Iron Mokume New Addition

[Vermithrax16]

Regular board members know my affinity for mokume tsuba works. After not being able to acquire several wanted pieces (not mokume) over the last 4 months (various reasons) I was looking forward to the arrival of this example. I really like this one and a big tip of the hat to NMB member Stephen for making me aware of it.

 

New tsuba is an iron mokume work by the late Edo maker Masanao, of the Bushu Ito School. I have worked on the mei and I believe it's authentic, but this is a lesser known smith so I only have 4 examples between Sesko's meikan and the Wakayama references. Reference examples lack the "Ito" kanji above the maker's mei, but it's the school so makes some sense. In any case, I will let the pictures speak for the tsuba.

Mokku gata shaped tsuba. The patterns on the obverse side are amazing, and really jump out in hand. The edges follow the grains well, and the patina is in ok condition. I really like this one, glad to have it.

Dimensions: 8cm X 8cm X 0.4cm

 

 

[kissakai]

This is a favourite

 

 

 

Grev

 

[kissakai]

This is a favourite Bushu Ito - Masayuki

 

 

Not sure if the other image OK as it was really big and may not have 'posted'

 

 

Grev

[

[Vermithrax16]

No worries Grev, like I said, glad to see your posts! 

[TETSUGENDO]

Jeremiah,

 

Another Beauty, fantastic grain!  

 

Cheers,

    -S-

p.s.- Stephen KNOWS where it's ALL hiding.

[Surfson]

Very nice Jeremiah!   I have one somewhere in my safe as well and love these mud pies as well.

[Vermithrax16]

Improving with the zoom function on phone's camera:

 

[Kurikata]

Mine received today.....

[Vermithrax16]

Bruno, that's excellent! I really like that one. Congratulations. 

[ROKUJURO]

I can't read the signature of mine:



 

[Vermithrax16]

Jean, that's not the condition when I sent it. Are you working on it?

[ROKUJURO]

Jeremiah,

yes, I have carefully worked on it with a pointed piece of antler and could remove very tiny amounts of rust near the MEI, but as always, corrosion is chemically transformed metal, so it is not just a layer of something that could be lifted off easily. 

The photo and the light are not good and do not show the chocolate colour patina. 

[Kurikata]

Another thread on Mokume Tsuba :

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18054-mokume-tsuba/

[FredKP]

Hi,

it seems to be a mokume tsuba, am i wrong?

 

 

 

(dimensions: width 65mm, height 70mm, thickness 4,5mm)

it's look like another member tsuba http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/19492-tsuba-mei/ but the mei slightly differ (if someone can confirm and translate it, i will be gratefull )

[ROKUJURO]

Fred,

I cannot completely read the MEI. I think it may be GOSHU (SHU is incertain) no JU NAO (?) HIDE. It will need an expert to read that.

It is not a MOKUME TSUBA in my eyes - at least it does not seem to be made to show the structure of the metal. It is more a KO-SUKASHI TSUBA. Perhaps it would show deeper MOKUME with more or stronger etching, but I would not recommend to do that. 

[MauroP]

@ Fred

Kōfu-jū Yoshihide (江府住 宜秀), late Edo, Bushū-Itō school

Bye, Mauro

[FredKP]

@MauroP thanks a lot!

 

@ROKUJURO, thanks too and i'll never put acid on it or anything else to have a deeper mokume

[Ron STL]

A small but terrific classic tsuba by Myochi Munemasa. Mei reads: (omote) Utsushi (copy) Hachiman Taro Hato-maru  (name of a famous tsuba on an Imperial collection tachi); (ura) Ki Munemasa (name of maker). 

l've seen other examples of this "dove" tsuba but most are of lower quality plate. Also, I've never found a photo of the "Imperial collection tachi" that is supposed to have this tsuba on it. 

 

At the first or second Minneapolis show several of us put on a display of mokume plate tsuba which proved to quite interesting. Always wanted to put that display together as an article for the JSS newsletter, but...

 

Ron STL

[Ron STL]

Looking at my records, I found a little interesting provenance on this tsuba that was kept in its box. Box also has hakogaki by Dr. Torigoye. 

 

Box contains label reading “Walther G Kreiner Collection” along with a written notations,
“RH 223 Dove tsuba” and “sold to J. Mitchell in 1971 by A. Yates.” (Arthur Yates was a dealer in the early days of collecting fittings.) Robert Haynes said he once owned this tsuba and sold it to Yates in 1971.

 

Ron STL

[Vermithrax16]

Ron, excellent piece! Thanks for posting!

 

Members have so many amazing things. Love it.

[DRDave]

At the first or second Minneapolis show several of us put on a display of mokume plate tsuba which proved to quite interesting. Always wanted to put that display together as an article for the JSS newsletter, but...

 

 

 

I'd love to see a mokume display redo. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Here is another Dove by Myochin Munemasa, these are beautiful!  Cheers, S.

[Vermithrax16]

This thread has me wanting to make a post in the 'Wanted to Buy" section. Excellent works.

[TETSUGENDO]

Jeremiah,

 

Not Bunnies, but these sure can be interesting and the fine ones have a special kind of beauty.  Couldn't fault you for adding another!

 

-S-

[Ron STL]

I photographed the dozen or so mokume tsuba displayed in Minneapolis, but have been unable to locate that file. Computer incripted a few years ago, lost a lot, but they may be on a disc. Will share them if I find them. Another beautiful, minty tsuba was papered to Jirotaro Naokatsu, but apparently the mei was mis-read by the shinsa team. Nothing looks Naokatsu about it, I realize now. A good opinion of it called it the work of a Myochin smith, whose name escapes me at the moment. What was so interesting seeing a group of these tsuba together, was to take note of the different fineness or boldness found and how different guys interpreted the forging patterns. Also included a "bunny" for you bunny lovers. 

 

I'll try and check out the possibility of a display like this at the next Chicago show if table space can be found. Ron STL

[Vermithrax16]

WOW! Nice examples Ron, thanks!

[gauze3539]

 

Regular board members know my affinity for mokume tsuba works. After not being able to acquire several wanted pieces (not mokume) over the last 4 months (various reasons) I was looking forward to the arrival of this example. I really like this one and a big tip of the hat to NMB member Stephen for making me aware of it.

 

New tsuba is an iron mokume work by the late Edo maker Masanao, of the Bushu Ito School. I have worked on the mei and I believe it's authentic, but this is a lesser known smith so I only have 4 examples between Sesko's meikan and the Wakayama references. Reference examples lack the "Ito" kanji above the maker's mei, but it's the school so makes some sense. In any case, I will let the pictures speak for the tsuba.

Mokku gata shaped tsuba. The patterns on the obverse side are amazing, and really jump out in hand. The edges follow the grains well, and the patina is in ok condition. I really like this one, glad to have it.

Dimensions: 8cm X 8cm X 0.4cm

 

Masanao_front.jpg

Masanao_back.jpg

Masanao_side1.jpg

Masanao_side2.jpg

 

That's a stunning tsuba! I love it

 

Jason C

[kissakai]

One of the nicest I've seen.