Momoyama tsuba and fuchi query

[pcfarrar]

A friend recently purchased this Momoyama period sukashi tsuba from Bob Benson.

 

It is 8 x 8.1cm so is katana size.

 

The query we have is the due to the positioning of the kozuka hitsu and kogai hitsu there is only room for a fuchi that doesn't exceed around 2cm in width. The majority of the katana fuchi exceed this width, is this a feature of Momoyama fuchi to be narrower giving a slimmer tsuka?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[Rich T]

The width you mention is pretty common with earlier pieces. Slender elongated seppa dai were a common trait in Ko Shoami, some Owari (early pieces) and some Katchu sukashi (late pieces) as your friends tsuba appears to be. This would of course suggest the tsuka were tall and narrow as well, thus leading us to surmise that the fuchi would follow suit.

 

The late Muromachi Ko Shoami shown here has exactly the same width Seppa dai.

 

Cheers

 

Rich