Kyo-Shoami tsuba motif

[Ron STL]

Does anyone know what the oval pods or fruit might be called on this iron sukashi tsuba? The blossoms appear to be plum blossoms (except maybe two w/o centers?), but the fruit or whatever, puzzle me. Thanks!

Ron STL

[Kai-Gunto]

I would say its the fruits , UME.

[Marius]

I would say it is a leave of a water-plant. A leave with parallel venation.

[Ron STL]

I just realized there is another tsuba here with that same motif. These "fruit" do look like melons, but notice the "bamboo-like" stalks on the Hamono crab tsuba. Searched through Japanese designs...found nothing.

Ron STL

[Marius]

Here is another tsuba with exactly the same leaves (I believe these are leaves, not fruit).

[k morita]

Ron san,

The tsuba motif is plum blossoms, and leaves of bamboo grass.

[Ron STL]

Sorry to beat this motif discussion to death, but one more favor to ask. I've copied the description of the Kyo-Shoami from the origami. I can see "ume" there but nothing about bamboo jumps out at me. But then I do not read Japanese enough to fully read the discription. Morita san, anyone, will you take a look at this please? Thanks. Ron STL

[Ruben]

Hi all,

 

Ron, maybe the motive is jasmin- blossoms and leafs, but irealy don´t now .

 

Greetings!

 

ruben

[MauroP]

Hi Ron,

my transcription is:

無銘 京正阿弥 - Mumei Kyō Shōami

丸形鉄地地透鋤下彫角耳小肉 - Maru-gata tetsu-ji ji-sukashi sukisage-bori kaku-mimi koniku

片櫃孔仕立 - Kata-hitsu ana shitate

I cannot read anything about ume or bamboo.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I agree with Mauro I don't see anything about ume or bamboo. Generally NBTHK hozon papers don't have it in that part of paper. It is more to the upper right section of the paper. Please Ron post a more complete photo or scan of the paper. By the way I really like the tsuba.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Ron STL]

David, thanks for reminding me of this additional info. Honestly, I had forgotten about that being part of it all (attached). What I thought was refering to "ume" was 櫃 (hitsu) in "kata-hitsu ana shitate"...thinking that was the kanji for "ume." My mistake.

Ron STL

[Soshin]

Hi Ron STL,

 

Here is the translation of the upper right part of the shinsa paper: ichi (一) "one", ume (梅) "plum", take (竹) "bamboo", sukashi (透) "openwork", and tsuba (鍔) "sword hand guard". Hope you find this helpful.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Marius]

I still fail to see bamboo or bamboo grass... sorry :?

[Soshin]

Hi Mariusz k.,

 

I am thinking they might be bamboo leaves if you look at just the outline of the line carving on each oval. Similar to the ones found hear: http://www.Japanese-clip-art.com/kamon-wallpaper-sasa-1.html. This is just a guest on my part.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Ron STL]

Thanks everyone, I guess "bamboo" is the mystery plant as Morita san said earlier. The jointed stalk sure points to that, so I'll accept this description as correct. the designs David posted do indeed look like this, I must admit. Thanks everyone, for your imput here!

Ron STL

[Curran]

Throw in my two yen here, though I don't think I should be doing translating work. Leave that to Super Markus Sesko.

 

"A 'plum and bamboo' sukashi tsuba".

 

I wouldn't have identified it as bamboo either. But then, have seen tsuba identifying 'first bamboo' and new growth that renders bamboo something like this. Don't know my bamboo well, other than to know there are many types and that some shouldn't be planted here in Florida.

Not knowing plum blossom's cycle, I would guess this to be a Spring theme? Like I said, just a 2 yen opinion.

[Ron STL]

I was going to end this discussion but today, in the book "Elements of Japanese Design," page 46, I came across the attached. Unfortunately, there is no detailed comment on this example, but at least we can see an example of this "mellon looking" bamboo leave under discussion. Ron STL

[MauroP]

I think that all posted tsuba depict a kind of bamboo grass (smaller species of running bamboo) traditionally called sasa (笹) rather than take (竹). Try a research with 笹紋 and get images of kamon like the one found in "Elements of Japanese Design".