Landscape Tsuba

Well, off to another subject. I like to create art, but I also appreciate art that is well done. I purchased this tsuba in 2013 when I wanted to continue to study swords but the funds were not available to purchase new specimens. Therefore, I realized that I could get the best of both worlds at a fair price by collecting tsuba. The tsuba is basically a sword-guard for a Japanese blade. The tsuba in this blog is one that I purchased from a seller in Japan. It is iron, most likely forged by an armorer sometime in the 1700's. Anyway, below are a few pictures of the tsuba for your enjoyment, the Research Log Journal entry, and the original research blippit that I compiled for my electronic records. I hope it is enjoyed.

Here is my Research Log Journal Entry (pen and ink):

I have been perusing the design of this tsuba and was wondering what type of fruits were on the vine as it meandered up to the flowers. I was able to find that the flower is a representation of those found on the Japanese Virgin Bower vine; it is in the same genus as the Clematis vine in the states. My research found the Bower vine fruit but it did not match the design at all. After closer scrutiny of the design, I realized that the “fruits” are actually two Gibbons holding hands! The upper Gibbon is holding onto the Bower vine and the hand of the second, who is reaching for a reflection of the moon in water! In fact, closer inspection shows a small sliver of silver which appears to be shrouded by clouds in the upper left and its mirrored reflection at bottom center. The Gibbon’s eyes are dots of gold and if one looks closely, one set is being reflected in the water as well! I have been interested in tsuba with this representation, but never thought that I would ever have one. The sale description stated nothing about this design nor the design on the ura (private, or back) of the tsuba which portrays a small hut with silver inlay below towering mountains, slightly obscured by clouds, in the background! It is interesting that the sekigane (filler on either end of the nakago hitsu ana – tang hole) are copper on the bottom and silver on the top. There are also tagane ato (chisel divits) to further the accuracy of fit to the tang.

I found a few other tsuba representations of Gibbons reaching for the moon in this same format…originally, the design was made by an artist named Sesshu who lived from 1450-1506. Musashi also used this design for several of his works, namely a kaeritsuno (the catch on the saya, or scabbard, to keep it secured in the sash when drawing the blade) for a wakizashi. Other artists that used this form in tsuba were the Kaneiye and Nobuiye schools of Myochin armorers. Several of the tsuba from these schools show the same type of rim design on the omote (public, or front).

According to Haynes, the Nobuiye school uses a surface treatment called Ji-mon that mixes engraving with hammer work…additionally, the mimi (rim) treatment of Uchikaeshi where the rim is rolled and hammered back into the plate is also present in this tsuba. Thickness is correct as is the overall size. Also, the plate uses the yakite shitate method of remelting the plate surface to produce a glaze-like appearance.

The type of carving (especially on the side with the gibbons) is a style known as kosuki-tagane. This type of engraving is basically “wide channel engraving,” Haynes, Tsuba and Aesthetic Study, p.25. Interestingly, the opposite side of the tsuba is in positive relief. Definitely a Katchushi tsuba.

Rf-201309.

Anyway, perhaps I will post some more of the tsuba in my collection later...

R.