see what appear to be chips and gouges in the surface . The tsuba was given a worn effect and made this way , the inlay extending into the ' damaged ' areas.

Although heavily suggestive of military aspiration , the design also evokes a longing for the peace of a gentle spring day.

Acquired direct from Japan some 16 years ago.

Item No. 279   Tsuba in Makie   8.32 cm x 7.80 cm x 0.65 cm

Subject of dragons by a Makie artist called Momoe , made in the autumn of Manen 1 ( 1860 ) when he was 63 years old.

A rare 160 + year old leather based tsuba  , again the craftmanship speaks for itself.

A prime example , in my view , of the Japanese ability to picture dragons that you can believe in , unlike the cartoon characters in the chinese versions.

Bought on ebay direct from Japan over 20 years ago.