Sai-Hai Theme Tsuba...

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Have not posting anything new on NMB tosogu forum for a few months. Just finished with photos of a new tsuba I purchased after selling three tsuba and a koshirea. The design is of a sai-hai or baton carried by a samurai commander in feudal Japan. The sai-hai was culturally a sign of rank. Here is a link for more information about the design via Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saihai. The overall size is a small one at 6.5 cm X 6.2 cm. The thickness at the rim is 5.7 mm. The tsuba is really fun to look at in hand.

The characteristics of the iron (color and sandiness), overall size, and square rim reminds me of the Futagoyama school of the Owari Province circa late Edo Period. Here is a NBTHK Hozon Tosogu Kanteisho example of the schools work on my website:http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeo23jk/id20.html. The tsuba on the right side of the screen. Layers can be observed along the inside edge of the openings much like the tsuba on my website. The original owner was thinking it was a late generation Yagyu tsuba and the Futagoyama school headed by Iwata Norisuke did make some late Yagyu tsuba but I am not sure if the Hai-Sai is a design found in the Yagyu Family design books. Please feel free to comment, add additional information, and thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[cspage]

Thank you, David, for posting these pics and interpretation of the design. This was my 2nd choice from the recent Holbrook tsubas that Grey has on offer. I went for another instead. It's always nice to see different pics, lighting, etc. on the tsubas offered online. And, of course, to read further information surrounding the tsubas. Much appreciated.

 

It's also inspired me to get some together on the tsuba I purchased from Grey and see what everyone has to say about it.

Will post them soon.

 

Colin

[Soshin]

Hi Colin,

 

Thanks for the reply. Grey did tell me that other people were intrested in it but I was the first. Next time I am at a show I will need to ask Skip about this tsuba. Not having access to the Yagyu design books I can't confirm if this is a Yagyu tsuba. Regardless it is inline with what I want to collect be clearly of Owari origin.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[christianmalterre]

David,

 

it´s not in the scetch-book(s)...

Congratulations!-This is a good Tsuba anyways!-You made an very nice choice here

 

Christian

[Rich T]

David, I doubt very much this is Yagyu, but it might be Norisuke work, the second perhaps.

 

Rich

[Soshin]

Hi Christian,

 

Thanks for the nice reply and letting me know if the design is in the Yagyu design book or not. That bit of information is very helpful.

 

Hi Rich T.,

 

Thanks for the reply as well. Looking at Skip's note again about the tsuba it says Iwata Norisuke who is the second generation Norisuke and head of the Futagoyama school. If you know of anyone selling the book Owari To Mikawa No Tanko by Sugawara that would be great. I would like to have it to continue my study of tsuba from Owari.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Henry Wilson]

David

 

I found this in "Owari To Mikawa No Tanko". I hope it is of help.

 

 

On the subject of Yagyu tsuba, is it common for them to have inlay of any sort?

[Soshin]

Hi Henry,

 

Thanks for the information and doing some research in that book. This book is still worth getting and I consider it my next purchase. It looks like the Sai-Hai is a common design for Yagyu tsuba from looking at the photo in Owari To Mikawa No Tanko. The caption also states that Yagyu tsuba of the third period (primarily made by Norisuke and the Futagoyama school) also used the Sai-Hai design theme. I would love to see in the two books sited in the caption as sources of the design if they have some Yagyu tsuba that are ita in place of sukashi tsuba with a Sai-Hai theme.

Yagyu tsuba can be both ita and sukashi but in answer to you question I don't think Yagyu tsuba used inlays of any type. Here is a NBTHK papered ita Yagyu tsuba: http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/tsuba/F10412.html. I have came across another Yagyu with this crossed stick design but it was done in ji-sukashi.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I found another sai-hai themed Yagyu tsuba published in Sasano's first book (gold colored dust cover) on Sukashi tsuba page 164. Here is the scan of that page for other peoples reference. Sasano dates this tsuba to the Middle Edo Period. My tsuba is likely a late Edo Period Yagyu, Ko-dai (later generation) tsuba with the same classic theme made by Norisuke and the Futagoyama school.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles