All Activity
- Past hour
-
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Brian replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Why are we generalizing about dealers in a question about one? Just disrespectful. Please start a new topic if you want to generalize. -
Jean, Sorry about that after a long - time study of the sword I am still an amateur. They are ordinary ones with contours. I assume you will make them. Regards Bob
-
Looks like something made by Hanwei. I just checked their site and didn't see any WWII replicas, but I have seen examples of their work posted on NMB. Top notch workmanship.
- Today
-
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Rawa replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Bigger fool theory -
Bob, it may not be a "s**t storm" (SHITODOME) TSUBA, but a SHITOGI TACHI TSUBA? The SEPPA look like ordinary ones with the adapted bend.
-
Ray, Awesome books. But does need to be noted that there are 2 Japanese volumes making up the set of these books....you are missing the other Japanese photo one. Then there is a rare additional volume with the English explanations, and that you do have there. So half the 2 book set, plus the additional volume. Worth checking out there what's available, as I daresay this will affect value and they are out there complete for considerably less. Sorry, but needed to be mentioned.
-
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Alex A replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Im not talking about the dealer mentioned here. There are dealers that specifically target wealthy individuals that lack the necessary knowledge, in fact do very well from it. You could say the same about many antiquity dealers of all kinds of antiques. Those that know what I'm referring to will know the dealer/dealers in question. Just a point that i felt needed a mention. -
Hanging scroll Tokugawa and his lords
kiku replied to kiku's topic in Assorted Samurai, Japanese Art and Related Items
Hello members, I am open fpr fair offers. Please contact me if you are interessted Best Sebastian -
I have had a Chiyozuru katana in the past that had some minor scratches in the same way as well but more prominent (I am certain it was used for cutting something, likely by a westerner). Also some slight damage on the Hamon and cutting edge which doesn’t seem to be the case with this sword. It could have been used or iaido in Japan which is more common than you’d think. A lot of sellers still sell blades from the Muromachi period as Iaido blades.
-
Gentlemen, I completely understand and I'm not saying these scratches should impact blade quality or price. It really looks like a very nice deal. I would buy it personally if I could just afford it. What is interesting for me is the fact that scratches look like typical Temeshigiri 'flaw'. I was just wondering who and why (can't understand why people would use antique blades for that) used it for cutting.
-
Kobayashi Taigen, Zen Calligraphy of "Ichi" (一)
Chris Colman replied to Iaido dude's topic in Other Japanese Arts
Wonderful. -
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Rivkin replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Specific list where I think descriptions are significantly diverging from what I believe to be the right description? It would be a rather large one, and the end result would still be "no, I don't think so, yes I think so" and back to square one - my opinion very often diverges significantly from the one expressed by the site. I can even assume in some cases it is the site description which is correct, and I am not. It is what it is. -
Can we see a picture of the blade? Preferably of the Hada? Greetings, Lex
-
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Brian replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Not going to allow this. Dealers are what the name implies. I won't allow vague and unwarranted insinuations based on nothing. -
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Rivkin replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
If a Ford dealer said - well, in truth, Honda has fewer breakdowns and our service hours are twice as expensive, but we have higher fuel consumption - he probably wouldn't be successful in selling If a seller doesn't include misleading information, but emphasizes sales arguments in a positive light, then he is just applying the right sales strategy Yeap. To me, there is a way dealer's descriptions are written, the rule of the genre. It is seldom the right place to wonder out loud if "jutetsu" is real or ponder if XVIth century Tulwar does have a chance to come out as XVIIth century one. Buying or selling, sometimes its just hard to be truly cynical and skeptical. Ciceron "On honor" re: why one should not sell antiques. But then his solution was to teach a slave to sell them. Then someone forwards the description and asks if its really XVIth century. And then I wonder if I am being overly skeptical when responding simply because I want to feel superior to "those dealers who say things that suit them"... Can't trust people who suggest dealer's description "is wrong and self-serving". Can't trust dealer's descriptions either. Can't trust myself, this one I learned many times. Unfortunately the only way to make really good money in antique business is to catch a wave. In 2000s it was Gulf, Russians, to an extent Chinese. Were these collectors educated? Back then nobody was in the respective fields. Often big trades and investments happen when the field is young and emotions are high. Then comes the knowledge, except now there is little to buy, most of the great mysteries are solved and you've seen most of the things to be seen. No, I would not rate the top 1% collectors in most fields as top 1% educated. "institutional" investors who believe in forced diversification of their portfolio and buy antiques as outliers because of their reduced correlation with stocks/property. The dream of every antique dealer since they buy the most expensive items in what they believe to be a growing valuation field. -
Hello Adam, These areas are some scratches that are visible on the blade when photographing it in my current method. I do not observe them in hand. The blade has not been polished for a while, so some scratches like these are normal. and thank you @Marius for the feedback! I am currently still figuring the photographing part out. The PDF that is available on the forum was very helpful, but I will simply need to put some more time into making a dedicated setup. I would ideally like to be able to make photographs of Japanese dealer level. Thank you for your input! greetings, Lex
-
This was a seminal book Jan. Hoping the new one can come to fruition!
-
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Brano replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Most rich people are well educated And to assume that the rich are mindlessly spending their money on a piece of metal in the form of a Japanese sword is, in my opinion, wrong Of course, this happens sometimes - especially when selling through reputable auction houses However, when selling through a specialized dealer - an uneducated rich person buys an unshortened Shinto or Shinshinto, which is healthy and nice and heavy ... Why would he spend ten times as much for something like this? He doesn't understand what he is buying at all -
Mandarin Mansion - experience to share?
Brano replied to omgPirates's topic in Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers
Well Kirill - I have to say that such a statement is a bit unfair Besides, you are also a seller as you said yourself and I assume that as a good seller you also emphasize positives and optimistic assumptions If a Ford dealer said - well, in truth, Honda has fewer breakdowns and our service hours are twice as expensive, but we have higher fuel consumption - he probably wouldn't be successful in selling If a seller doesn't include misleading information, but emphasizes sales arguments in a positive light, then he is just applying the right sales strategy -
A great opportunity for those who can accept the simple fact that old swords sometimes just have coarse grain, because they were made as weapons. Consider: Kotō (Muromachi) Ubu, signed and dated Long Healthy (look at the wide motohaba and thick kasane!) Reputable school NBTHK paper Also, the pictures aren’t that good (sorry Lex) and I am certain there is loads to be enjoyed in this sword. All in all, at this price it’s a bargain. Someone take advantage!
-
Rare collection of 6 Noh wooden masks. The mask is made of wood and covered with probably Sea shells, Tonoko or Uchiko + Urushi or rabbit glue or other). The masks were used on stage; there are chips near the string holes and marks on the wood - inside - from being worn (abrasions and darkening from contact with the actor's face). Very nice, Japanese original, old, items. Price for 6 pieces. Detailed descriptions on each items page (click on the photo). Bm917502 $899,- (6 pieces) 1. Probably Deigan (泥眼)mask, Category: Onryo Mask expressing spite toward a man who has lost love for the deigan. The name deigan, or “golden eyes,” derives from the gold flakes (dei) that form the pigment used around the eyes. The gold pigment appears to sparkle like tears, representing the inner struggle of the character. The deigan mask is characterized by its unfolded eyelids, and the weeping expression is not seen in any of the onna-men. The deigan mask is said to traditionally have been used to represent heavenly roles such as Buddha and is worn by the atojite acting as ryū-nyo to play the role of ama, or female fishermen who have attained enlightenment. (source: the-noh.com) Height is 20 cm, fit to the face. 2. Probably NIO mask. Niō (Japanese: 仁王) or Kongōrikishi (Japanese: 金剛力士); Chinese: 哼哈二将 Hēng Hā Ėr Jiàng – in Far Eastern Buddhism, menacing guardian figures (divine kings or generals) standing on either side of the entrance gate to temples, called Niō-mon (仁王門) in Japan. The figure on the right side of the gate (standing in front of it) is called Misshaku Kongō (密迹金剛) or Agyō (阿形). His mouth is open, which is supposed to represent the first letter "a" (अ) in the Devanagari alphabet. The guardian on the left is called Naraen Kongō (那羅延金剛) or Ungyō (吽形) and has his mouth closed, symbolizing the last letter hūṃ (हूँ). Together they are a symbol of birth and death, the beginning and end of all things, roughly corresponding to the alpha and omega in Western traditions. (source: wikipedia). (height 21 cm - fit to the face) 3. I'm not sure about the name of this character. It looks very similar to the Koushi-jō mask I presented earlier. There is a slight difference between them, as the current one has hair. (height 20 cm - fit to the face) 4. Hannya (般若) mask, The expression of this mask is a fusion of jealousy, grudge, sorrow, and grief of women. It has a demonic appearance with two horns, knitting her brows and stiffening her cheeks. There are two views about the origin of its name Hannya; one is that a monk from Nara Hannya-bō translated the creation of this type into art, and the other is that making the masks of demons required the mask maker to have the wisdom which opens people's eyes to the reality of things, and the wisdom was called Hannya in Buddhism. (source: the-noh.com) (height 20 cm - fit to the face) 5. This is probably: Kumasaka Mask (熊坂), Otoko. Mask of Chōhan Kumasaka, a famous thief of the Heian era. The Kumasaka mask is also referred to as chōreibeshimi. The large, bright eyes that seem to look about vigilantly portray a strong sense of caution. The large and powerful nose and mouth give the impression that this is the leader of a band of robbers. Yet the kumasaka also projects and overall air of foolishness and invokes a sense of pity for having been beaten by Ushiwakamaru. The kumasaka mask is also said to be used by the ato-shite of Tsuchigumo. (source:_www.the-noh.com_) Height is 20 cm, fit to the face. 6. This is probably Koushi-jō mask(小牛尉), Jō. This type of mask takes its name from its creator, Koushi, a mask maker who was a near-contemporary of Zeami. It has the most dignified appearance among variants of Jō-men, but the features are tense, with a hairless moustache engraved below the nose and only the upper teeth showing. The mask is worn by leading actors playing old men who are incarnations of deities in Waki-nō (god plays), such as Takasago Yōrō or Yumiyawata. The dignity of the characters is also reflected in their clothing, such as kimonos with small cross-stripes, white broad hakama trousers, or thin mizugoromo coats with wide sleeves. This mask is sometimes referred to as Ko-jō. There are two main views about the origin of the alternative name: one is that it is an abbreviation of Koushi-jō; the other is that the Hakushiki-jō used in Okina is known as Dai-jō (great Jō mask), and the mask used in Takasago is known as Ko-jō (lesser Jō mask). (source: www.the-noh.com) (height 20 cm - fit to the face) my full offer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/ my social media: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/126-artur-drogamiecza/ https://www.facebook.com/artur.drogamiecza.5 https://www.instagram.com/artur.drogamiecza
-
Rare collection of 6 Noh wooden masks. The mask is made of wood and covered with probably Sea shells, Tonoko or Uchiko + Urushi or rabbit glue or other). The masks were used on stage; there are chips near the string holes and marks on the wood - inside - from being worn (abrasions and darkening from contact with the actor's face). Very nice, Japanese original, old, items. Price for 6 pieces. Detailed descriptions on each items page (click on the photo). Bm917502 1. Probably Deigan (泥眼)mask, Category: Onryo Mask expressing spite toward a man who has lost love for the deigan. The name deigan, or “golden eyes,” derives from the gold flakes (dei) that form the pigment used around the eyes. The gold pigment appears to sparkle like tears, representing the inner struggle of the character. The deigan mask is characterized by its unfolded eyelids, and the weeping expression is not seen in any of the onna-men. The deigan mask is said to traditionally have been used to represent heavenly roles such as Buddha and is worn by the atojite acting as ryū-nyo to play the role of ama, or female fishermen who have attained enlightenment. (source: the-noh.com) Height is 20 cm, fit to the face. 2. Probably NIO mask. Niō (Japanese: 仁王) or Kongōrikishi (Japanese: 金剛力士); Chinese: 哼哈二将 Hēng Hā Ėr Jiàng – in Far Eastern Buddhism, menacing guardian figures (divine kings or generals) standing on either side of the entrance gate to temples, called Niō-mon (仁王門) in Japan. The figure on the right side of the gate (standing in front of it) is called Misshaku Kongō (密迹金剛) or Agyō (阿形). His mouth is open, which is supposed to represent the first letter "a" (अ) in the Devanagari alphabet. The guardian on the left is called Naraen Kongō (那羅延金剛) or Ungyō (吽形) and has his mouth closed, symbolizing the last letter hūṃ (हूँ). Together they are a symbol of birth and death, the beginning and end of all things, roughly corresponding to the alpha and omega in Western traditions. (source: wikipedia). (height 21 cm - fit to the face) 3. I'm not sure about the name of this character. It looks very similar to the Koushi-jō mask I presented earlier. There is a slight difference between them, as the current one has hair. (height 20 cm - fit to the face) 4. Hannya (般若) mask, The expression of this mask is a fusion of jealousy, grudge, sorrow, and grief of women. It has a demonic appearance with two horns, knitting her brows and stiffening her cheeks. There are two views about the origin of its name Hannya; one is that a monk from Nara Hannya-bō translated the creation of this type into art, and the other is that making the masks of demons required the mask maker to have the wisdom which opens people's eyes to the reality of things, and the wisdom was called Hannya in Buddhism. (source: the-noh.com) (height 20 cm - fit to the face) 5. This is probably: Kumasaka Mask (熊坂), Otoko. Mask of Chōhan Kumasaka, a famous thief of the Heian era. The Kumasaka mask is also referred to as chōreibeshimi. The large, bright eyes that seem to look about vigilantly portray a strong sense of caution. The large and powerful nose and mouth give the impression that this is the leader of a band of robbers. Yet the kumasaka also projects and overall air of foolishness and invokes a sense of pity for having been beaten by Ushiwakamaru. The kumasaka mask is also said to be used by the ato-shite of Tsuchigumo. (source:_www.the-noh.com_) Height is 20 cm, fit to the face. 6. This is probably Koushi-jō mask(小牛尉), Jō. This type of mask takes its name from its creator, Koushi, a mask maker who was a near-contemporary of Zeami. It has the most dignified appearance among variants of Jō-men, but the features are tense, with a hairless moustache engraved below the nose and only the upper teeth showing. The mask is worn by leading actors playing old men who are incarnations of deities in Waki-nō (god plays), such as Takasago Yōrō or Yumiyawata. The dignity of the characters is also reflected in their clothing, such as kimonos with small cross-stripes, white broad hakama trousers, or thin mizugoromo coats with wide sleeves. This mask is sometimes referred to as Ko-jō. There are two main views about the origin of the alternative name: one is that it is an abbreviation of Koushi-jō; the other is that the Hakushiki-jō used in Okina is known as Dai-jō (great Jō mask), and the mask used in Takasago is known as Ko-jō (lesser Jō mask). (source:www.the-noh.com), (height 20 cm - fit to the face) my full offer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/ my social media: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/126-artur-drogamiecza/ https://www.facebook.com/artur.drogamiecza.5 https://www.instagram.com/artur.drogamiecza
-
Fuchi kashira set, Toryumon - rising koi, waves, shakudo + gold. F948037 dimensions: (mm) fuchi: 38 x 25 x 13 kashira: 32 x 18,5 x 9,8 . . $299,- item page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/72177720326672413/ my full offer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/ my social media: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/126-artur-drogamiecza/ https://www.facebook.com/artur.drogamiecza.5 https://www.instagram.com/artur.drogamiecza more fuchi / kashira: . . .
-
Fuchi kashira set, Toryumon - rising koi, waves, shakudo + gold. F948037 dimensions: (mm) fuchi: 38 x 25 x 13 kashira: 32 x 18,5 x 9,8 . . $299,- item page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/72177720326672413/ my full offer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artur_drogamiecza/albums/ my social media: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/126-artur-drogamiecza/ https://www.facebook.com/artur.drogamiecza.5 https://www.instagram.com/artur.drogamiecza more fuchi / kashira: . . .