Tcat Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 If anyone can shed light on what exactly this tsuba is I would be very appreciative. Out of my small collection it is the only one I have absolutely no idea about regarding its origins. The photos do not do the patina justice. The iron is a very dark chocolate colour, the mimi which I think is shakudo is very smooth and shiny black. David's Daruma tsuba post reminded me because the mimi and iron look similar, but I may well be a country mile off the point. Quote
Soshin Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 Hi Alex, The rim is very similar to my tsuba it is a type of small turn back rim referred to as uchikaeshi-mimi (打返耳) in Japanese. The many ko-sukashi elements, that have been later filled with shakudo (赤銅), thickness of tsuba plate, and style rim reminds be of Edo Period Katchushi (甲冑師) (i.e. armor makers tsuba). Providing complete measurements including thickness would be helpful. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
Bazza Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 G'day All, Is it an uchikaeshi mimi or a fukurin??? Looks more like a fukurin to my eyes as it appears to have the same colour as the infills to the sukashi... Regards, BaZZa. Quote
Pete Klein Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 Alex -- it's probably Shonai work. It was made this way, not embellished. Quote
Soshin Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 G'day All, Is it an uchikaeshi mimi or a fukurin??? Looks more like a fukurin to my eyes as it appears to have the same colour as the infills to the sukashi... Regards, BaZZa. You could be right it's hard to see if the rim is a fukurin or iron polished and turned up like my Daruma tsuba rim is. Pete's observation is a vaid one. Mid to late Edo period Shoami would make sense. With all the inserts being original to the tsuba. Nice tsuba I like it. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
Tcat Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Posted February 17, 2012 Hi All, I just dug out the description from the auction... Apologies for not including measurements in the original post, schoolboy error: 71mm x 70mm x 4mm Is it an uchikaeshi mimi or a fukurin??? Looks more like a fukurin to my eyes as it appears to have the same colour as the infills to the sukashi... Bazza, you were right; description is : Tsuba with fukurin, tomoe and sea cucumber (??) I believe it is Edo, but couldnt decide whether like David said, it was an older tusba modified and filled or if it was simply made that way. Alex -- it's probably Shonai work. It was made this way, not embellished. Pete's observation is a vaid one. Mid to late Edo period Shoami would make sense. With all the inserts being original to the tsuba. Shonai = Shoami? Is a fukurin defined as a separately fitted rim, as opposed to a mimi formed from the same material as the main body of the tsuba? Thanks to all! Quote
John A Stuart Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 Shonai is a Shoami group. See here. http://www.ncjsc.org/item_tsuba_shonai_shoami.htm A fukurin is a seperate rim added to the base plate. usually a different and complimentary metal. John Quote
Grey Doffin Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 Reminds me of a tsuba I own, which is papered by the Fittings Museum to Shonai Shoami. BTW, I really like your tsuba, Alex. Grey Quote
Pete Klein Posted February 17, 2012 Report Posted February 17, 2012 Hi Grey -- that was mine at one time and why I went with Shonai. There is a Japanese book which is on Shonai. Unfortunately, mine is now in NJ. BTW: Shonai is the region where Yasuchika and Arichika started out. Quote
Tcat Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Posted February 18, 2012 John, David, Pete, Grey, thank you very much for the enlightenment and kind words. This was the first tsuba I collected and probably my favorite. It really looks better (softer, richer, deeper) in person. I see something similar being offered on ebay. Eric at Owazamono used to have it, now it is with fujisanblack but has no fukurin. I wonder if they are the same school considering the lack of fukurin and the example Grey posted. A final question, why there seems to be a gold residue on some parts of the plate? Just little dots and streaks, but enough to assure me Im not seeing thing and make me think there may have once been something there. Again, I have no idea what this would indicate though. So interesting, thanks very much. Quote
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