Can Anyone Shed Any Light On This Tsuba And Menuki?

[general_piffle]

They both belong to the same koshirae but I wondered if any of you knowledgeable folk could shed any light on them? Anything at all really. The tsuba looks like a wave pattern/design, no idea why the side holes would have been plugged up in such a way. The menuki look possibly like some kind of buddhist symbol or possibly family crest? Any insights gratefully received.

 

 

[Rich S]

I believe the menuki are a Japanese Mon (family crest). I suspect the tsuba hitsu-ana were plugged when the tsuba or the entire sword mounts were converted to handachi style. Just a guess. Others will give better responses.

 

Rich

[Higo-san]

Hi,

 

The menuki represent three Tomoe mon and can be found commonly on (Buddhist) temples all over Japan. There also a couple of families who used the Tomoe mon.

 

Your tsuba reminds me of Choshu, Bushu or Echizen craftsmanship; I would date it to middle until late Edo period. I agree with Rich regarding the plugging. This was a rather common practice which can be seen on many tsuba.

 

Best,

 

Chris

[Geraint]

Dear Joel.

 

Can we see the rest of the koshirae please?  Looks nice so far.

 

All the best.

[Stephen]

One of the three Sacred Treasures of Japan. The Comma shaped bead.  It would be the family mon. Tomoe

 

[general_piffle]

Thank you Stephen (also Rich, and Chris), most helpful!

[general_piffle]

Dear Joel.

 

Can we see the rest of the koshirae please?  Looks nice so far.

 

All the best.

 

Certainly Geraint. Here is a link to the sword/koshirae in question:

 

http://www.e-sword.jp/katana/1710-1120.htm

[Geraint]

Thanks Joel, lovely sword and signed tsuba to Bushu school so Chris was on the money.

 

Enjoy!

 

All the best.

[Higo-san]

Hi Joel,

 

the Mei reads "Bushû jû Masanaga" (武州住正長); there is a similiar piece in the Boston MFA Collection (http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-cherry-blossoms-and-waves-11532).

 

Best,

 

Chris