Tembo tsuba

[growlingbear]

I picked up this tsuba for a bargain price, and I have removed some of the active red rust which makes it look a bit better. I am no expert, but I think it looks like a Tembo style tsuba. The measurements are 7.8cm x 7.8cm and it is 5mm thick at the mimi and 3mm thick at the nakago ana. The surface looks much rougher in these scans than it does in the hand, but the colour is quite accurate (on my screen!).

 

Is my Tembo school thought correct, and what age do you think it is? Also, does anyone have any idea what the stamps are of? I can't find any likely candidates here: http://www.shibuiswords.com/BITsuba2.htm

 

Thanks,

 

James

[docliss]

Am I correct in my suspicion that the indentations on James' tsuba, rather than being kokuin, are caused by the loss of previous inlay?

 

John L.

[growlingbear]

Am I correct in my suspicion that the indentations on James' tsuba, rather than being kokuin, are caused by the loss of previous inlay?

 

John L.

 

Thanks for the reply John. I hadn't thought they might be from a previous inlay because they seem quite deep and randomly applied over the surface. Could you help me out with what is it about them that makes you think that they were from an inlay?

 

Thanks,

 

James

[runagmc]

To me they look too uneven to be from inlays. I would think they were done as a surface texturing or something along those lines, but that's just my opinion.

[Grey Doffin]

I'm sure these weren't inlays. Later Tempo School or style work would be my guess.

Grey

[Henry Wilson]

I agree with Mr Doffin.

[growlingbear]

Thanks for the replies all. Any idea what the stamps are supposed to be of (if anything)?

 

James

[John A Stuart]

From Nihonto no Bi. John

The majority are mokko gata (4 lobe shape) and many are quite large and often over 8.0 cm in size. Some Tenpo tsuba have sukashi designs, often of Buddhist symbols or possibly mon. Probably the most striking feature are the “hot stamps”(kokuin); some of these stamps are the symbols of the natural elements. Stamps include 天 ten (heaven), but possibly the most common is a stamp with two characters 大 tai (great) and 土 tsuchi (earth) which would be read as 大 土 “dai tsuchi” or “great earth”. Other common symbols are 　風 kaze (wind), 金 kin (metal or gold) and ki (wood). One uncommon kokuin is a stylised version of “kotobuki” which means good luck.

 

There are a number of stamps of crossed lines: 2 crosses or “hatch” #, and a 3-bar hatch here referred to as kakine (fence). Those of two pairs of lines at an angle are probably i-geta, which is the frame or fence around a water well. There are various versions of this design which are used as kamon. Wells are considered as special places, as spirits may live within them.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Here is my favorite Tembo tsuba: http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#!Sanada-Tenpo-School-Tsuba/zoom/c211q/imageuw2 The “hot stamps”(kokuin) is of crossed lines. The ko-sukashi is of three mushrooms. I have observed similar sukashi designs on Ko-Kachushi tsuba. The NTHK-NPO Kanteisho is to Sanada Tenpo (佐那田天法). It is the only one I kept in my collection and at one time I had many. A few of my old Tembo tsuba are still for sale at Grey D. website: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu. This is not a consignment sale and I no longer own them. My posting the link I just wanted to point out some more examples of the schools work. To me I think there was two branches of the Tempo school one based in Yamashiro Province and the other in Sagami Province. The Tempo school in Sagami Province was originally a branch of the Saotome (早乙女) school. I hope you find the information helpful.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles