menpo

Hi guys! I purchased this tsuba a while back from grey that was previously in the Skip Holbrook collection and I've been trying to find out what school it may belong to. On the description it says satsuma moon over mountains but also refers to hirata hikozo and ito mitsuru's book. Since I don't have any books on satsuma tsuba or ito's book I was wondering if any of you kind and more experienced collectors have any thoughts or opinions on it or seen any similar designs before as I've drawn a blank! Thanks very much for any help Gethin

Hi guys Sorry for the late reply. My camera is on the blink and is off for rapair. I'll try and get some better pictures on here as soon as its fixed. Thank you all for your comments. Gethin

Tsuba number three and four

Hi everyone. I have recently bought some tsuba and I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on what school they might be and if they've seen anything similar before. The first is a namban I believe, which has been converted to fit a European style basket hilt rapier, it most likely started life out flat but has been altered to be wan shaped and the Ana filled in, there are still marks where the cross bar has worn in. The second tsuba is also a namban but I've never come across any so thick and heavy. It's approx 11mm thick and weighs 270 grams! The third tsuba is, I think, hizen work but I'm more than willing to stand corrected. The design of the dragons I've seen before, but the design on the other side I haven't come across. The fourth tsuba was labelled as Sendai work when I purchased it but I'm not so sure, it is also wan shaped. Any comments would be most appreciated. Thanks all! Gethin

Thank you very much for your help Morita san. So could the two kanji on the right be a personal name? Has anyone ever seen such an inscription aside from on a surrender tag? Thanks again Gethin

Hi gents I've recently purchased a koto katana in Kai gunto mounts. When I removed the tsuka I noticed an inscription under the fuchi on the mouth of the tsuka. I can't for the life of me make out what it says so I'm posting a pic of it to see if the more experienced among us can help (apologies in advance for the picture quality). I initially thought it was some sort of note or measurement by the maker but I've never seen it on a Showa period tsuka. The inscription may not be of very much importance but I just thought I'd ask. Thanks everyone Gethin

Hello Gents. Thank you all very much for your informative replys. So would i be right in assuming that each date corresponds to a different offering? What sort of objects would be offered? I'm sorry for all the questions but it really isn't my subject but I find fascinating! Thank you all again for your replys. Gethin

Hi guys Sorry for the late reply. Thank you for your help Morita San. The length is around 160cm and its about 130 cm wide. I've taken a picture both sides. It's almost diamond shape so I don't know what it would have been used for or what would have been with it if it was dedicated to a temple. Anyone have any ideas or thoughts? Also, why so many dates? Thanks again gents Gethin

Hi guys This isn't really my best subject so I thought I'd ask the experts. I recently purchased banner as a display piece and was wondering what the inscription on the reverse side related to. There are a couple of dates on it which I've tried to work out and I've got dates ranging between 1844 to 1860 but the other kanji in between the dates I'm having trouble with. There is only one clan listed as using this mon and it was the Kano clan of ichinomiya who's dates are between 1826 to 1871. If anyone has got any ideas on what the inscription says or is about I'd be most grateful. Thanks guys Gethin

Hi Markus. Thank you for the swift reply. Wow, that really is some food for thought. Seems like i need to study more! Thank you for your help! Gethin

Hi everyone. I'd like to share some pics of a wakizashi I've had in my collection for some time and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on it or if anyone has seen similar inscriptions in the past. The signature reads echizen daijo fujiwara kunitsugu as many of you will already know and is dated August 1642 I believe. The signiture looks genuine to my eye but i'm open to opinions. The part I find interesting is that after his mei he states 37 days made, which I presume means tha he took 37 days to make it. I've never come across another sword where the maker has inscribed how long it's taken him to make it. Has anyone else seen an inscription like this? I know that kunitsugu was well known to inscribe that he used foreign steel in some of his swords but never a manufacture time. Also, would this be an average time to make a wakizashi or has he possibly spent more time on it and that's what he's stating? Any thoughts and ideas would be most appreciated guys. Gethin

Hi Guys I've been having a lot of difficulty with translating this mei on this shinshinto tanto. This is what i think so far:- TANSHU ? ? KAGE CHIKA SAKU. Any help would be really appreciated. Gethin

Thank you Morita san. I thought it read CHO but i wasn't sure about the rest. Thank you very much! Gethin

Hi everyone! I purchased a yari the other day and have tried to translate the mei. I've got as far as WAKASA DAIJO FUJIWARA FUYUHIRO. but there are some extra characters about an inch or so under it that i dont understand. If anyone could help with what they might say i'd be very appreciative. Thanks all. Gethin

Hi everyone! I recently purchased this tsuba and was just wondering what the hakogaki says. The tsuba is signed saotome iyesada. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all! Gethin

Thank you very much Koichi san. At least we now know that it is the work of a swordsmith. Thank you also Mr Stuart for your help. Gethin

It does look alot like tortoise shell now you come to mention it John. I've never seen anything like it either. I would say it was the work of a swordsmith. I dont think anyone else would have the forging techniques to create such a uniformed pattern.

Hi John, Thanks for your reply. I won the tsuba on Ebay. The seller just listed it as late edo 1800-1850. It does look late edo to my eye but i'm not 100%. It's a strange set up for a mokome tsuba because every other one i've seen has an irregular grain pattern whereas this one has a regular graain that sems to have a crisscross pattern. I've seen the pattern before in western damascus forging patterns where steel bar has been twisted and then hammered flat, but never on anything Japanese. Could it relate to some forging method used or some certain type of steel used i wonder? Here are some better pictures for you. I'd like to know what your opinions are. Gethin

Thanks very much for the reply sir. most appreciated. Ill have to learn more about it. Never heard of the smith before though. Gethin

Hi guys! Just purchased this mokome tsuba but i cant translate what the mei is . Can anyone help please? Thanks! Gethin

Hi Chris! Many thanks for you're swift reply! i'm very greatful to you for you're assistance. So the paper tag is just notes for the shirasaya and habaki. Gethin

Hi everyone! This is my first post on NMB and i'd like for any of you kind gentlemen with more knowledge and experience than myself could help me with some translations! I recently bought a katana and wakizashi which had tags attatched to them. One of paper, one of wood (pictures attached). I think they may be surrender tags but i'm not sure. I've tried as hard as i could to distinguish what they say but i've had no luck. I think the wooden tag says Kyushu on it, but thats as far as i can get! :? I'd be over the moon if anyone could help. Thanks for your patience guys. Gethin