Curran Posted October 18, 2006 Report Posted October 18, 2006 Could someone help translate the gaki on the tsuba box pictured below. The box itself is interesting. I have never seen a tsuba box constructed this way, and the box seems very old. Perhaps the oldest non lacquer tsuba box I have ever seen. Constructed with many little wooden pegs, so despite its age it is still fairly airtight. Quote
sencho Posted October 18, 2006 Report Posted October 18, 2006 Aka dou mu sha .... (not sure on last character) Yoshi Hide.... (again last character is tough) Cheers Quote
Nobody Posted October 18, 2006 Report Posted October 18, 2006 It reads as follows. Shakudo Musha Tsuba (赤銅武者鍔); Musha (samurai) Tsuba made of Shakudo Yoshihide zaimei (良秀在名); a mei of Yoshihide exists Quote
sencho Posted October 18, 2006 Report Posted October 18, 2006 ahhhh.... Shaku bloody hell you're good !! Cheers Quote
sencho Posted October 18, 2006 Report Posted October 18, 2006 using my newly found dictionary online (see gen discussion forum) shakudou 赤銅 Lit. gold bronze. Ornamental metal fittings, *kazarikanagu 飾金具 made of an amalgam of copper with about 6 percent gold and 3.5 percent silver. The material acquires a blackish-purple shine when steeped in a solution of copper sulphate, ryuusandou 硫酸銅, copper rust, *rokushou 緑青,and alum, myouban 明礬. cheers Quote
Curran Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Posted October 19, 2006 Thank you very much. That would describe the tsuba inside very well. I must learn the kanji for the various metals. I will upload a photo tomorrow. The tsuba has some of the best shakudo I have seen, but is very highly reflective. It is a nice Yasuchika tsuba dated 1853 and commissioned for a Mr. ??? Curran Quote
Bungo Posted October 19, 2006 Report Posted October 19, 2006 It is a nice Yasuchika tsuba dated 1853 and commissioned for a Mr. ??? Curran the box doesn't say it's commissioned to anyone. It means it is signed Yoshihide If the tsuba is signed otherwise then it's a wrong box. milt THE ronin Quote
Curran Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Posted October 19, 2006 Of course, -you are right Milt. It was very late and I was not thinking correctly. This box came with a different tsuba- but that tsuba was iron and it is not signed. So I think this box has long since lost its original tsuba. The tsuba that came with the box is currently in Japan for papers, and I have been keeping the Yasuchika in this box. My very bad mistake. I will post the Yasuchika tonight, so perhaps I can get a correct read on the signature. Curran Quote
John A Stuart Posted October 19, 2006 Report Posted October 19, 2006 Hi Curran, I have a wak size tsuba that is so shiny it is mirrorlike and has often made me wonder if a mirrorlike finish was the result of time rather than chemical treatment. The colour and depth are wondrous. Some shakudo I have of lower quality seem to have had a treatment that actually reeks and tastes awful. John Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you very much. That would describe the tsuba inside very well. I must learn the kanji for the various metals. I will upload a photo tomorrow. The tsuba has some of the best shakudo I have seen, but is very highly reflective Quote
Bungo Posted October 19, 2006 Report Posted October 19, 2006 Some shakudo I have of lower quality seem to have had a treatment that actually reeks and tastes awful. John so you are the one that tastes the tsuba and all the time i thought it's an urban myth !! so waht does it taste like ? Like biting on a piece of tin foil ? milt THE ronin Quote
John A Stuart Posted October 19, 2006 Report Posted October 19, 2006 Hi Milt, I recieved a goto fuchgashira a year ago that had a spurious signature and upon discussion, with much wiser tosogu fans than me, decided was not a good signature. It was upon handling them that my fingers warming them I noticed a strong odour. I wanted to see if the patina would rub off, it didn't. I don't do it as a rule but just tasted it for some unknown reason. Ugh, some kind of sulphurous chewing tobacco taste. I had heard of this before as well and maybe that is why, but, it could indicate chemical treatment newly applied giving a hint of age or lack thereof. Don't know. John Quote
Curran Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Posted October 20, 2006 This is a 6th Gen Yasuchika. It is signed on the back, though I don't have a photo of the back yet. I'm hoping the photo will upload. This tsuba is hard to capture. Even with a light hood on, it was highly reflective (as John stated). It is not the best shakudo I have ever seen, but in the 9 out of 10 range. Jim Gilbert had one which reminded me of gas floating on black-blue water. It does make most people pause who see it in hand. Anyway, I like the tsuba. In a moment of absentmindedness- I thought it came in the box that started this thread... Quote
Curran Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Posted October 20, 2006 I took a scanner version too. It has come out a little discolored, but you get the idea. Mr. Nobody- thank you very much for the Translation help Quote
Nobody Posted October 20, 2006 Report Posted October 20, 2006 I took a scanner version too. It has come out a little discolored, but you get the idea. 安政三丙辰季冬 (Ansei san Hinoe-Tatsu Kitou) late winter in 1856 應田宮則須君需 responding to Mr. Tamiya Norimochi's order Actually, the translations also teach me a good lesson. :D Quote
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