Unusual tsuba subject?? Any ideas?

[Matsunoki]

Recent acquisition, a shakudo piece with a tranquil design depicting what?

I would guess something to do with textile dyeing/production….washing silk in the stream? but I cannot think of any specific “legend” or story that relates. 

Maybe for a posh silk merchant’s wakizashi? 
Very heavy for its size suggesting decent quality shakudo.

Any other suggestions?

Mei is “Shokodo Mitsuchika” and I’ve asked in translation section for help with the lid inscription. 

[Deez77]

For what it's worth, Chat GPT gives the below... maybe something useful out of it 🤷🏼‍♂️.

 

"田家水図 (Denka suizu): “village and water scene” — a pastoral motif.

 

This inscription is written in cursive Japanese kanji (草書体) and seems to describe a tsuba (sword guard). It reads approximately as follows:

 

尚古堂光暁

竪丸形　赤銅地　金象嵌

田家水図　彩色色絵

 

Romanization:

Shōkodō Kōgyō

Tatemaru-gata shakudō-ji kinzōgan

Denka suizu saishiki iro-e

 

Translation:

“By Shōkodō Kōgyō.

Vertical oval shape, shakudō ground with gold inlay.

Depicting the scene of fields and water, with colored decoration.”

Edited yesterday at 04:09 PM by Deez77

[Shugyosha]

There’s the mountain kanji in there to give …sansui zu but Chat GPT does seem to be getting better. 

[Winchester]

Some sort of silk roller???

 

Doesn’t appear to be a war banner, nor scroll, it appears as a finished product so not a silk loom of some sort.

 

[SteveM]

2 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

Chat GPT does seem to be getting better

Yes, I agree. Definitely getting better by the day. 

 

There are a few errors in the character recognition, but its surprisingly good, given the handwritten and slightly faded nature of the source. @Deez77 I wouldn't call that 草書体. Just typical handwriting. Translation at the link below.

 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/53956-help-please-with-inscription-on-tsuba-box/?do=findComment&comment=565372

 

[ROKUJURO]

Could that be SHODO equipment in the foreground? I think I can see a SUMIBACHI with an ink stick. Representing a poet or a painter at work in the beauriful landscape? 

Edited 19 hours ago by ROKUJURO

[SteveM]

I was thinking it was some kind of tool/device used in dyeing kimono fabrics. They used to wash kimono fabric in cold river waters to "set" the dye. But, it doesn't look like a drying table or dyeing table (like the one below), which is kind of close, but somehow not right. The one on the tsuba looks like some implement used to roll up fabric. Anyway, my guess is some device used in silk weaving or dyeing/washing.

 

 

https://icac.or.jp/public/culture/tool/

[Toryu2020]

The box clearly says Sansei-Zu - but if silk dyeing or weaving is involved could it be the subject is Tanabata?

 

[Matsunoki]

Bit more research……..I think it probably is silk dyeing in the moonlight. My kind of romantic subject! 
Just behind the hut can be seen what might be some sort of bamboo drying (?) frame…a bit dilapidated?
Apart from admiring the actual craftmanship, there is much fun to be had in trying to figure the subjects, yes?

Thanks to you all.

 

[Lewis B]

Very attractive workmanship and subject. I also think this represents an indigo dyeing scene under moonlight with the final bolt of fabric on a roller. 

[FlorianB]

I want to hint to the plants on the reverse: on the left  is hagi (bush clover), on the right we see silver grass or obana, both connected with the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
The motif on the rolled up fabric comprising a dragonfly and apparently nanakusa (seven herbs), also autumnal symbols.

 

Maybe this time of year helps to indentify the strange tool?