Large iron katana tsuba. Wasps, ants and pine tree.

[Matsunoki]

Hello from the UK, hope things are good for you all around the world. It’s grey and damp and chilly here.

This tsuba left home a few years ago as part of a deal to acquire a nice sword but it recently had the opportunity to return home again …..and here it is……just for interest.
To me it’s an appealing subject artistically rendered and decent quality workmanship. What are your opinions? 
The thin iron plate has a slight ishime texture and an even dark brown patina.  
I believe the old Japanese label says something like “old pine tree wasps”…..anyone confirm?

H8.5cm W8.1cm T3.5mm at the slightly raised rim.

[Bazza]

Topical question - are they 'murder hornets' (Vespa mandarinia)?

https://www.livescience.com/how-to-identify-murder-hornet.html

 

BaZZa.

[Spartancrest]

There is an old thread here with a similar themed guard - just a few insects have been changed.

 

[Matsunoki]

2 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

There is an old thread here with a similar themed guard - just a few insects have been changed.

Dale, I thought you might struggle with this one🙂   Silly me.

I must try harder.

All the best. Colin 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

I like the theme and the quality looks good! Glad it’s home

[Spartancrest]

On 3/19/2023 at 11:01 PM, Matsunoki said:

Dale, I thought you might struggle with this one🙂   Silly me.

I must be struggling. It took me a little while to realise I have a "Historic" reference to another wasp nest tsuba from the Michael Tomkinson collection 1898.

 

Number 41   'Iron with surface much dented by punch and hammer, and encrusted with various metals. Wasp and nest. A Kinuki guard, signed: Kenzui after a design by Yasuchika 18th century."

 

[I have too many books now, I need a librarian to find stuff I have compiled myself!]     [Kinuki guard? No idea what that means. ]

[Spartancrest]

KINUKI - I found the reference  [why didn't Tomkinson just say Udenuki-no-ana?] 

 

[Spartancrest]

https://www.nihontoownersclub.com/tsuba3-1