Reference for Momoyama and Early Edo Period Tosho Tsuba...

[Soshin]

I a interested in doing some more research about Tosho tsuba from the Momoyama and early Edo periods. Could anyone point me in the direction of some information about Tosho tsuba made during these time periods. I have some good references for Nambokucho and Muramachi Period Tosho works but don't have any references with good examples and information dating from the Momyama Period and onward to the early part of the Edo period. I will be sure to ask for some examples at the Tampa Sword Show this weekend. Thanks in advance for helping me with my next research tosogu project.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[Henry Wilson]

If you mean the Tosho style of tsuba, I am not so sure there is much written about them as they are regraded as only being revival pieces. The book "Tsuba no Bi" has some examples I think but not much of a description.

 

I owned an early Edo Tosho tsuba and while it was a good honest tsuba, it was lacking compared to earlier pieces IMHO.

[Soshin]

If you mean the Tosho style of tsuba, I am not so sure there is much written about them as they are regraded as only being revival pieces. The book "Tsuba no Bi" has some examples I think but not much of a description.

 

I owned an early Edo Tosho tsuba and while it was a good honest tsuba, it was lacking compared to earlier pieces IMHO.

Yes Henry that is what I was referring to in starting this thread. While I do have some revival Tosho style tsuba from the Edo period that are clear copies of early work. I can also say that I also have some labeled Tosho style tsuba that display a fair amount of independent artistic character using general Tosho techniques such as in-sukashi (negative silhouetting). The tsubashi was I think trying to execute a more complex naturalistic design not seen in the earlier Tosho style tsuba from the Nambokucho and Muramachi Periods.

Thanks for providing the reference "Tsuba no Bi" I will try to find it.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[Ludolf Richter]

I believe,a Tsuba made by a swordsmith during the Momomoya-and -early-Shinto-period is a rare exception to those made by the new profession of Tsubako (Umetada,Kaneie,Nobuie,etc.).To date a Tosho-Tsuba to that late era is nearly unpossible.Ludolf

[Henry Wilson]

I think this is an Edo period tosho which belonged to me once.

 

[Soshin]

I believe,a Tsuba made by a swordsmith during the Momomoya-and -early-Shinto-period is a rare exception to those made by the new profession of Tsubako (Umetada,Kaneie,Nobuie,etc.).To date a Tosho-Tsuba to that late era is nearly unpossible.Ludolf

 

Ludolf,

 

I think you right that Momoyama and early Edo Period Tosho style tsuba were made by professional tsubako working in or doing a variations of what was done by non-professional swordsmith tsuba makers of earlier time periods. I know some just copied earlier works from the Nambokucho and Muramachi Periods while others used the same basic techniques to create something more original with a different aesthetic balance to it.

 

Henry,

 

Thanks for providing an example of a Edo utsushi (copy) of a Tosho tsuba made during the Nambokucho and Muramachi Periods.

To post more photos of tsuba on a forum about tosogu here is an example I have which I and the former own thinks dates to the early Edo Period. This is primarily indicated I think by the bean shaped kozuka hitsu-ana as well as the color of patina. From my references of earlier Nambokucho and Muramachi Periods Tosho tsuba I don't remember this complex and naturalistic designs being done in in-sukashi and raiding file-marks (amida-yasuri). The techniques are associated with Edo Period Tosho style tsuba made by professional tsubako stated in Tsuba An Aesthetic Study by Kazutaro Torigoye and Robert E. Hayes page 18 but having more examples would be helpful.

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[Henry Wilson]

The work on the rim and the amount of open work makes me think Katchushi.

[Soshin]

I noticed the same thing with the upturned and finely folded rim (uchikaeshi-mimi). The in-sukashi is also complex and extensive. The overall size of the tsuba is 8.4 cm by 8.3 cm. The thickness at the center (seppa-dai) is 3.5 mm and narrows to 2.8 mm at the rim (mimi). In Tsuba An Aesthetic Study by Kazutaro Torigoye and Robert E. Hayes page 25 says that artificial use of yasurime is characteristic of Momoyama and early Edo Katchushi work. The idea that this tsuba was produced by professional tsubako working in what was once a style of non-professional tsuba makers of earlier periods still hold true even if my example tsuba is a Katchushi work. Thanks for the information it has been a very helpful learning process.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.