recent purchase. Tsuba signed Kaneie

[johnb]

I just bought this....Comments most appreciated. It has a diameter of 80 mm.

 

John B

[Soshin]

Hi John B.,

 

Nice Saga Kaneie school tsuba. I really like the design. The waves reminds me of a Umetada Shigenari tsuba I have. Shigenari often made tsuba in a Kaneie style but was a member of the Umetada school around the time of the sixth generation master Shigeyuki (ca. 1700). Here is a photo of the Shigenari tsuba I have for comparison. Both Shigenari and Saga Kaneie school often used nunome-zogan style gold inlays. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[johnb]

I'm not at all conversant on tsuba....but dare I say it....I know what I like. :lol: And I like your's very much. The waves are beautifully done. Funnily enough, I prefer the waves on the back!

 

John

[Soshin]

Thanks John B.,

The gold nunome-zogan style inlays on my tsuba were a bit worn off on the omote side due to rust pitting that have since been removed by the tsuba former owner. The ura side has the gold nunome-zogan style inlays in better condition. Your tsuba inlays all seems to be in good condition. Here is a scan of a similar tsuba to mine from the NBTHK Token-Bijutsu monthly magazine issue number 636. Notice the great similarly in the workmanship of the waves and the use of gold nunome-zogan style inlays. The signature is very good match as well in terms of how Umetada Shigenari (埋忠重成) Kanji is carved. As well as how the nakago-ana is finished is similar.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Soshin]

Here is a link to another Umetada Shigenari tsuba signed in a similar way as mine clearly also done in a Edo Period Kaneie style: http://www.nihonto.us/UMETADA%20SHIGENARI%20TSUBA.htm. I find it interesting that Shigenari also sometimes used the name Narishige on his tsuba. I just wanted to add the additional information I found on the web. All of this evidence supports the suggestion that I have heard and read that during and after the sixth generation the Umetada school mostly did copies of other popular styles/schools of the time period including Kaneie, Shoami, and even the Echizen Kinai. Some Japanese experts suggest this was the result of later generations not having the ability to recreate many of the masterpieces produced by Umetada Myoju, Umetada Myoshin, or any of the other early masters of the school. See attached image of a Umetada tsuba I have done in a style similar to the Echizen Kinai school. Comments and questions always welcome.

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Surfson]

Sorry to dredge up this old string, but I was just looking at some of my tsuba that I haven't touched in years and found this one.  According to Bob Haynes, he signed as both Narishige (here) and as Shigenari.  There is an example in the Lundgren sale at Christie's by this maker (I have the book, but the detail of the photo is not great - clearly a similar style).  I will upload a couple of pictures of this tsuba in Jeremiah's bunny string.