Sendai Katchushi Tsuba

[Akitombo]

Hi,

Could I please have some help to place this tsuba in my collection.

I feel that with it's age, size and the file marks, it could fit into the slot of Sendai Katchushi, would that be a fair call?

Regards

David

[Akitombo]

Whoops, forgot the sizes,

75.9mm x 77.08mm

3.2mm on the mimi and 2.4mm on the centre

David

[Soshin]

Hi David,

 

What is Sendai Katchushi? Can your provide references with more information or other examples of this groups work?

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Akitombo]

Hi David,

I am working on the following comments by Bob Haynes on the Shibuiswords site:

"A fine classic iron plate katchushi tsuba. Both sides of the plate with "rain" style file marks, that is later to be found on Sendai katchushi tsuba. With sukashi design of three tumble dolls (kukurizaru) and one hitsu-ana. The rim has good iron bones (tokketsu). This type of katchushi tsuba was made for the most part in the middle to late Muromachi period." (Haynes)

David

[Thierry BERNARD]

on of my katchushi tsuba

pine trees under rain and snow

7.9x8x2.2mm

[Soshin]

Hi David,

I am working on the following comments by Bob Haynes on the Shibuiswords site:

"A fine classic iron plate katchushi tsuba. Both sides of the plate with "rain" style file marks, that is later to be found on Sendai katchushi tsuba. With sukashi design of three tumble dolls (kukurizaru) and one hitsu-ana. The rim has good iron bones (tokketsu). This type of katchushi tsuba was made for the most part in the middle to late Muromachi period." (Haynes)

David

 

Hi David,

 

Do you have a photo or a link to a photo of the tsuba Bob Haynes was referring to in the above statement? Does your tsuba have good iron bones along its rim? Is the Sendai in "Sendai Katchushi" referning to the north-eastern Honshu the modern day location of the city of Sendai?

 

Hi Thierry,

 

Nice tsuba! :D Is it Sendai Katchushi or just pain old Katchushi?

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Akitombo]

David,

Here is the tsuba, check out the website shibuiswords.com, then go into the Robert Haynes section.

Regards

David

[Akitombo]

David,

In fact, what I would like to do is open this whole topic up, Sendai is an area, but was it famous for the "rain style"? and lets get to grips with the difference between a swordsmith and armour makers tsuba, because it seems a very grey area.

Come on guys, what are the boxes we can put these tsuba in, Sasano puts the difference between Ko-Tosho and Ko-Katchushi as as Katchushi has more ornament and raised rims, both are generally round.

Does that make the mokko shaped one I have shown, later?

Over to you

David

[Soshin]

Hi David,

 

I still don't see the connection between decorative file marks in a rain like pattern and Sendai city in northeastern Japan. Opening this topic up might be a good idea. I generally accept Sasano characterization of what is Ko-Katchushi and what is Ko-Tosho. There are sometimes old tsuba that don't completely fall into one or the other categories. Below is a tsuba I discussed in my JSSUS newsletter article as Tosho circa Late Muromachi Period primary due to the style of rim (maru-mimi with no turn up), thinness of the plate at rim (3.2 mm), and color of the patina, but does have a few characteristics of a Katchushi tsuba in terms of the complexly of the openwork design. The iron is softer in feel them what I have observed in Saotome school work. It has nice small granular iron bones along its rim common to pre Edo Period tsuba.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Henry Wilson]

In my opinion the main differences between Tosho and Katchushi are the types of metal used and the surface hammer work. From my experience Tosho tends to be black with rougher (but non-the-less pleasing) hammer work and Katchushi tends to be brown with softer and more subtle hammer work.

 

The tsuba David has posted above to me looks Owari not Tosho. I think becasue of the shape, the colour of the metal, the melted effect the iron has and the style of open work as well as a general softness of feeling. To me the motif looks like a stylized dango 団子 which was a banner of Nobunaga.

 

As for the Sendai and rain pattern, I sometimes wonder how Kamakurabori Tsuba got their name...

 

The initial tsuba posted to me looks possibly old (the metal and hitsuana suggest this this) but the file marks look younger as they are very clear and seem relativley newly cut. The lobes of the flower pattern look Edo ish too me. It could be an Edo tsuba in rough condition.

 

Just my opinion and food for thought. Ko Tosho and Ko Katchushi tsuba are my all time favourite tsuba so I hope the above helps...

[Soshin]

The tsuba David has posted above to me looks Owari not Tosho. I think becasue of the shape, the colour of the metal, the melted effect the iron has and the style of open work as well as a general softness of feeling. To me the motif looks like a stylized dango 団子 which was a banner of Nobunaga.

 

Hi Henry,

 

I was questioning if I should it include that tsuba in my Tosho article as I really liked the design and overall feel of the tsuba so much so that when it came up for sale on NMB I purchased it from the cited own of the tsuba in my article. I have been in this field of study long enough not to have to much ego intrested into what I think a design is or isn't. Your idea that the motif is a stylized dango 団子 a banner used by Nobunaga I find just as intresting as me thinking it was a gorinto (五輪塔) and the file marks represented Amida Nyorai radiating aura. In your analysis the file marks would represent Nobunaga radiating aura. :lol: Quick question what early Owari school would you classify my tsuba as?

 

I agree with you analysis of the original tsuba and it is hard in my opinion to nail down a time period for production. The hitsu-ana shape and thickness makes me think pre Edo but the surface and patina makes me wonder.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Sitles

[Henry Wilson]

Quick question what early Owari school would you classify my tsuba as?

 

Hi David

 

I am not that well versed in Owari sub groups. If I were to flick through Owari To Mikawa No Tanko, I would expect to see something like it under Yamakichibei. At a guess I would say a late-ish Edo period Yamakichibei koubasaku 工場作. The metal, the roundness of the sukashi cuts and the general feel makes me think so,... but like I say this is just a guess and I am probably way off. I am sure other members could give you a more concrete answer though...

 

The design could also represent a folded and tied peice of paper....

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos- ... 70R-125190

 

Cheers

[docliss]

The recent thread regarding Sendai katchūshi tsuba, posted by David, I find very interesting, having previously been unfamiliar with the attribution to this area of katchūchi tsuba demonstrating linear, rain-like engraving.

 

Sendai is the major city of the department of Miyagi-ken, on the island of Hondō. This department was created in 1868, and corresponds largely to the former province of Mutsu. This latter province, together with Dewa, formed the district of Ou, comprising the whole Northern part of the island of Hondō. This contained the district of Aizu, and the towns of Sendai and Shōnai, all important centres of tsuba production. In addition to the large Aizu Shōami school, the district of Aizu also harboured two generations of artists who used the signature of Hirokuni and worked, in the 1700s, in the katchūshi style. Whether or not these featured rain-like decoration I know not.

 

The attached image is of a tsuba demonstrating a similat decoration, which would probably be considered as katchūshi in style, but is not Sendai in origin.. Measuring 7.0 cm – 6.9 cm – 0.3 cm, it has a kaku-mimi demonstrating granular tokketsu, and is signed KISHU (NO)JU SADANAGA. Four or five generations of artists (H 07752.0) signing their work thus worked in the province of Kii into the mid C18. The first of these was a student of Hōan Kawaguchi.

 

John L.