Christmas TSUBA

[ROKUJURO]

Yesterday, my Christmas gift to myself finally came. It took almost five weeks from AOI Arts to me, though the shipping time was less than two weeks. It was accompanied by a better quality KIRIBAKO which did not fit the rather smallish MEKUGI-ANA (!).

I am quite happy with it. It is a typical TEIMEI/SADANAGA TSUBA (unfortunately MUMEI) in acceptable condition, featuring two carpenter's squares as motif.

These TEIMEI TSUBA are often very simple in design, showing sometimes unusual motifs, but are very well made and were reliable accessories for SAMURAI. 

 

[Matsunoki]

Happy Christmas Jean! Nice bold tsuba. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, liking that, simple but strong. Does it actually say that they are carpenter's squares?

(Took a long time to work its way through!)

 

Congratulations.

[Brian]

Have a large one at home, I'll need to pull it out and take pics

[ROKUJURO]

Brian,

you have a large carpenter's square at home ?   

[Brian]

Actually...I do yes. I have a fairly well stocked workshop, very proud of it :-)

[Lou V]

I have had this one for over 30 years.  Way back when I started collecting and knew nothing.  Now I have many books and tsuba and still know nothing.

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said:

.....Does it actually say that they are carpenter's squares?...

Piers,

AOI described the design as "hooks", but tools and very simple elements are often found in TEIMEI TSUBA, so I took the definition from another source as it seemed much more plausible to me.

Do you have a different suggestion?

[ROKUJURO]

11 minutes ago, Lou V said:

.....Way back when I started collecting and knew nothing.  Now I have many books and tsuba and still know nothing.

Lou,

welcome to the club!

[Kurikata]

A similar tsuba in This thread: 

 

[ROKUJURO]

Merci Bruno!

[Bugyotsuji]

Shotoku Taishi holding a sashigane.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hs=jbFp&sca_esv=24bda720f578b1cc&hl=en-gb&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKp9lEhFAN_4ain3HSNQWw-mMGVXS0bCMe2eDZOQ2MOTwnRdx8cTjotWVyC2QMTVww_YBFX02fOeR-h4YTkfXLtUjsbkEQ71TRGYdTT7QocLO7g195D6ib_0dpEb3QJhPc8RuH5fi-Zj0WZCt67f8e5UnyfeSxo0pAD9Pd3ZdooYNG4m6TtZkeX60E_yiJ6whrL47XaLA&q=差金骨董&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi86_Tgx6-SAxX8slYBHdUTMLEQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=390&bih=699&dpr=3&aic=0#sv=CAMShgUa5gQKkAIKuQEStgEKd0FNbjMteVRsdWdUcE1xMUJpWUxLRW1hRnFqbC0taEE0NzluekFPbHpHRi1ySHgwOUstLVVZeWNDRHJRVUdrNEh4WHlkZmthSkMwMlpoUzVYT2J5dVdPajJuLXBqaTZ5VlVwbEFvOUlhMC1tZkF3NkNPOEFJQ1hvEhc5cko2YWM3WklMeUEycm9QdU8yQm9RURoiQUpLTEZtS0ZrZGp3OWlQQm1sQTU0NEFFWkFpdWd5RkZ6dxIDODQ5GgEzIhEKAXESDOW3rumHkemqqOiRoyIHCgN0YnMSACIuCgRlcWxkEiZDZ0lJQUJBQUtBRTZCQWdCRUFGQUFVZ0JWVjJYWVQ5dFZ1b2ZQdxK-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

[Bugyotsuji]

This thread, and the other one linked, has opened my eyes to Teimei tsuba. Many thanks. I had one a couple of years ago without knowing what it was, but I think I must have given it away as part of a deal.

 

The shape of your new tsuba reminded me of square iron hooks hammered into old Japanese building walls and pillars, or those adorning the uprights of shokudai candle holders, but I am more than happy to go with sashigane!