Tsuba With Leaves

[EdWolf]

Hello to all,

 

I have found a Tsuba with leaves pattern. It has an oval shape (7.0 cm x 6.5 cm). I want to learn more about tsuba’s but it’s hard to find some online information about how to determine the age / school etc. Can one of you please guide me in right direction. All help and / or information about this Tsuba will be highly appreciated.

 

Regards, Ed

 

[C0D]

I would say Echizen Kinai

[EdWolf]

Thanks Manuel! Can you please tell me what is pointing you to Echizen Kinai.

Regards,

Ed

[Stephen]

as it should be viewed 

 

[EdWolf]

Thanks Stephen,

Somehow the picture stored on my PC is showing the Tsuba in the right way but after posting its upside down.

Regards,

Ed

[Fuuten]

Hi Ed,

 

Check out this website and I'm sure you'll see why its most likely Kinai:)

 

http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=TsubaIII

 

The Tokugawa leaf motive is similar to your tsuba and a telltale Kinai design.

[C0D]

Thanks Manuel! Can you please tell me what is pointing you to Echizen Kinai.

Regards,

Ed

As you can see in Axel's link the design of the leaves and the style of the gold zogan point on that direction

[EdWolf]

Many thanks Axel! Very informative site. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Ed

[TETSUGENDO]

BTW Axel,

 

Your Kinai tsuba has a design of PEAPODS, VINES AND LEAVES.

 

-StevenK

[EdWolf]

Hi Steven,

I was not aware about the pea pods. Thanks for clarifying!

Regards,

Ed

[Pete Klein]

It would not surprise me if this was a Satsuma tsuba. 

[EdWolf]

Hi Pete,

Thank you for your toughts about this Tsuba! Is a Satsuma Tsuba a good or a bad sign. I have found online some little information about it but I’m still confused. Are Echizen Kinai and Satsuma different schools?

Regards,

Ed

[Pete Klein]

An often found motif in Satsuma work is the bean pod with it's vines and leaves which is why I mentioned it as a 'possibility'.  The Satsuma tsuba shi were of all different levels of accomplishment.  Satsuma and Echizen are two distinct areas of Japan on two different islands so are not directly related.  Satsuma and Choshu workmanship is sometimes overlapped stylistically which may be due to the Boshin War period but this is conjecture on my part. 

[EdWolf]

Pete, thanks for your reply and given information! I still have a lot to learn.

Regards, Ed

[Pete Klein]

Me too...     !

[MauroP]

Satsuma school is really a good suggestion. See here a similar tsuba papered den Satsuma:

http://world.seiyudo.com/product/tu-010416/

BTW, the kind of peapods are the so called sword bean (natamame - 鉈豆).

Bye, Mauro

[EdWolf]

Hi Mauro,

Indeed, the Tsuba has a lot of resemblance. Thanks for posting the link. There are some really nice Tsuba listed on this site.

Regards,

Ed