Help with school if possible

[johnnyi]

Hello members. I had thought possibly tosho, but I seem to remember this design being also attributed to another school. Any help with

 

identifying tsuba would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in avance.

 

 

Tsuba seems to be natural black patina with old accumulations on walls. The surface is hammered with visible layering on the edges. 

 

Tsuba measures roughly 73.6 mm high by 72.9 mm wide. Edge measures roughly 3.4 mm thick and seppa dai measures 4.3 mm thick. 

 

 

Regards, John

[Ken-Hawaii]

"Tosho" means Japanese swordsmith, John, so I doubt it's the tsuba school. Owari? Shoami?

[johnnyi]

Hi Ken, thanks and yes I understand tosho . A Christie's auction some years ago had offered several of these early sukashi types as being tosho, and one I believe to be ko. I will make another attempt to dig the catalogue out of my unorganized mess. I had considered Owari , but is not the thicker seppa dai contrary to owari? I don't know. Thanks again,  John

[lotus]

Yeah, I agree that it might be too thin for Owari. How about Ko-Shoami?

[johnnyi]

I tore the store room apart and found the catalogue (Christie's Caldwell 1994) and confirmed my memory stinks!  The tsuba which I had particularly remembered was this one which seems to have some similar features, NBTHK Tokubetsu kicho paper certified as Heianjo 16th century.  I like the idea of Ko-Shoami and thank you both for that. 

 

Regards,  John

[christianmalterre]

John

 

did you ever see a so called "Ko-Shoami" Tsuba in kind of "square" Geometry ???

 

i do heartly confess you! NO! i did never see such!

 

 

this is a typical Awa-Shoami my friend!

 

late Edo!

 

but very late!

 

why?

 

cause there are religious differences...( occuring already lomg before those traditions did find prosperity....but essential to know!)

 

see:

The Catalpa Bow: A Study of Shamanistic Practices in Japan: A Study in Shamanistic Practices in Japan (Japan Library Classics) by Blacker Carmen.

[christianmalterre]

and please - do not show me the Kanbun Kyo now!

 

as those are-

 

1.- other tradition

2.- other forge

3.- other iron.

 

otherwise Kyo.

 

and this is definitely not here.

[christianmalterre]

you got a message from me....(mail sent)

[johnnyi]

Thank you Christian!  You are a wealth of information delivered in the most enjoyable fashion always!  Awa-Shoami it is, which makes sense considering the price I paid for it. Thank you heartily!

 

 

John