Shozui tsuba

[Surfson]

Hi All. This tsuba came from a museum collection at St John's University several years ago. I have been thinking about submitting it to the shinsa in Minneapolis, and would like to hear folks opinions about the work and the mei. Cheers, Bob

[edzo]

Hi Robert, It looks nice to me (a beginner), but i have a question if you don't mind responding. It would seem to me that the high relief of the saya would interfere with the seppa and fuchi. Am i correct?, or were the spacers adapted or maybe it was not intended to be mounted? Just asking and trying to learn, as i said am a beginner.

Respectfully, Ed F

[ububob]

Ed, without having the tsuba in hand I would guess that it has been mounted. That is suggested by the presence of punch marks and sekigane at the ha and mune ends of the nakago ana.

[edzo]

Dear Robert, Thanks for your response. I took a second look at the photos and noticed in the first one that the sword saya is in low relief obviously to provide a firm 'flush fit. Thanks again, won't be so quick next time, Respectfully Ed F.

[Surfson]

Ed, it's a valid point, I believe. First, I agree with Bob, that it has been mounted, based on the copper in the nakago ana as well as the presence of a slightly different shade in the seppa dai and the marks from a seppa pointed out by Bob. I have had one person dismiss the tsuba as "Hamamono", which means kodogu for export in the Meiji period, but I think that the above evidence that it has been mounted makes that unlikely. As to your point, it has occurred to me as well, and it does seem like a waste of energy to put design that resides in the seppa dai. It does complete his sword however, and the thought may have been better to finish the art work than leave shorten the sword from the wrong end. I would encourage any opinions about whether the mei is good or not, and whether other members of the NMB would submit it for shinsa or not in Minneapolis. Cheers, Bob