Humorous tsuba motif

[Dan tsuba]

Hello all!

 

So, I have only about 100 tsuba.  But I have one that I find rather humorous!

 

It is a guy running in the rain with an umbrella over his head.  I think the artisan showed a great sense of humor in the motif of this tsuba.  I get a “chuckle” out of it every time I look at it!  I have included pictures below. 

 

I was wondering, does anyone else have tsuba in their collection which they find has a humorous motif?

 

With respect,

Dan

[Spartancrest]

It will be even funnier when the little guy trips on a rock because he can't see where he is going! 

I have a lot of tsuba that are a joke - but nothing of a humorous nature. 

 

Would a Rooster looking over a pin-up chicken count? 

Tsuba of a cockerel contemplating a painted screen – 1816
Ōyama Motozane (泰山元孚: 1741-1830)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

[Matsunoki]

24 minutes ago, Dan tsuba said:

It is a guy running in the rain with an umbrella over his head

I think that exact design has been taken straight off an old woodblock print……but I cannot remember which one. I know I’ve seen him before!

[Matsunoki]

Maybe it was this one I’m thinking of…….not quite the same…..

[Spartancrest]

Dan there is a Hiroshige III (1843 - 1894) woodblock with the Thunder God Running from the Rain.

also a nice image in the V&A by Hokusai https://www.vandaimages.com/2013GD8914-People-running-over-bridge-to-get-out-of-rain-by.html They want money to reproduce it so you will have to view the link.

[Spartancrest]

Some humorous Monkey tsuba - The image bottom central is from a book on the Japanese sense of humour:   "Japanese Humour: curt Netto ; Gottfried Wagener. with 257 illustrations, including 5 chromo-plates, 1901"  it shows "The Monkey as a politician after a tsuba by Moritoshi."  Originally printed in German [It has three tsuba as references and another three designs used for tsuba decoration.]

The images are from https://drouot.com/en/l/19649643, The Walters Art Museum https://art.thewalters.org/detail/31222/tsuba-with-a-monkey-teasing-an-elephant-with-a-stick/  The Metropolitan, Accession Number: 43.120.947 [image can be copied from Pinterest] The other two are from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

 

PS. if Piers is watching he will note the string for the ears on the monkey's glasses! 

 

 

 

[Larason2]

Those monkey tsuba are great! My favourite is the monkey with the sword approaching the samurai. I love that kind of situational humour involving animals. Good, clean fun!

[GoldenDrachen]

I also like all these "monkey business" tsuba, very much!

 

Description under The monochrome one:

"The Monkey as an art critic."

I think that motif has very deep meaning.

I recall one satiric epigram by Russian fabulist Krilov.

https://ruverses.com/ivan-krylov/monkey-and-the-glasses/3723/

 

But I don't know if in Japanese culture, image of the monkey has different meanings.

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Good call Vitaly the description does indeed say "Art critic" not politician, you can't trust old translations [or sometimes new Google ones for that matter].

I love the Russian poem - univerally true of all humans. 

[Spartancrest]

Funny in more ways than I want to think of!

 

[Deez77]

I found this piece quite humorous (and disturbing at the same time).  It's not something I would associate with someone of the samurai class wearing on their sword... but who am I to judge. It's late Edo period.

 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25728

 

Damon

[Spartancrest]

Damon that tsuba reminds me too much of the movie "Wolf Creek" (2005) - 'Head On A Stick' scene, I won't post the link it is far far to graphic and no fun at all !!!

[Kurikata]

Just to revert to the initial topic. Another raining man (running ?)

[Spartancrest]

More monkey business - https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-19th-century-Japanese-meiji-period-gold-lacquer-2053-c-2d1428d81a

Badly made copy of the "The Monkey as an art critic." from that Posted May 14 

This copy is truly laughable. 

[Spartancrest]

Back to the original image - this menuki or pouch ornament  https://www.jauce.com/auction/c778295661

described as "Umbrella People"