Help needed identifying fittings

[Yoshimichi]

Dear NMB members:

 

I need help identifying these fittings: possible school or artist, age, etc. These just came out og a collection put together in the 60's. Any help is appreciated.

 

Regards,

Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

[ChrisW]

I am almost positive that the tsuba is missing its outer-ring. Are there signs of breakage? Or is this a style I haven't seen before? Nice fitting overall!

[Yoshimichi]

Dear  Chris:

 

No signs of breakage. I have not seen this style tsuba before. Stumped.

 

Regards,

Bill E. Sheehan {Yoshimichi}

[ChrisW]

Perhaps battle-damaged and for some reason or another, the owner had a smith remove signs of breakage? Otherwise, this is entirely alien to me! Wiser men will chime in soon.

[Yoshimichi]

Does anyone have a kozuka or kogai for sale in the F/K motif?

 

Regards,

Bill E Sheehan 

[Spartancrest]

Wow love that kawari  - Waves and Maple leaf design - with two paddles. [let me know if you want to sell it!]

Not sure of one of the menuki but one is of a Child's doll. I have a couple of Kawari that are reworked from broken rims and one in the Metropolitan museum. [36.120.195]  I can't help noticing the double sekigane - someone treasured it enough to remount it at least twice.

[Yoshimichi]

Dear Dale:

 

Thanks for the comment and information, I have attached some close up photos of the tsuba, Any idea on age or school? What is Kawari? Are these tsubas somewhat rare?

 

Regards,

Bill E Sheehan

[Spartancrest]

Kawari are irregular outlined guards, they sometimes make up the shape of an object. There are many 'standard' shapes that guards can take - kawari are those that don't fit those standard types. As far as school or maker of your piece it could be Chosu, Bushu or even Kinai, I would only be guessing. It is hand carved and obviously not a modern copy.

These images are of Kawari -gata tsuba. Those with the red box outline show rim versions and those without, you could class them as 'modified' to Kawari shape. The others are the finished shape of an object. I have in excess of thirty Kawari-gata in my collection, about half are 'modified' - so previously damaged and reworked. Sometimes Kobushi-gata [closed fist] guards are also called Kawari because of the irregular shape.

 

[Geraint]

I believe the menuki are male and female dolls, perhaps origami.  I was reading something recently about this motif and have seen it at least twice on tsuba.  If/when it comes to me I'll let you know.

 

All the best.

[Bazza]

Dolls, I believe so.  I have seen these with my own eyes on a kozuka.  Now if I could just remember which of my mates' collections has it...

 

BaZZa.

[Bugyotsuji]

As to male & female dolls, also consider Hina-Ningyo.

The kashira design looks to be a beautifully executed SasaLindo Kamon theme.

笹竜胆

The Ishikawa lords used it, claiming it harks back to the Genji.

[raaay]

The Kashira  ,  reminds me a bit of  some Ko - Mino style works  ??

[Yoshimichi]

Wow! Thanks for all of the information on  these fittings. The sword is very delicate, similar to a Boy's Day sword. The doll menuki would seem consistent with a sword given to a young person. I will attach a few photos of the sword shortly. Does this look like a child's sword, consistent with the fittings?

Regards,

Bill E. Sheehan

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Yoshimichi]

Pictures of the sword.

 

Regards,

Bill E. Sheehan

[Yoshimichi]

Dear Dale:

 

I sent you a message.

 

Regards,

Bill E. Sheehan(Yoshimichi)