Tsuba Dragon Design

[vajo]

I saw a picture of chinese alloy dragon Tsuba with a, i think rare design. The dragon has 5 fins on his tail.

 

 

I spoke with Dale about the tsuba he show me that picture.

 

 

Anyone knows how that original Tsuba looked like? I searched in the MfA Database but i didn't found a similar designed Japanese Tsuba.

[Spartancrest]

Chris I have looked through more than sixteen museum sites and every book I own - no match.

I have seen a few Chinese fakes that have melded two tsuba designs into one [usually on opposite sides of the guard] so it is possible it is a compounded design, stick some fish tails on a dragon and you have something 'unique'.

The golden Goto you showed me is the closest I have seen - but it could still be out there somewhere?

I did note there are far less dragons looking up than there are ones looking down?

[vajo]

Hi Dale. Thats a good question. Is it a unique tsuba design of a 5 fined dragon, or ist it a fantasy design. I think it is a Japanese design. This evening i will look in some old christies catalogue. 

[Spartancrest]

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-silver-tsuba-signed-toyochika-and-kao-4611917/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=4611917&lid=1

No fins but the dragon is looking up.

 

[vajo]

I found a tsuba in one of my books. Is it that dragon?

Could anyone translate it.

 

[vajo]

Maybe we never found the original tsuba because it has a job in Longquan in a tsuba molt. 

I decide to turn it into a masterpiece