Nezumi Tsuba. Help.

Jwizz · May 12

Hey guys, as a newbie collector I would appreciate any and all help identifying authenticity/age of this tsuba . I haven't seen many rat designs, but as someone born year of the rat I couldn't resist.

thanks in advance,

- Juss

Spartancrest · May 12

Welcome Justin.

Love it! The condition is a little rough [just the way I like them] the rat is sitting on Daikoku-ten's mallet/hammer. Daikoku is the god of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). His companions are rats or mice.

No doubt in my mind the guard is genuine but dating is difficult to be precise - Mid to late Edo?

Grab yourself a piece of bone or ivory/antler if you can get it and you can remove any active rust - stay clear of the inlay.

I see it was an ebay purchase? I hope you got it at a good price :thumbsup:

image.png.be4c591d4675d52bfb654ae12a0b825a.png Your guard has two symbols from the Takarabune - Treasure ship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takarabune

How is the other side?

Bugyotsuji · May 12

The objects suggest the presence and, by extension, the protective power of the sage.

This is called 'Rusu-moyo', i.e. a design that suggests by association the presence of someone not actually portrayed.

Jwizz · May 12

1 hour ago, Spartancrest said:

Welcome Justin.

Love it! The condition is a little rough [just the way I like them] the rat is sitting on Daikoku-ten's mallet/hammer. Daikoku is the god of wealth and one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). His companions are rats or mice.

No doubt in my mind the guard is genuine but dating is difficult to be precise - Mid to late Edo?

Grab yourself a piece of bone or ivory/antler if you can get it and you can remove any active rust - stay clear of the inlay.

I see it was an ebay purchase? I hope you got it at a good price

Your guard has two symbols from the Takarabune - Treasure ship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takarabune

How is the other side?

Thankyou Dale!

Your reply has honestly made me so much more excited for my purchase!!

Time to do some research on the seven lucky gods and the Takarabune.

It was an eBay purchase! About 150usd including postage (I hope that's a decent price) either way I'm happy !

Other side is also a tad rusty with these little .. shells?

Spartancrest · May 12

20 minutes ago, Jwizz said:

these little .. shells?

I think these are called "Tama" or flaming jewels. Top row second from the left on the takarabune design image. These "jewels" are often seen on guards where dragons are either holding or reaching for the jewel/pearl of wisdom.

$150 is not too bad a price! Heck fakes are often more than that!

Jwizz · May 12

Just now, Spartancrest said:

I think these are called "Tama" or flaming jewels.

Ooh, so now 3 of the Takarabune symbols!

After looking up what you said, it appears the "shells" are hoju'no-tama / wish granting jewels!!

Daikoku-ten's mallet is reputed to have one of these inside

Quite the lucky Tsuba ! I wasn't expecting so much symbolism and am pleasantly surprised

FlorianB · May 13

Hi Justin,

I agree that it is an original from Edo period, however difficult to ascertain to a specific school or smith.

The condition, too, isn’t the best. As Dale suggested try to restore the rusty areas with antler or bone.

Nice contrast in between the iron surface and soft metals, copper, brass, silver and shibuichi for the rat. It seems that the patination of the rat is partially rubbed off. Sometimes after many years it might restore by itself.

Nice find anyhow!

Any dimensions?

Jake6500 · May 13

Hi Justin,

As you get deeper into the hobby you will find rats/mice are actually a fairly common design.

I think the deep symbolism in this one has already been deciphered and I'm a bit late to the thread.

What I will say is this is a decent pickup for a rookie collector! A nice cultural design, authentic piece from the Edo Period, the rat sticks out from the base which makes it "pop" which is a quality many collectors like. Hard to tell the school as others have said but if I was to hazard a guess, maybe Aizu-Shoami?

Don't quote me on that though! I'm guessing mostly based on the 3 dimensional carving of the rat, the iron base and the contrast of metals in the carvings.

Interested to see what Piers and Dale think, if they have any schools in mind.

Spartancrest · May 13

1 hour ago, Jake6500 said:

if I was to hazard a guess, maybe Aizu-Shoami?

As good a guess as any. This one from another thread with attribution of Aizu-Shōami -

obviously not the same design but the technique and raised inlays are similar - As is often said: When in doubt "Shoami" and sometimes it is right!

File:Japanese - Tsuba with a Rat and a Chinese Hot Pepper - Walters 51151.jpg - Wikimedia Commons From the Walters Art Museum - looks more like a mouse - or that is a really big chilly! No attribution given.

Jwizz · May 14

On 5/13/2025 at 9:08 PM, Jake6500 said:

decent pickup for a rookie collector!

Thanks heaps, Jake!

It was love at first sight haha, I have had so much fun learning about it too. So I'm glad y'all enjoy it!

And look forward to finding more rat/mouse designs for my collection.

As for your guess; I feel like you maybe onto something. Especially considering @Spartancrest's comparison. Such elegant use of contrast and empty space on both pieces.

Thanks a lot to everyone for their insights and comments!

Kanenaga · May 15

Oh rats!

(From an old thread)

image.jpeg.a789ae721012a40e21b785d63ca0c35b.jpeg

Jwizz · May 16

1 hour ago, Kanenaga said:

Oh rats!

(From an old thread)

Oh that's a very nice rat tsuba!!

I especially adore the mother rat.

Parent wildlife themes are surprisingly more common than I expected

Spartancrest · May 16

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27594 One of the nicest rats you will ever see.

One for a rainy day https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/54285/

https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/28349416-Japan-middle-edo-period---

https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/28349421-Japan-edo-period-1603----

https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/HIROCHIKA-SUKASHI-UCHIKOSHI-SCHOOL-RATS-TSUBA/48-hirochika_sukashi-29.11.19-zacke also https://www.kollerauktionen.ch/en/-6104_467391.html?RecPos=4 these are mice.

This mouse guard has appeared in a few early articles, by well known collectors.

Some more rat/mice info here.

Jwizz · May 16

21 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/28349421-Japan-edo-period-1603----

All VERY nice pieces, ^ this thing is of nightmares and I love it haha

I found a couple interesting nezumi bits in the wild recently:

This I found out is a replica.

although I'm having trouble finding the original, it's a very pretty design.

This Rat fuchi though :Drool:

Spartancrest · May 17

https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/28349420-Japan-meiji-period-1868--- You really need to look but there is a rat in the pumpkin on this one.

One of mine - either the rats are huge or the rice bales are very small? Carved wood grain Ji - I never could work out why the rats had multicolured fur? Pets? :dunno: