Night Watch

[Stu W]

Here's a little something for your viewing pleasure. An early Edo period Hamano School tsuba. I don't collect tsuba nor have I really studied them but have picked up a few here and there along the way.

Regards,
Stu

[stegel]

That's very nice Stu, the intricate details i always find fascinating, the more you look - the more you see!
A friend of mine has one with Samurai archers on horseback, same sort of amazing detail.
I've added a pic of my one solitary tsuba. It is Raiden, the god of thunder.
I bought it a while back because it reached out and spoke to me.... and i was cashed up!
I have no idea what school or smith, but i assume it is edo period.
Ern

[stegel]

Here's another from one of my swords, it has tiny little panels that when you zoom in on, show a great amount of detail! One is of a peacock, the other of a goat, i don't know what significance they have.
i'm amazed at how they could of made them.
I assume the rest of the tsuba background is clouds?
Ern

[Stu W]

Great tsuba Ern! Thanks for posting.

Here is another of mine, made in the shape of the Satsuma Family Crest and has a carved wave rim. This dates from the 1600s and came to me via Grey Doffin.

Regards,
Stu

[BOB COLEMAN]

Nice sukashi tsuba Stu.Construction appears to be early Edo period. As John Yumoto Sensei used to say, a true functional tsuba requiresd a strong rim, which this guard has.

[harryamb2]

amazing workmanship.

[rbminis]

Very nice Stu!
I really like the first one.
Ralph.

[ghp95134]

Yes, background squiggles represent clouds.

The seal:
宗親
Munechika

In googling the kanji and romaji, there are other artisans named Munechika .... but use different kanji. I'm hoping our resident experts can identify your tsuba's maker.



--Guy

[ghp95134]

DUDE!!!

Your tsuba's twin brother is in the Oxford University Ashmolean Museum!!

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with fan mounts depicting a phoenix and a unicorn


Associated place
Japan (place of creation)

Date
19th century (1801 - 1900)

Artist/maker
Munechika (active 19th century) (armourer)

Material and technique
iron, with stamped silver

Dimensions
8.3 x 7.7 x 0.4 cm (height x width x depth)

Material index
iron,
silver

Technique index
forged,
stamped,
stamped

Object type index
tsuba

No. of items
1

Credit line
Bequeathed by Sir Arthur H. Church, 1915.

Accession no.
EAX.10211

[SteveR]

Nice Tsubas guys.