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Oldest piece of Japanese art


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As a papered sword i have only this nice Nanbokucho Tachi (1336 - 1392)  国信 Kuninobu. 

 

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I have others which i think they are from late kamakura to nambokucho period but without a paper it is hard to proof it  ;-)

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This little star saves me from posting Shinshinto swords or late edo oribe.

 

Bought from a member here. With the following description.

 

Koshigatana/uchigatana tsuba, yamagane. Late Muromachi. Made by an unknown, undocumented artists in one of the numerous workshops which were producing arms for the huge samurai armies of the Sengoku period.

 

Edited to add two more pictures.

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Edited by Fuuten
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I think my oldest piece is this one, a bronze tsuba dating conservatively to mid-Muromachi I believe, though at least one person with far more experience on very early tosogu has said it could be or even likely is Nambokucho/early-Muromachi.  Bronze sword guards are not very common, and they would seem to have been in favor in earlier (than mid-Muromachi) times.  At 4mm in thickness, this tsuba is very heavy, has a deep patina, and as can be seen, presents with plenty of remnant black lacquer. 

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I think my oldest piece is this one, a bronze tsuba dating conservatively to mid-Muromachi I believe, though at least one person with far more experience on very early tosogu has said it could be or even likely is Nambokucho/early-Muromachi. Bronze sword guards are not very common, and they would seem to have been in favor in earlier (than mid-Muromachi) times. At 4cm, this tsuba is very heavy, has a deep patina, and as can be seen, presents with plenty of remnant black lacquer.

Great piece, I think early Muromachi as well
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I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to pre-Momoyama tsuba, so I am happy to defer to those who are.  From what you say about Sasano, Grev, it seems this may even be as early as Kamakura Period, then.  I suppose Nambokucho to early-Muromachi is the "safer" bet.  ;-)

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Hi Steve

It is a broad date range so in my opinion only a top expert can add further info

You can look at this era and you may find something more but don't hold your breath

A nice tsuba that I'd be happy to own

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Hi Grev,

 

It really is even more beautiful in hand, I must admit.  And as I mentioned, at least one person who is as close to an expert on truly early tosogu has said he'd put it a lot earlier than I have/had it.  He told me that a late-Kamakura to Nambokucho date is very possible, but no later than earliest Muromachi.  So maybe a 14th-century date is a good dating for it.  ;-)  

 

Anyway, given the subject of this thread, many other members here have earlier pieces for sure.  ;-)

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

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As requested above, here are some shots of a wakizashi, my oldest Japanese blade to my knowledge.

It is signed 二王 寛清 Nio Hirokiyo, from 周防 Suwo.

There were two Hirokiyo smiths working for the influential Ouchi family below Yamaguchi Castle Town, in the years around Kansei (Shodai)(1460-1465) to Bunmei (Nidai)(1469-1486).

 

Some connection to the Onin War, perhaps?

 

PS Lovely quote from Wiki: In Kyoto, "pre-war" refers to the Ōnin War, rather than WWII.

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 Always a problem dating a piece, unless it's papered, and sometimes even then. However, here's what the seller described as an early Edo piece. I have been told it might be older, but given a "tweak" in the Edo period.

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Its great see  everyone's old tsuba and swords.  Here are several of my oldest tsuba. The small Kagami-shi is the oldest, possibly followed by the large Tosho.  Thanks for looking. 

 

Johnnyi

 

 

p.s. yikes, the blow ups turned out bigger then expected! Brian, you have a contribution coming :)

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