An appeal for assistance from those with big libraries.

[Kevin Adams]

Greetings all!

 

I'm currently studying Akasaka and Higo tsuba in the style of pine trees in silhouette. The challenge I'm encountering though, is that lighting in the photography of the books I have do not show every little detail. Specifically, I'm looking to examine the kebori detailing in the clusters of pine needles. Hopefully this scan (which is representative of the images I can find) will illustrate what I'm describing:

 

 

I can make a few guesses based on this, but I'm really hoping that members with extensive libraries might be able to point towards some clearer and brighter photos of these details.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Teimei]

Is it that what you need?

[Kevin Adams]

YES!

 

The question still stands though, so please post any photos you all are willing to share. I'm now wondering if there were different approaches to representing the needle clusters - Florian's example shows the carved branch at the base, and I'm curious about whether this is a "school" detail, a "quality" detail, or an "individual artist" detail. I'm almost certain I've seen these rendered without the branch carving (i.e. only needles).

 

Thank you so much, Florian!

[rkg]

Here's some links to a couple of tadashige pieces I shot in the distant past/have permission to show images of:

 

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/t ... e_3852.jpg

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/t ... e_3860.jpg

 

Sorry about the small size - the originals are buried in an offline backup drive.

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[Teimei]

YES!

 

The question still stands though, so please post any photos you all are willing to share. I'm now wondering if there were different approaches to representing the needle clusters - Florian's example shows the carved branch at the base, and I'm curious about whether this is a "school" detail, a "quality" detail, or an "individual artist" detail. I'm almost certain I've seen these rendered without the branch carving (i.e. only needles).

 

Thank you so much, Florian!

 

My pleasure! :D

 

The Tsuba is signed:

 

Gyonen 79-sai Tadashige-saku

Bunka 5 (1808), 79 years old!

 

 

I forgot to mention that before.

[christianmalterre]

Kevin

 

mine dear friend!-you but can not compare Aka and Higo!(despite you head(an personal inquiery) into Tosa...what(from mine sight)(but?)obviously does not hit that one/nor other caliber...?)

So what kind of (special)detail do you need?

 

 

 

Christian

[Kevin Adams]

You're right Christian, it IS a challenge to compare these styles.

 

What I'm looking for are the different ways certain details were carved by the artist. If you look at the photo "akasaka2.jpg" in the second post, it shows exactly the detail I'm curious about (radiating needles from a carved branch at the base of the clusters). The first photo that Richard posted shows these pine needle clusters carved in a slightly different way (a branch section extending through the needle clusters that is disconnected from the base).

 

Details, details, details.

 

And thank you for posting those photos, Richard! I appreciate it.

[raven2]

So Kevin,

 

I hope this means that when you get enough information you will be showing us your wonderful interpretation of this

[Kevin Adams]

Hi Fred! Eventually...

 

So far I've found three different ways these needles are carved...it's an interesting exercise indeed!