In Search of Katsuhira's Tiger -- An Utsushi Tsuba

ThePepperSkull · 1st August 2012, 10:39 PM

Reading backlogs of threads here had gotten me really interested in metal work and the complexities therein. It began with reading about Suasa, then looking at Battara's wonderful restoration work, then onto reading about different cultures and their metalworking traditions until I stumbled upon this.

The metalwork in this short documentary is just amazing. mixing metals, inlaying metals, mixing more metals for further inlay, chisel chisel chisel, gold gilding. wow. Blown away.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMj7o6AwnM

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0VnL30rDc

This definitely makes me apprecite the work put into the fittings in addition to the blades of the pieces I find myself taking care of.

laEspadaAncha · 1st August 2012, 11:39 PM

Following the edict by the Emperor Meiji in 1876 outlawing the carrying of swords by the Samurai class, many of these artisans (like Katsuhira) migrated to the decorative arts, and began producing purely decorative metalware items, like vases or okimono, some of which are every bit as exquisite as this tsuba.

Thanks for posting this, TPS...

VANDOO · 6th August 2012, 08:35 PM

THANKS FOR THE LINKS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE JAPANESE METAL WORK TO BE REMARKABLE BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN HOW IT WAS DONE. AFTER VIEWING THESE VIDEOS I SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT REALLY IS AND APPRECIATE SUCH WORK EVEN MORE.

lemmythesmith · 11th August 2012, 11:00 PM

Hi Guys, I've seen the utsushi and the original other half of the pair together "in the flesh" and you cannot tell that they are by different artists, they are stunning.

Regards, Graham.

asomotif · 13th August 2012, 12:23 AM

Nice to see that there are artists around who can still (re)create such masterpieces.

1st August 2012, 10:39 PM	#1
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	In Search of Katsuhira's Tiger -- An Utsushi Tsuba Reading backlogs of threads here had gotten me really interested in metal work and the complexities therein. It began with reading about Suasa, then looking at Battara's wonderful restoration work, then onto reading about different cultures and their metalworking traditions until I stumbled upon this. The metalwork in this short documentary is just amazing. mixing metals, inlaying metals, mixing more metals for further inlay, chisel chisel chisel, gold gilding. wow. Blown away. Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMj7o6AwnM Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0VnL30rDc This definitely makes me apprecite the work put into the fittings in addition to the blades of the pieces I find myself taking care of.

1st August 2012, 11:39 PM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Following the edict by the Emperor Meiji in 1876 outlawing the carrying of swords by the Samurai class, many of these artisans (like Katsuhira) migrated to the decorative arts, and began producing purely decorative metalware items, like vases or okimono, some of which are every bit as exquisite as this tsuba. Thanks for posting this, TPS...

6th August 2012, 08:35 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THANKS FOR THE LINKS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE JAPANESE METAL WORK TO BE REMARKABLE BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN HOW IT WAS DONE. AFTER VIEWING THESE VIDEOS I SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT REALLY IS AND APPRECIATE SUCH WORK EVEN MORE.

11th August 2012, 11:00 PM	#4
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi Guys, I've seen the utsushi and the original other half of the pair together "in the flesh" and you cannot tell that they are by different artists, they are stunning. Regards, Graham.

13th August 2012, 12:23 AM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice to see that there are artists around who can still (re)create such masterpieces.