Higo Hayashi School Tsuba

[harvg]

Hi, recently aquired this Tsuba and was wondering if anyone agrees with the attribution of Higo Hayashi late Edo period? Unfortunately the NTKK paper certificate did not accompany the Tsuba, which im working on locating.

DImensions are approx 72.9mm x 69.9mm x 6.2mm

 

Thanks, and as always, any thoughts/opinions are greatly appreciated!

 

Harvey G

[John A Stuart]

I flipped the origami the right way. John

[Curran]

Paper says "Higo".

[John A Stuart]

I see 肥後 Higo  時伐  江戸後期 carved late Edo. What is that character above Higo? It doesn't seem to be 林 Hayashi. John

[Guido]

I see 肥後 Higo  時伐  江戸後期 carved late Edo. What is that character above Higo? It doesn't seem to be 林 Hayashi. John

 

Not 時伐, but 時代 (jidai); i.e. period / age. The kanji above Higo is 極 (kyoku / goku), but I'm not sure what that means in this context. Maybe "highest quality"?

[vajo]

Nice Tsuba Harvey.

[Ford Hallam]

The very specific shaping of the various curves, particularly in the plum branches, seems very Akasaka to me.

[Michael 101]

I must admit that cant really see anything higo about this tsuba and agree with above comment ref Akasaka especially considering its thickness in comparison with its smaller size.

 

Nice looking tsuba all the same.

 

Kindest regards

 

Michael

[Ed]

A good example for the Kubikiri vs Hanagatana (Nata) debate.

[sabi]

A good example for the Kubikiri vs Hanagatana (Nata) debate.

With the flared handle and deliberate notch in the blade, I say nata.

 

I'm also getting strong Akasaka vibes from this one and agree with the above comments. The composition and the way the sukashi is cut stand out to me, as does the thickness.

[Ed]

The point is that it is shown with a branch, not a head.

[Curran]

The point is that it is shown with a branch, not a head.

 

Yes.

I would vote for Akasaka.

[Guido]

The point is that it is shown with a branch, not a head.

 

The papers say 鉈に梅枝透 (nata ni umegae sukashi) – nata and plum tree twig.

 

Btw, I recently bought this beauty: a signed kubikiri, hachō 18 cm! Those idiots at the home center thought it’s a gardening tool, so I got it really cheap!

[Jean]

Guido, I did not know you indulge in head gardening...

[Brian]

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