A new favorite tsuba: one of "those" maybe Kakure Kirishtian

[kaigunair]

Probably many reason why it isn't a Kakure Kirishitan tsuba, but boy, kinda has many of the elements such a bushi might want. Maybe not, as it perhaps it could be alittle too easily mistaken for one? So one big question is that perhaps this isn't a Kakure Kiristian tsuba, but a plain and straight forward Christian convert's tsuba before there was a need to be hidden? Pre-persecution, when it was ok to stroll around as a follower of "The Way"....

 

Really nice iron color and big tekkotsu bones. Time period and region seem appropriate too.

 

:D

 

[Soshin]

Hi Junichi,

 

I remember this tsuba. I came across it on a Japanese dealer's website when I was researching NBTHK papered Owari tsuba a year and a half ago. If I remember its attribution was "Owari (Edo Jidai)" or Owari (Edo Jidai Shoki)". This was right after I recieved my sukashi tsuba back with a attribution to "Owari" only by the NBTHK the same as this tsuba second from the bottom: http://www.juyo-bi.com/sales.html. I really like these tsuba and makes we want to buy Curran's one he has for sale.

 

P.S. Wish I could make it to SF show this year. Your tosogu setup sounds really fun.

[kaigunair]

Good memory david. Papers do state early edo (first time I've seen that but its probably pretty common). The description is very vague, but interestingly uses the "十” character to describe the design instead of stating kamon or crest.

[Soshin]

Hi Junichi,

 

Thanks for posting this topic I love Owari sukashi tsuba. Owari tsuba are generally old they were made up until the Genroku Era. Here is another Edo Period example to contrast my and Curran's examples http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/otherurl.html?url=http%3a//www.sanmei.com/Pictures/tuba/k_Tuba2035.jpg. I think the design of your tsuba could be a variation of a Juji-mon design. Not sure about any Christian connection.