Bob M.

Maybe a sounding bell , having just been struck.

Added to thread as requested...

Regards

Hi Everyone,

I would be most grateful for a translation of the attached poem , inscribed on a tsuba by Norichika.

Many Thanks !

Item No. 243   Iron Tsuba   7.12 cm x 6.4 cm x 0.58 cm

Signed Kofu ju Tatsutoshi , known as Mitsutoshi ( Haynes 05505 ) . Early 1800's , worked in Kofu and Omi.

Family name Ito - he was the son of Yasutoshi - ( Haynes 11313 ) and used the names Namitoshi , Tadashichi and Tatsutoshi.

Although often described as a lock shape , most museums identify it as a kite or cruciform shape.

Great condition with good grey-black patina.

Thanks to George Miller for supplying much of the above info.

Hi Anthony ,

Tsuba 241 could have been made by a number of different schools , especially if the design was included in one of the pattern books available at the time.

There is however , a remnant of the sales information for a fuchi / kashira using this exact design on the seiyudo.com site - just type   -  Seiyudo FU-010929  - into Google and the link should appear.

This set was signed and papered to Konkan - if it was one of his patterns , I do not know.

Konkan is said to have come from the Iwamoto school in Edo and to have been working during the years 1744 - 1801. He was a student of Ryokan and was greatly influenced by the work of Yokoya and also Nara school.

Regards

Item No. 242   Iron Tsuba with gold and silver   7.22 cm x 6.95 cm x 0.52 cm

Subject of monkeys in a peach tree with bamboo and vines , signed Edo ju Nara saku   ( Ko-Nara School ) approx. years 1650 - 1750.

Very good overall condition , considering its age.

Bought from European auction some 10 years ago.

Re Item No 241

Some slightly sharper images ...

Item No. 241   Iron Tsuba with gold , copper , silver , shakudo and shibuichi   6.38 cm x 5.90 cm x 0.40 cm

Subject of Shoki and oni - mumei , mid to late Edo.

Shoki is shown standing on a river bank watching an oni on the other side making off with a banner. 

Minutely detailed, the oni is obviously enjoying itself , Shoki does not see the funny side in the least.

Museum /collection acquisition number painted on rear. 

Bought from auction in Europe about 18 years ago , I use the image of the oni as my avatar on the NMB.

Item No. 240   Iron Tsuba   7.68 cm x 7.50 cm x 0.45 cm

Sukashi tsuba with subject of cherry tree , the trunk forming the rim and the blossoms carved in kebori  -  mumei.

Delicate carving from a master hand. Excellent patina with great tactile feel - the thickness of the plate reduces from 4.5 mm in the centre to 3.8 mm at the rim. Rim edge is rounded.

Possibly late Hayashi school or Kamiyoshi school by the Master Juhei . Late Edo period.

Any views as to the proper school to place this piece in ?

Ex Clarence McKenzie Lewis Jr. collection.

Item No. 239   Fuchi Kashira in Shibuichi with gold , silver and shakudo

Subject of fisherman and boy signed Sekijoken Motoharu , late Edo.

Provenence -

Lundgren Collection No, 299

Item No. 238   Iron Tsuba   7.82 cm x 7.60 cm x 0.72 cm

Subject of Hikiryo Mon and Kiri  -attributed to fifth generation Akasaka - mid 18th cent.

Dramatic rendition of its subject matter with superb intact patina.

NBTHK papered

Item No. 237   Iron tsuba with gold , silver, shibuichi , shakudo and copper   8.40 cm x 8.04 cm x 0.45 cm

Subject of Benten and dragon signed Hamano Shozui.

Much detailed image of Benten together with nicely carved dragon and forged ' rockface ' ground.

Ref Item No. 236  - Wood block print showing the lotus pond at Shinobu-ga-oka - now a part of Ueno Park in Tokyo.

Courtesy of George Miller.

Item No . 236    Kozuka in Silver

Subject of shi-shi dog and peonies signed Kikuchi Tsunesada.

Very fine , nicely controlled engraving using Katakiri-bori technique. The design feels dynamic and lively.

I understand that the full signature reads -  Shinobu Ga Oka no Hen ni Shikashite Horu no Kikuchi Tsunesada ( plus Kao ). Can anybody please help with translation on this ?

The mention of the Kikuchi school would tend to place this in the second half of the 18th cent.

NBTHK Hozon papers.

Item No. 235   Iron sukashi tsuba   8.48 cm x 7.90 cm x 0.43 cm

A large iron tsuba , theme of Conch Shell and blossom on water , attributed to Saotome school thought to be mid to late 17th cent.

Conch has liner in Hitsu-ana area.

Good patina and smooth feel.

Re Item No. 233

Dale ,

Thanks for the links  - I guess that there are many different school versions of this tsuba - after all it is a very famous tale . Perhaps also some in soft metals ; that could make quite a spectacular piece with a lot of possibilities for colours and texture contrasts...

Item No. 234  Two 'orphan fuchi ' in soft metals.

The first being in Shakudo with a fine nanako ground , with copper , gold and shibuichi . Subject of Chickens , signed Shokatei Motohiro & kao.

The second being in Shibuichi with gold, copper and shakudo . Subject of a group of demons ( I count eleven ! ) transporting a large bell through turbulent water. Signed , Kikugawa Nanpo kocho , with gold seal.

Both of these items display high quality craftmanship , and although they do not have matching kashira , are good enough to stand on their own merits.

Provenence

Lundgren Collection , nos. 107 ( the first ) & 263 ( the second ). 

The second  -  H. Seymour Trower Collection and published in the Henri L. Joly Catalogue of the H. Seymour Trower Collection of Japanese Art published London 1913 , by Glendining and Co.Ltd plate xxxii , no 1695.

Thanks , Dale - Just what I wanted.

Regards

Bob

Item No. 233  Iron Sukashi Tsuba   7.40 cm x 7.20 cm x 0.70 cm

Subject of Hatchet and Plum Branch unsigned , Ono school , Momoyama period.

All the above information taken from Early Japanese Sword Guards : Sukashi Tsuba - by Sasano , page no. 169

Can somebody please scan a copy of the relevant page and add it into the thread ? I have a copy but it is not a good one , so any help would be appreciated.

The piece has a glossy , almost confident air and patina in dark brown.

Acquired over 10 years ago from an Auction in New York.

Provenance - 

Ex Clarence McKenzie Lewis Jr collection

Published Sasano  - Early Japanese Sword Guards

Item No. 232   Tsuba in Shakudo with Silver , Gold and Copper   7.29 cm x 6.77 cm x 0.48 cm

Subject of the Chinese General Guan Yu and his squire Chou-tsang.  Signed Yoshinau with kao. End 18th/ early 19th cent.

Guan Yu was a famous Chinese General at the time of the Han dynasty. He was known for his military prowess and loyalty , in fact so well known that he was deified as the God of War by a number of Buddhist Sects . 

Re Item No. 231

It would appear that there is also a Mitsustura , using the name Sanshuken , shown on the right side of the fuchi and he is from the Otsuki family , working in Kyoto around mid . 19th cent.

Anyway , not Goto but perhaps a more interesting attribution.

Many Thanks to George Miller for this info.

I tried to take better pictures in natural light but I could not get a decent contrast between areas of shibuichi and shakudo. I have had to revert to the light box and attach the results . The pictures are much more detailed, being close-ups , but to my mind, the more distant views enable the overall effect to shine through. The closer and larger detail is a distraction , but I thought that I would post the pictures anyway as they are more informative about the construction and craftmanship.

In summary , the new pictures should be read alongside the originals and not instead of them.

Hi Brian ,

Well you can't go wrong at that sort of money.

Keep persevering , you never know what else will turn up...

Regards

Item No. 231   Fuchi Kashira in shibuichi with gold and shakudo

Subject of hawks and pine tree signed Mitsustura

Very detailed work with shakudo stripe inlay on the front of the hawk on the fuchi . Similarly , the gold detailing on the kashira appears to be inlay . Much fine work in gold and shakudo of the pine tree .

Mitsustura was a lesser known , later artist in the Goto tradition from the first half 19th cent. He appears to be associated with the Hanzaemon line , 5th generation < Benjo > , according to ' Sesko's Genealogies ' page 18. 

Any info. or corrections welcome.

Attached pics are ' file photos '  - I will try to post some better pics when I can photograph the pieces in natural light.

Acquired at Auction about six years ago.

Item No. 230 Iron Tsuba with shibuichi , silver , copper and gold   9.68 cm x 9.30 cm x 0.55 cm

Subject of Shishi , peonies and grasses , Nara school , 18th cent. unsigned

A large tsuba , weighing in excess of 230 grams with nicely executed decoration  , although to the western eye, with almost a ' naive ' feel to it .

NBTHK Hozon papered to Nara.

Item No. 229 - Iron Tsuba with brass and enamel   8.26 cm dia. x 0.55 cm

Subject of fruiting vines Signed -  Oshu Aizu Shoami Nagatsugu , approx 1625.

A tsuba nearly 400 years old with one of the earliest examples of a successful application of coloured enamels to appear on tosugu. Masters like Hirata Donin ( d. 1646 ) started a fashion for the multi coloured finish . The makers struggled for many years to develope durable , correct shades - a lot of which is controlled by the firing technique.

The fact that this piece has survived for so long virtually intact testifies to their eventual success.

Provenence - Ex Naunton Collection , Plate XVIII , No. 24.