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What size, Alex?

If I can find the photographs, here are two more examples of Tessen-guruma, clematis wheel kamon, one as an iron tsuba, and one in the sliver fittings of an amber netsuke.

Yes, why not? I would occasionally practice kata with it. To each his own. And I do wish for the nihonto to be papered as an appraisal of a respectable organization, such as NBTHK or NTHK.

Looking for the above, school/style don't matter. Just to be clear, full tree design/carving, not just flowers. Good to high quality If not pine but you have another tree tsuba, plum etc., whatever, may consider. Pm me if have anything. Cheers.

New price 2700$ + free shipment.

New price 2200$ + free shipment.

Thank you and Koichi. Judging from the book on fans (where they don’t seem to be represented) and the other articles, I couldn’t find them because they are not really fans, but paddles for a game. That would explain it

A memorial portrait of Kabuki actors Nakamura Utaemon IV and Ichimura Takenojo V 1851/1852 Can't trace the artist

Chiyozuru, the sword I bought as detailed earlier in this thread, received the export permit early this week and has entered the same time zone as me. It is in customs in Chicago, I live in Texas. It feels kind of weird that has been in Japan for 600 years and now it isn’t. I understand why some Japanese don’t like foreigners buying their swords, but I’m glad to have the opportunity.

https://varshavskycollection.com/collection/lib-3022.2022/ https://www.dollsmuseum.jp/shop/product/Japanese-traditional-oshie-hagoita-02/ https://mainichi.jp/english/graphs/20211126/hpe/00m/0et/002000g/20211126hpe00m0et015000q https://chidorivintage.com/en-au/products/Japanese-decorative-wooden-paddle-hagoita-kabuki-kimono-edo-jk745?srsltid=AfmBOooX9LbYKcLxvBbTLWt4kCD6qkyCtAow-LcNwpaw33vlf-QhV0Z3

I just released the St Louis book [again]. Larger format double the number of images. Someone gets a lot of the cash benefit, but it isn't me! Stupid high "markup" a $45 book to print, costs some poor sod $105 to feed the greedy middleman! And that's not even with shipping or taxes! I wouldn't pay that much for a book at the best of times - - - and it's my book! Brian where have you hidden the "bitching again emoji"?

Ref. Hagoita - Wikipedia

Slightly off-topic, but what is the name for the type of fans that they are holding? I saw these on a tsuba recently, but I couldn’t think of how to describe them to get a name out of Google…

Cleveland Museum of Art, left some with "mounting" damage on a few of their exhibits. Luckily within the seppa-dai but still not excusable.

This was the only print that came with the collection I inherited. It was in a junk frame, so I decided to put it in a decent quality one with UV protection glass. The framer who helped me wanted to make it a floating piece, so I needed to pick out a thicker frame. I did choose the frame design. The pic does not portray the floating part well; it looks better in person. I figured it was worth preserving and would look good on my wall. It has a special backing on it to help preserve it from deteriorating and the off gassing that happens with this rice paper. Jason

Thanks Sam, well said.

Did you choose the frame, Jason? A page out of a book? Famous Kabuki actors? A winter (February) scene of a 55-yr-old travelling samurai wearing a cloak. In a shop? (Just guessing from circumstantial evidence!)

Pic 2

It took about a month and today I received the call to pick up my rice paper print from my frame shop. It is not in perfect condition , but it is an original. I would appreciate any knowledge on this piece, it was one of the other items in a large collection I came into all at once. The guy at the framing store was actually excited to frame this one. He had a couple other prints at the store from someone else to frame when I stopped in to pick mine up. He laughed when I saw them and told me they were tourist reprints, even though people still pay decent money to get them set. Jason

The seki stamp on the tang, that the red arrow in pointing to, is widely understood to identify non-traditionally made swords. Collectors refer to these as “showato”. Meaning this particular blade is not a Nihonto, and therefore recognized as a weapon in Japan. It would be illegal to own there, even if a relative carried it in WW2. Link for the showato info: https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/showato.htm Link for sword law details: https://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html Excerpt from the link: “Only traditionally made Nihonto can be licensed, i.e. swords made in Japan from Tamahagane 玉鋼 (and Shinto swords that are inscribed "Motte Namban-Tesu 以南蠻鐵" ["made using steel from the southern barbarians"]). This means in effect that it has to be either an antique, or made by a contemporary, licensed smith. Mass produced WWII swords (so called Showato昭和刀) and foreign made swords are not eligible for Torokusho.” Beware trusting the embassy officials, as they might not know how to properly identify the difference. I do admire your goal and feelings toward your sword. I just encourage you to consider that fate placed it with you, and maybe that’s where it’s meant to be. All the best, -Sam

Just for clarification - you want to 'practice' with a papered Nihonto?

Thank you Piers. 🙏

I watched what looked like an Issei Naruki utsushi of a Yagyu [bamboo design]. Maybe it is real, but I had serious doubts. It went from $435 to $2613 in the last hour or so of bidding. As an Issei Naruki, probably worth about $1000? I'm largely just a spectator of the few I find interesting, but still some of them are going for far than my retro brain would think to list them.

Thanks all, for your kind advice, I won't attempt any restoration without seeking specialist help first as you recommend. I have worked in the antiques trade for 30 years, so understand the benefits of good restoration....and when not to I should add this is not an item related to my work, I like to collect and learn from some of the pieces that stray into my hands. I'll add more images if anything notable appears.

And a ‘nikuhitsu’ painting by the hand of (Isoda) Masakatsu, Hōbashi Koryūsai, active 1776-82. Kadomatsu with wrapped roots