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A series of fittings ( or how not to build a collection )


Bob M.

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Item No. 190   Iron tsuba   7.94 cm x 7.88 cm x 0.57 cm

 

Subject of snowflakes  - Kyo shoami Mid edo 

 

Good colour / patina

 

 

Item No. 191  Iron Tsuba   7.10 cm x 66.2 cm x 0.65 cm

 

Akasaka Kiri & Tomoe - NBTHK papered

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Item No. 192  Iron Tsuba  8.18 cm x 7.94 cm x 0.52 cm

 

Myochin Mokume Ji .  An unaltered original condition guard ( without additional hitsu-ana ).

 

Strong mokume grain pattern also visible in the mimi.

 

NTHK Kanteisho papers

 

 

Item No. 193  Kozuka in shibuichi with gold , silver , copper and shakudo

 

Subject of Benten and attendant under a flowering cherry tree.

 

Very finely detailed scene of Benten reaching out to her attendant , who is carrying a Biwa ( traditional Lute ) wrapped in a Furoshiki cloth for travelling.

 

The piece painstakingly engraved and inlaid , signed Hamano Naoyuki ( Hamano School , 19th Cent. ).

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A little late , I am afraid -

 

Item No. 194  Tsuba in yamagane with gold , silver and shakudo  6.67 cm x 5.72 cm x 0.48 cm

 

Subject of Setsubun ritual . Signed Jo-I Nagaharu - 19th Cent.

 

This wakizashi / tanto sized tsuba appears to have been mounted at some time . It shows soybeans being thrown about with great relish during Setsubun - an unimpressed Oni hides and watches .

 

The word for bean - mame - is also a homophone for ' destroying evil ' in Japanese , hence the association of bean and setsubun.

 

Illustrated in Hawleys' Sword Fittings in Southern California publication , somewhere near the back  , No. 1409 , I believe.

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Item No. 195   Iron Tsuba   7.38 cm x 7.43 cm x 0.48 cm

 

Subject of bird in bush - thought to be Mid Edo Akasaka

 

More classic design work - the piece looks to have remnants of lacquer on its surface.

 

 

Item No. 196   Iron Tsuba   7.15 cm x 6.80 cm x 0.55 cm

 

Subject of Paulownia ? Akasaka  ,  18th Cent.

 

Good , deep patina.

 

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Item No. 197   Iron Tsuba with brass  inlay   7.81 cm x 7.78 cm x 0.45 cm

 

Subject of waves and fans - looks to be around mid / late 16th Cent. - any ideas on school  - Heianjo ?

 

In good order with very few losses to inlay.

 

 

Item No. 198   Iron tsuba with copper/brass and mother of pearl   7.48 cm over corners x 0.88 cm overall thickness

 

Subject of rain dragon and pearl

 

Unusual design , heavy piece . The mother of pearl eyes really show up well in low light conditions.

 

Ex Clarence McKenzie Lewis Jr. collection

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Hi Bob

There is a similar tsuba to your 197 in the Birmingham museum, Described as Heianjo circa 1600

 

I sold one similar to your 198

Identical form (Mt Fuji and it's reflection) but no dragon. Mine was covered in 'dots'

I couldn't give it a school but Myochin did fold the edges of some of their tsuba although it does feel like this school

 

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Item No. 199   Iron Tsuba   7.50 cm x 7.03 cm x 0.55 cm

 

Akasaka Nobuie , 19th cent. revival piece.

 

 

Item No. 200   Iron Tsuba   7.44 cm x 7.12 cm x 0.68 cm

 

Subject of either crane or mantis,  Akasaka ? 18th cent.?

 

Nice , deep, almost waxy patina.

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Item No. 201   Iron tsuba with gilt   7.86 cm dia. x 0.48 cm

 

Subject of Wisteria unsigned - mid Edo ?

 

Nice , delicate carving showing the progression of flowering down each stem.

 

The rim is possibly a fukurin - very difficult to tell.

 

 

 

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Item No. 202   Tsuba in sentoku with copper , gold  and shakudo   7.13 cm x 6.58 cm x 0.49 cm

 

Subject of eagle hunting a monkey. Signed Hirochika ( Haynes 01300.0 )( Thanks, George ) - Mito school , early 19th cent.

 

Fine detailing with tiny inlays of shakudo ( eagle's talons ) , golden eye and shading above the eye .

 

See Item No. 119 for a different version of the same subject by Hiroyoshi , also Mito school.  In fact , both the maker of this piece - Hirochika - and Hiroyoshi were in the Mito school and are shown next to each other in Sesko's Genealogies - it is tempting to speculate that in real life they may have occupied adjoining work spaces also and co-operated whilst producing the same design...

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Item No. 203   Iron tsuba   7.21 cm x 7.14 cm x 0.45 cm

 

Sukashi Iron tsuba described as ' Koshoami Middle Momoyama '.  I have no way of knowing if this is correct - opinions please !

 

Appears to have a deal of age - some of the design elements are smoothly worn , making for a tactile piece.

 

 

Item No. 204   Iron Tsuba   7.53 cm dia x 0.44 cm

 

Subject of Buddhist symbolic weapons - Vajra . Signed Akitomo ?

 

Not shown in Genealogies , does he have an entry in Haynes or Wakayama ?

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Thanks for the responses - Glen , don't worry about saying what you think , especially as you are quite right , this is cast .

 

I said at the start of this thread that it would be  'warts and all ' .This is one that got through from the recent old collection purchase from about six months ago , without proper scrutiny on my part.

 

John , I think you are probably correct about the made up name - sorry to have given you a wild goose chase.

 

The thread was started on the 25th Feb. last year and has been kept alive by the interest of board members - I thank you all.

 

Best Regards

 

Bob

 

 

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Item No. 205   Iron Tsuba   7.91 cm x 7.74 cm x 0.28 cm

 

Described as ' Kamakura Circles' does this make sense ? 

 

Thin plate , seems to have some age to it . Has been mounted several times at least . 

 

In good order with intact patina , archaic shaped Hitsu Ana and single Uda Nuki Ana.

 

 

Item No. 206   Iron Tsuba   7.39 cm x 7.14 cm x 0.52 cm

 

Subject of insects and flowers  Bushu School

 

NBTHK papered

 

 

 

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Item No. 207  Iron Tsuba   8.30 cm dia x 0.32 cm  

 

Subject of Monkey toys - described as Ko Toshu Kukurizaru - NBTHK papered

 

Typical large diameter , thin plate

 

 

Item No. 208   Iron Tsuba   7.58 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.35 cm

 

Described as NBTHK Hozon Hoan

 

Appears to have some age  - mounted multiple times , good patina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi Bob,

No. 207 is a nice KO-TOSHO TSUBA, TSUBA No. 208 has a 'Two Komma'-Design ( FUTATSU DOMOE SUKASHI  (二巴透鐔)). This common heraldic symbol was used by several schools, e.g. KO-KACHUSHI, KO-TOSHO, YAMAKICHI BEI, NOBUIE and others. Obviously there is also a HOAN attribution. 

I like both TSUBA!
 

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Item No. 209   Iron Tsuba    7.68 cm dia. x 0.51 cm

 

Subject of bridge - described as ' Owari Gojo Bridge ' Mid Edo

 

A classic sukashi theme , good condition and patina.

 

 

Item No. 210   Iron Tsuba   7.62 cm x 7.46 cm x 0.68 cm

 

Subject of foliage - ' wind blown branches '  Akasaka 5th generation.

 

Smooth , intact , charcoal grey patina.

 

 

 

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Item No. 211  Iron Tsuba with shakudo , brass and gold  7.93 cm x 7.88 cm x 0.45 cm

 

Described as ' Echizen Nobuie '  Is this another Akasaka Nobuie ? With lots of detail including ' sun burst ' engraving , sprinkled with gold flecks , arabesque carvings  ,Hitsu Ana liners in Shakudo and brass , nicely upset split rim and deep ,chocolate brown patina.

 

Someone ' went to town ' on this one - with the amount of decoration , possibly for a merchant rather than a samurai.

 

 

Item No. 212   Iron Tsuba   7.50 cm x 7.30 cm x 0.50 cm

 

Subject of Chrysanthemum flowers and leaves, thought to be Kyo Shoami  mid to late Edo.

 

Very dark grey , almost black patina,

 

 

 

 

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Item No. 213 Iron Tsuba    7.38 cm x 7.33 cm x 0.64 cm

 

Item No. 214 Iron Tsuba    7.60 cm x 7.38 cm x 0.58 cm

 

Both pieces with the subject of snow covered pine trees ?

 

 Item 213 in very heavy build, could this be another Sado ? Item 214 I wondered at first about Hayashi , but somehow it seems too crude .

 

Excellent patina on both.

 

As usual , any help gratefully received.

 

 

 

 

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Item No. 215    Iron Tsuba   7.79 cm x 7.69 cm x 0.55 cm

 

I have no idea as to subject or school on this one - ideas ?

 

 

Item No. 216   Iron Tsuba  with brass  6.48 cm x 6.20 cm x 0.42 cm

 

Described as ' early 18th cent. good luck Ko Shoami '

 

Brass liners to both Hitsu Ana . Sunburst effect surface finish - seems to have been mounted on numerous occasions.

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Item No. 217   Iron Tsuba   7.04 cm x 7.10 cm x 0.34 cm

 

Subject of temple bells ?  described as ' Monyo Hoan '.

 

 

Item No. 218   Iron Tsuba with brass   7.03 cm x 6.99 cm x 0.48 cm

 

Described as ' Onin / Katushi / Higo ?  17th Cent. ' Comments ?

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Item No. 219  Iron tsuba with gold highlights   7.27 cm x 6.97 cm x 0.46 cm

 

Subject of blossom on water - can anybody read the signature , please ? Bushu Masatsune ?

 

Nicely done compact design giving a real sense of flowing water.

 

 

Item No. 220  Iron Tsuba   8.07 cm x 8.12 cm x 0.43 cm

 

Subject of kiri mon in positive and negative silhouette 

 

Very dark  , almost black patina - not a casting !

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Item No 221  Daisho pair of Iron Tsuba  7.28 cm x 6.96 cm x 0.53 cm  &  6.83 cm x 6.52 cm x 0.48 cm

 

Subject of Aoi  Leaves signed but not translated - look to be Bushu / Choshu ?

 

 

Item No. 222   Iron Tsuba   7.69 cm x 7.63 cm x 0.52 cm

 

Akasaka - difficult to make out subject matter on this - there are possible hints of Mantis and other bugs. Hazard a guess anyone ?

 

Smooth , intact patina.

 

 

 

 

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