Plugged hitsu ana?

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Any idea what's happening with this tsuba?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271054054257?ss ... 1438.l2649

All I can figure is that the plugged ana never was an actual ana; it was made to look like one that has been plugged. I've never seen a faked ana before, though. Any better ideas?

Grey

[b.hennick]

Hello Grey et al:

Here is a link to some photos of the koshirae of a blade that I own. The tsuba also has something that makes it look like an ana has been plugged but it has not...

https://picasaweb.google.com/b.hennick/ ... tTu9tC-nAE

[Henry Wilson]

To my eye it looks like it isn't plugged and what appears to be a filling is in fact the background wall.

[Lee Bray]

Other side, Henry.

I thought the same as you but there is a plugged ana under the inlaid Samurai.

 

I wonder if the plugged ana was a mistake at the time of making?

The tsubashi just cut the ana on the wrong side.

The mounted Samurai looks part of the original design and as it is inlaid into the plug, the plug must have been there from the start.

[Ford Hallam]

It's a purely artistic device or conceit. I've seen it a few times. The idea is that the applied decoration is separate from the actual functional aspect of the tsuba and has somehow 'just' been placed on the tsuba. The whole composition was conceived from the start with this shakudo plug in place, as Lee pointed out. I doubt it was a mistake.

 

This is the back of a Funada Ikkin tsuba with an inlaid shakudo plug on the ura but the front features a carving of a scholar arranging flowers, no sign of the plug on that side at all.

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks Lee, I feel quite silly!!!

[Moley]

It's a purely artistic device or conceit. I've seen it a few times. The idea is that the applied decoration is separate from the actual functional aspect of the tsuba and has somehow 'just' been placed on the tsuba. The whole composition was conceived from the start with this shakudo plug in place, as Lee pointed out. I doubt it was a mistake.

 

This is the back of a Funada Ikkin tsuba with an inlaid shakudo plug on the ura but the front features a carving of a scholar arranging flowers, no sign of the plug on that side at all.

[attachment=0]IMG_1383.JPG[/attachment]

 

Hi Ford,

Can we please see the other side if possible?

Thanks

 

Gwyn