goo Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 I found this Tsuba while browsing the collection of the British V&A museum the moko is said to have been purchased in 1911. This date would fall after the introduction of cubism. Any one see this before what are your thoughts? https://collections..../item/O465753/tsuba/ 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROKUJURO Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Gustavo, cubism has mainly to do with cubes/squares while these differently decorated spaces on the TSUBA are triangles. It is a more playful way to show the many ways to create a surface structure. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorianB Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 It was purchased in 1911, but this means not necessarily it was made at this point. However, the idea is intriguing, cubism combines different views on a motiv and thus plays with different shapes (triangels, too). But what is the motif here? I agree with Jean C. it is at least a collection of pattern maybe to present different possibilities how to decorate a surface. It reminds me to patterns seen on habaki. Perhaps it would be an idea to post it into Bruce’s thread: www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/32583-cat-scratch-habaki/ . Best, Florian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Looks more like a textile patchwork effect. Doesn’t look cubist to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkO Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I've seen a few tsuba like this - supposedly they were a sort of tsuba samples to show what the texture possibilities were. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartancrest Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 20 minutes ago, DirkO said: supposedly they were a sort of tsuba samples to show what the texture possibilities were. That is what I have heard before as well - I don't know if we can get any proof of this - not that it really matters as they are a very interesting tour de force in their own right. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 …..I still think something like this is a possible inspiration candidate. If they are intended to illustrate different punched designs why repeat just a few of them? Dunno 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROKUJURO Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Obviously, patchwork is not a new technique! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 Triangle pattern .. https://polinacoutur...on-Japanese-fabrics/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkg Posted May 7 Report Share Posted May 7 I have one similar to this that I got not too long ago, but I haven't photographed it yet. Here is an image from the auction: Best, rkg (Richard George) 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SalaMarcos Posted May 16 Report Share Posted May 16 Not directly related, but since 4 years, a reknowed tsuba master in Japan is wornking in a daishô tsuba depicting the Guernika of Picasso. I hope he finsih soon, I saw it 2 years ago and, even when it's not a "traditional" tsuba, is amazing. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROKUJURO Posted May 16 Report Share Posted May 16 Marcos, I would like to see a photo! What are the dimensions of that TSUBA DAISHO? The original painting measures ca. 3,50 x 7,80 m..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SalaMarcos Posted May 16 Report Share Posted May 16 I will try ask the tsubakō if he agree to share. What I can say is that's a group of 3 tsuba (sorry not daishō as I said) but 3 on the same size, nadekaku gata 9x8cm if I remember well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake6500 Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 Regardless of whether these Tsuba constitute "cubism" or not, I find the idea rather interesting. Usually when discussing the relationship between Western and Japanese (Edo Period) art the relationship is in the reverse as Van Gogh is known to have been inspired by ukiyo-e art which inspired the wider Japonaiserie movement in Western art circles around the late 1880's and 1890's. You can see this in the vibrant colours of Van Gogh's Sunflower series. I would say the idea of Picasso's cubism potentially influencing later Meiji Period Tsuba is extremely interesting, regardless of the validity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 Cubism didn’t kick off until around 1910 +- a year or two. I doubt it could have spread to and influenced any of the Japanese arts that quickly especially the rather traditional tsuba schools and makers. Personally I’ve never seen such influence. The main European artistic shift that found its way into Japan was Art Deco although the more “realistic” Western painting perspectives did creep in a bit earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake6500 Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 I'm inclined to agree Colin, although I do find the thought of it interesting in and of itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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