Jorgensen Posted January 7, 2014 Report Posted January 7, 2014 Dear collectors, I am not a tosogu guy and therefore ask your help about info on this Tsuba and Kozkuka. On Kozuka, the 2nd kanji I get: Aki, Teru, Myo or maybe Tomo... and third kanji I may think: Masa or Nari??... I cant decipher it... btw. the inlay at nakago-ana I suspect to be shakudo. Am i correct? Thank you. Quote
kaigunair Posted January 7, 2014 Report Posted January 7, 2014 Inlay is probably shakudo, as is the tiger. Probably late edo tsuba, as well as the kozuka. I like the theme of the kozuka, makes me wonder if there is a story similar to the city mouse and country mouse in Japanese lore. Don't think the details of the workmanship is up to the well carved signature...does the ground work have really fine (or worn) texturing, or is it pretty basic/plain as shown in the photos? Quote
Stephen Posted January 7, 2014 Report Posted January 7, 2014 off the wall thoughts, tiger would look great with small red ruby or garnets for eyes, really like the work, Kozuka remids me of Six grade teacher named Ratslaugh...sp...we called her Micegiggle..it as well is very nice work. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted January 7, 2014 Report Posted January 7, 2014 the kozuka is 'signed' with the mei of Haruaki Hogen. Given that he's one of the 'greats' we only need to asses the workmanship to validate the piece and signature. imo this is a pretty average work. To be blunt, I am saddened that collectors are not even able to 'read' or recognise the names of the most famous artists of this tradition. This suggests to me a deplorable lack of useful information to educate newcomers to the subject. I believe this piece was recently sold by Klefisch in Germany. for reference here's a Haruaki Hogen mei from a superb piece of work; Quote
Higo-san Posted January 7, 2014 Report Posted January 7, 2014 Your kozuka depicts parts of a rats wedding ceremony; I also quite like that theme and your kozuka though I fear it is gimei (a nice reference piece of Haruaki Hogen was discussed here: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... =2&t=13993). All the best, Chris Quote
Jorgensen Posted January 7, 2014 Author Report Posted January 7, 2014 Dear Sirs, Thanks for your quick replys and thoughts on the Kozuka. Ford; I might should have recognized the signature, but please note I am not much into Tosugu, my main focus has been on blades... but still learning and appreciate the info... A shame its probably gimei, it wouldnt have bothered me if mei was original Any may have a word on the Tsuba, school and such? Both items are much better in hand than on pictures... Nihonto is dificult to shoot realistic pictures of. Quote
kaigunair Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 To be blunt, I am saddened that collectors are not even able to 'read' or recognise the names of the most famous artists of this tradition. This suggests to me a deplorable lack of useful information to educate newcomers to the subject. As a newcomer, I agree! I have books on tosogu schools and artists, books on mei's, and lots of books and auction catalogs with very lovely tosogu. Would love it if a "list of greats" were compiled, along with some representative pics and mei's. There is no local tosogu club, only a Nihonto club in which tosogu is either iron, goto, or kinko, so to speak.... This forum IS the local tosogu club. Thankful for all the input from such esteem members and wish so many weren't driven away or now just lurk in the shadows....then the rest of us might really learn something! Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 May I suggest the tsuba as being Mito or Aizu Shoami school? wakizashi size. The sekigane are copper. They are dark because the colour has adhered to them from whatever was used to spruce up the patina. I see this on chemically enhanced tsuba now and again. I do not believe this patination process devalues the tsuba. John Quote
Ludolf Richter Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 I have a Kozuka with identical frontside,but unsigned.Maybe there was a famous painting or a Tsuba from a wellknown Tosogu-Artist,like Haruaki Hogen,both artists used as a prototype.Ludolf Quote
Jorgensen Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Posted January 8, 2014 John, My first thought was Mito school as well, but I cannot find any that are similar to my Tsuba. My impression when having the Tsuba in has is that it is not chemically enchanced, but I am not sure. Ludolf, Interesting, is it possibly for you to post a picture of your kozuka? Generally I am wondering that the mei seems quite skilled and wellcarved and wondering if its possible that - also considering the quality - if it could be one of his early works? I mean - an artist I suppose is not as experienced and skilled when he is 20 years old as he when he reaches 60 years of age? To me - logically - every artist, tosugu maker, bladesmith etc. over time will be more and more skilled and his works improves? Also his signature must change somewhat during the years? Just a thought I find interesting and to be considered? Quote
Brian Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 Jimi, As Ford will tell you, no..that's not possible. It's gimei for sure. Brian Quote
Jorgensen Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Posted January 8, 2014 Sorry my english, the question was to meant to be considerd as a general question, I do not doubt its gimei. Quote
Eric H Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 I do not doubt its gimei. A comparison...but slight differences are also seen in the shoshin mei and kao. Eric Quote
Ludolf Richter Posted January 8, 2014 Report Posted January 8, 2014 Here is a pic from my Kozuka.Ludolf Quote
Jorgensen Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Posted January 8, 2014 Eric, thanks for the comparison, great way to show it. Yes, you see the Shoshin mei differs a bit, but still there are some similarities in the mei, however my kozuka the mei misses those similarities... unfortunately. Ludolf, thanks for the picture of your rats I have made this picture for comparison. As you say, it must be a wellknown scene from somewhere, almost identical... Quote
Jorgensen Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Posted January 8, 2014 I still would like to know more about the tsuba... is it Mito school?, low- medium or high grade tsuba?, approx value etc.?? Some more and better pics... Quote
Eric H Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 MFA Boston: http://educators.mfa.org/artwork?search=tsuba%20tiger Mito Katsura Sorin Shoami School Eric Quote
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