Tsuba Otaku (鍔おたく)
Reflections of a Not So Empty Mind
(鍔ギャラリー③) Tsuba Gallery #3
Tachibana Shigeyoshi Tsuba (橘重義鐔)
Japanese Title: 漢字の図鐔 (kanji no zu tsuba)
Material: Iron (tetsu 鉄)
Age: Early Edo Period (江戸時代初期)
Size: 7.2 cm X 7.0 cm, 4.0 cm at rim, 4.6 cm at seppa-dai
Signature: Tachibana Shigeyoshi saku (橘重義作), Umetada Shichizaemon (埋忠七左衛門)
Shape: Tatemaru-gata (竪丸形)
Surface Finish: Arashi-ji (荒らし地)
Attachment: None
A fine forged iron (tetsu 鉄) sword handguard (tsuba 鐔) made to be mounted on a long sword (katana刀). The raised rim (dote-mimi 土手耳) is thinner compared to the middle of the tsuba (seppa-dai 切羽台). It was signed full signature Tachibana Shigeyoshi (橘重義), Shichizaemon (七左衛門) of the Umetada (埋忠) school during the early part of Edo Period in the old capital of Kyōto (京都). This specific artist worked in Kyōto circa 1625 CE based upon other signed and dated examples of this work. Later generations of the artists moved from the old capital of Kyōto to the new capital of Edo (江戸).
Both side of the tsuba has designs done in high relief (takabori 高彫) consisting of four Chinese ideograms (kanji 漢字). On the front side the top character is (ki 煕) meaning bright or shine. The character to the right is (nei 寧) meaning peaceful or tranquil. The character to the left is (hin 賓) meaning guest. The bottom character is (gen 元) meaning foundation. On the reverse side the top character is (kai 開) meaning to open or to unseal. On the right character is (jō 承) meaning accept or consent. The character on left is the same as on front side but written in a different script style. The bottom character is also the same as on the front side. The overall theme of both sides of the tsuba is likely a Confucian maxim, but more research is required to completely determine its overall meaning.
Provenance: From the Dean Yamada Collection purchased at the 2026 Chicago Show.
Ko-Nara Tsuba (古奈良鐔)
Japanese Title: 火縄銃図鐔
Material: Iron (Tetsu 鉄)
Age: Mid Edo Period (江戸時代中期)
Size: 8.0 cm X 8.5 cm, 4.0 mm at rim.
Signature: Mumei (無銘)
Shape: Mokkō-gata (木瓜形)
Surface Finish: Tsuchime-ji (槌目地)
Attachment: Wooden Storage Box
This is unsigned (mumei 無銘) handguard (tsuba 鐔) of a long Japanese sword (katana 刀). Due to quality of the inlays and characteristics iron plate likely means this tsuba is a work of the Ko-Nara Ryūha (古奈良流派) made during the middle Edo Period before the time of the third generation Nara master, Tabei Toshinaga (太兵衛利壽) who lived from 1667-1736 CE.
The design is of a (Hinawajū 火縄銃) early flintlock pistol and all its accessories. The design is done in high relief (takabori 高彫) highlighted nicely with three different soft metals of brass (shinchu 真鍮), silver (gin 銀), and (shakudō 赤銅). The design continues onto the backside of the tsuba showing the long fuse used to fire this type of early firearm. The nicely raised rim shows wonderful iron bones (tekkotsu 鉄骨).
Previous Owners Comments on inside of box lid:
“Very unusual design on tsuchime surface tsuba Hinawaju + target. Reverse has hemp cord for fire. Looks to be Ko-Nara work of early Mid Edo. Matchlock + barrel are early design. 1st tsuba of this design I have owned.”
Provenance: Purchased from the collection of John (Jack) Frost.
Jakushi Tsuba (若芝鐔)
Japanese Title:: 龍の図鐔 (ryū no zu tsuba)
Material: Iron (tetsu 鉄)
Age: End of the Edo Period (江戸時代末期)
Size: 6.7 cm X 7.4 cm, 3.0 mm at rim.
Signature: Omote: Kiyō-sanjin Jakushi (崎陽山人 若芝)
Ura: Ryū unken Koretaka + kaō (龍雲軒 是高「花押」)
Shape: Maru-gata (丸形)
Surface Finish: Yakite-kusarakashi (焼手腐らかし)
Attachment: None
A forged iron (tetsu 鉄) handguard (鐔). It was likely made for use on a long sword (katana 刀). The design is that of a dragon among fire and clouds of smoke. The dragon’s eyes, clouds of smoke, and flames of fire is colored (iroe 色絵) vividly with gold fabric inlays (kin nunome-zōgan 金布目象嵌) that contrast nicely with dark patina of the heat treated corroded (kusarakashi 腐らかし) surface. Interesting enough the dragon that is pictured on the tsuba is female as indicated by the shape of end of the tail. The plate of the tsuba has a uniform thickness from the middle (seppa-dai 切羽台) towards the rim (mimi 耳). The rim is a rounded square (kaku-mimi koinku 角耳小肉) in shape.
The front of the tsuba is signed by the artist: Kiyō-sanjin Jakushi (崎陽山人 若芝). On the reverse side design continues. It is signed by a second artist: Ryū unken Koretaka + kaō (龍雲軒 是高「花押」). Based upon demographic information I can find in the reference The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists by Robert E. Haynes the two artists are recorded. The first artist who signed the front (omote 表) is Haynes Index entry number H11981.0. He is recorded as being an artist of Jakushi School who made tsuba and kozuka in the city of Nagasaki (長崎) located in Province of Hizen (肥前國). The recorded date of this death is 1857 CE. The artist signing the reverse (ura 裏) is Haynes Index entry number H03485.0. This artist has a dated piece 1851 CE, and his recorded date of death is September 12, 1878, CE. With this information I can estimate this tsuba being made sometime in the early 1850s before death of the first artist in 1857 CE. The first artist signing the front of the tsuba was likely the teacher and the artist signing the reverse was likely the student.
Provenance: Joe Rigano Collection