Kantei tsuba

[kissakai]

Hi

During a recent project I came across this tsuba

Birds and river?

I have no idea of school or age

Can anyone help?

 

 

 

Grev UK

[Pete Klein]

OK -- now that's a nice tsuba! Possibly a Pied Avocet, a wading bird, feeding in the water/marshes. The upturned bill is important:

 

As for the shcool not sure but the iron is really nice - dense looking with beautiful grain and color. I would think early/mid Edo. Note the lack of hitsuana.

[Soshin]

Hi Grev UK.,

 

To me the tsuba looks like the work of the Akao School of Echizen Province circa middle Edo Period. I am often wrong and this is just my opinion from the photo provided. I would agree with Pete K. it is a nice tsuba with a good openwork design.

[Henry Wilson]

The tsuba reminds me of this Zen painting by Ryozen from the mid fourteenth century. The birds are clearly different but the compostion is similar including the water ripples which are not clearly seen in the picture of painting I have attached (sorry about the small size, but it is the only image on the net I can find). The simplicity and tranquility in the painting and tsuba could represent meditation (if the painting did indeed inspire the tsuba) as Ryozen was a Zen monk painter. The way the birds are depicted seems to be influenced by Chinese animal paintings.

[kissakai]

Hi

 

This tsuba was made by Ford Hallam around 1994 and with his permission I added it to the NMB website

This was agreed by Ford with the previso that Ford was not named as the maker

A wicked sense of humour :D

 

The first reply of good quality iron and the lovely image of the avocet was really appreciated

David's suggestion of Akao School of Echizen Province may well have been the influence for Fords design

Henrys reference to the Zen painting was well put

 

What is coming through crystal clear is that the tsuba is of a well executed design and workmanship and now you know why

 

I would now welcome Ford's comments to the above and any pointers that may have helped to recognise the age of this tsuba

 

 

Grev UK

[Brian]

Lucky for us that top modern work costs the same or more than the antiques that give the inspiration. Otherwise we would all be in big trouble

Proof that an artist with access to good materials and having the skills can turn out work comparable with anything done back then.

It was aged well though. Almost looks like it needs a professional clean :lol:

So Grev, did you get into this work way back then, when they were still "cheap as chips?" Oh if only I had been wiser.... or more liquid.

 

Brian

[Soshin]

Hi Grev UK,

 

Now that is a surprise! The rim and exception of the ji-sukashi reminded me of Akao School. Here is antique example: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/holbrook-tsuba/h272-akao-school. Birds were also a common subject for the Akao school.

[kissakai]

Hi

 

I have enclosed two of Fords 1994(ish) tsuba

This time to show is mei

I hope you enjoy them and I'm sure Ford would like to here any comments

 

 

Avocets

 

 

 

Dimple form

 

 

 

Grev UK

[kaigunair]

:D

If Ford's work circa 1994 is being mistaken for akao school, and his 2013 work is winning top prizes in Japan (Natsuo like IMO), we can only imagine where he'll be in another 10 years!!!

 

Go Ford!!!