Opinion On Tsuba

[zanilu]

Dear all

 

First of all I am a complete beginner in study tosogu so all your comments are welcome.

 

I have found the pictures of this tsuba on the web and I was trying to figure out to which school it belongs.

From the comparison of other tsuba I would guess Nara school mainly because of the passing through sukashi on the side and the rendering of the tree in an almost 3D fashion and of the way it seems to be modeled from soft wax rather than metal.

Of this tsuba I have to admit that I like the way patination is used as a sort of paint on the metal surface.

 

To better understand how will use classify this work in term of quality of the execution?

 

Thank you for all your comments

 

Luca

[Geraint]

Hi Luca.

 

Have a look at these, http://www.worcesterart.org/exhibitions/samurai/  scroll down a bit and you will see the tsuba, click on it for an enlargement.  And http://www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#nara     Both provide quite good closeups.

 

The tsuba you show has some issues with wear it seems but have a look at the quality of the work, even in enlarged views.

 

What do you think?

 

All the best.

[zanilu]

Hi Geraint

 

Thanks for you answer. Obviously the tsuba you pointed out are of finer quality compared to the one I posted, those are among the tsuba I have seen (in picture) that lead me to guess Nara.

 

As for the wear you mention I have that chance to look at the tsuba in Aoi Art offices in Tokyo back in May of this year and the surface of the whole tsuba looked uniform and shiny without any blemish (migaki ji i guess is the right term). 

 

Your remark 

 

 

have a look at the quality of the work, even in enlarged views

is too cryptic for me, sorry. Can you be more explicit. Do you mean that the quality of the work is poor and I have to look at it in closer or the opposite? 

 

As I said I am a beginner and quite dumb 

 

I was able to get more information about the size: 69.5 mm x 64.5 mm x 4.0 mm thickness.

 

Regards

Luca

[Geraint]

Hi Luca.

 

Sorry for the delay.  Whatever I say is bound to be a personal judgement and I am sure that otehrs will have different ideas.  Just for the sake of comparison as it is already sold, this one came up on Andy's site recently.  http://www.nihonto.us/NARA%20KINKO%20DM041.htm     I suggest that the tsuba you originally posted is weaker in design and execution than the examples.  Do I see some cracks in the plate to the left of the face?  It is hard to judge because of the wear to the tsuba but for me the composition is a little wooden, static.   I know that the image of contemplation does not exactly call for movement but if we compare to the example from Andy's site you might see what I mean.  Second compare the quality of the carving, look at the sukashi where there is least damage.  

 

There is nothing wrong with the tsuba, but it is not of the same quality as the others in my opinion.

 

If nothing else this might provoke some debate.

 

Enjoy.

[zanilu]

Hi Geraint

Your point is perfectly clear, the example you linked it astonishing, especially the ura side.

I do not remember the cracks seeing it in Aoi offices, but it is possible...

 

Thank you for the clarification.

 

Luca