Tsuba Cross/lock

[kissakai]

Hi

 

I have just purchase a new tsuba and was wondering about the description

For some reason I believed this to be a lock but this differs from the Birmingham museum

Mine is smaller at 50 x 45 x 4.3mm

 

Details from the Birmingham Museum

1930M566

School: Kishu

Mei: Sadakane

Date: 1725

Haynes: 07715.0

Design: A cruciform created from two chamfered overlapping rectangles

Size: 76 x 70 x 5.7 mm

 

Mine is smaller at 50 x 45 x 4.3mm

 

 

 

Grev

 

 

[Alex A]

Saw a very similar one on Aoi a while ago, described as a lock.

[RobertM]

I have one of the same design

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/19193-new-purchase/?fromsearch=1

[johnnyi]

Hi Grev,  Nihontocraft also had such a tsuba.  I believe the Ashmolean might have one which they describe as cruciform also. The Peabody Museum has a variation of the design which they too call cruciform, and attribute to Satsuma and the Island of Kyushu ("stronghold of Christian faith").  Here's a bad picture of mine which Robert Haynes attributed to Bushu 1700.  It seems the key is to find an actual lock that is similar. I haven't found one but hopefully someone here can.  

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,  Johni

[Alex A]

Ashmolean http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10363

[Tanto54]

Dear Grev,

 

While I'm not a Japanese lock expert, I have seen hundreds of them over the years.  I've never seen a pre-Meji Japanese lock with this kind of shackle.  Instead, they are usually of the shape shown below (therefore, I do not think that this tsuba represents a lock).

 

[kissakai]

Thanks for the info

I think the my description of a lock is wrong

I'll stick to 'A cruciform created from two chamfered overlapping rectangles'

​At least it is accurate

[TETSUGENDO]

Grev,

 

Here is a closely related variant of the form in silver.

 

Cheers-StevenK

[seattle1]

Hello:

To be Christian there would have to be at least one Christian attribute. Whatever that is I don't think it would pass for the only attribute possible, ie, a cross.

Arnold

[Leporello]

Hi Grev,

I think the mei reads ´Sadanaga´ or ´Teimei´.

Best,

Tom

[Alex A]

Just a thought, could it represent a lock plate, not lock or something common on old Japanese chests.
Found this, long shot, but just a thought and likely not much help

 

And with an edit after a few minutes, im just thinking the tsuba may just be symbolic, as in not an actual lock, but representing a lock = faith, commitment in something..... whatever. Christianity?, I don't know.

 

Forget the chest fittings, might be over thinking it, lol

[kissakai]

Down the rabbit hole again

Not Christian or working lock

Then SteveK throws in a bamboo variation with birds and the chest example

So although I may not find the answer I do believe it is representative of something

PS the Ashmolean example look a bit crappy!

[RobertM]

I think a kite is plausible.

[MauroP]

Hi Grev, describing your tsuba as a lock is at least in accordance with the NBTHK paper here below (reporting 錠前透鐔 - jōmae sukashi tsuba).

Anyway, I'm more leaning toward the kite suggestion, since my tsuba is decorated with carved clouds.

Mauro

[TETSUGENDO]

Grev,

Was searching for something else and came upon an interesting example of this tsuba form.  Unfortunately no info just the pic.

 

 

[kissakai]

Hi Steve

Thanks for the image - someone may know its origin

Amazing how long some of these posts stay active

[TETSUGENDO]

The design is obviously a reference to the Heike Monogatari,  Bishamon and Heike crab. The piece is signed, so there's that ,but there was no notation of the photos origin.

 

-S-

[Tanto54]

Hi Steven,

 

Isn't that a centipede instead of a crab?  The centipede is Bishamon's companion.

[TETSUGENDO]

Hi George,

 

I considered that possibility, it's a valid one.  Honestly, the image quality leaves a lot to be desired, I can see both crabs in a cluster and a centipede.  Both associations are commonly depicted.

 

-S-

[RobertM]

One of my tsuba with same design signed bushu tamagawa nobutsune at the age of 64

[Stephen]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Locked-perma-brass-Edo-era-iron-watermark-6-9-6-2-0-3-cm-sword-orthotic-sword/142940630860?hash=item2147ecef4c:g:PWoAAOSwXZZbnhg4

 

under $200!!!

[TETSUGENDO]

Another variation for the archives.

                                                                                    -S-