John A Stuart

Hi Guys, I wonder to what school this copper tsuba may belong? I am of the mind it may be of the Touryusai school. Otherwise it may be Aizu Shoami. Opinion? John

Hi Milt, How correct you are. The Bakufu used the Kirimon in the Emperors name, on money for example. The Kirimon was originally an explicitly Imperial Crest, and as such it ranks only behind the Chrysanthemum; while both are usually taken as the dual emblems of the Japanese Throne. What distinguishes the Toyotomi Family Crest from the Emperor’s is the number of buds issuing from the top of the crest. Tradition has it that when there are seven, it is the Imperial Crest; when there are five, it is the Toyotomi Family Crest (which was granted to them by the Emperor); and when there are three or less, the family ranks below that of the Toyotomi. The Tokugawa Family Crest, “Maru ni mitsu-ba aoi,” was the three leaves of the hollyhock. I revise my opinion in that this tsuba may only honour the Imperial line. You can see the Kirimon on the Koban issued by the Bakufu and controlled by the Tokugawa.

Hi Mark, I like it as well. It has a common kiku form. The crests are Tokugawa and the Emperors in combination, pro-Bakufu. Showing the relationship between the Emperor and Shogun. John

Hi Brian, The rokusho pdf I had mentioned actually comes from the reactive metals site you provided. John

Hi John L., I have a pdf file that has step by step instructions for rokusho if you want. John

Hi Reinhard, While some aged Nihonto show nakago that have much metal loss and oxidation making mei impossible to ascertain, at least they have a nagasa in good enough condition to attribute at least a possible ryu or ha. This is more important then the nakago. Unfortunately the condition of the blade of this sword is beyond any possible restoration and unlikely to ever be attributed to any group or smith. Too bad really, but as such provides no lesson. John

Hi, I saw that one but did he sign nijmei? Bungo kuni ju nin Munehisa saku. 豊 後 國 住 人 宗 久 作 John

Hi Roland, I looked at the sword at 4x mag and do not get enough detail to make an attribution, for what that is worth. Super price and being priced at mumei still cheap. John

Hi, Good eye. Munehisa. I can't find this smith in Toko Taikan, Nihonto Koza or Fujishiro in quick glance. John

Here's po with Goto. What do you think ? John http://cgi.ebay.ca/B002-JP-Samurai-Swor ... dZViewItem

You're welcome. I would try on a piece with which you could live with a poor result first. I don't have the cojones to try it myself. John

Hi John, I'm sure you've seen this, but just in case. Rokusho is a traditional Japanese compound for inducing patination in decorative non-ferrous metals, especially several alloys which are nearly unknown outside Japan. Shakudo becomes dark blue-violet, shibuichi misty aqua, and kuromido dark coppery black; rokusho was generally used to patinate all types of mokume-gane as well. Although other patination agents can be used on these metals, some artisans prefer to maintain tradition despite the unavailability of premixed rokusho outside Japan. Several different formulas have been proposed to replicate the commercial product: • In a container made of glass, porcelain, or copper, dissolve 6g copper acetate, 2g calcium carbonate, and 2g sodium hydroxide in 150ml water. After a week, siphon or decant the clear liquid from the top; just before use, add another 2g copper sulfate. • Dissolve 4g copper acetate, 1g copper nitrate, 1g cupric chloride, and 4g copper sulfate in 1L distilled water. • Dissolve 60g copper acetate and 60g copper sulfate in a 2L solution of white vinegar diluted 5-12% with water. John

It would all depend on the quality of the blade, fittings and condition they are in. Machine made blade $300 to $1000. John

No. If Jacques is correct, it is just a manufacturing process for mass produced blades made with little hand craftsmanship. Would be a collectible for military sword aficionados not true Nihonto. John

Hi Reinier, Christies Asian art auction due any day now has a few tsuba for sale, one of which is this theme, It is a nice one est. to sell to 4500 GBP John

Hi Ian, Good work. Nice to know. John

Hi Rich, Pretty good pics, especially the landscapes. The pics of the Nihonto turned out well considering that blasted glass thing in the way. Never understood the koi fascination and the ongoing battle with herons but strangely for an animal that has a three second memory they seem to be able to recognise their owners and come to be fed. I think I like fall in Japan more than spring though it is when all the blossom viewing takes place, fall is so much of an introspective time. Ueno park is a great area so close to a multiple of musea plus zoo etc. but there is a lot of free entertainment there, performers and the like, great place. I was supposed to be there right now, indeed, ticket was booked for Oct 22, but, ended up stuck stuck in arctic ice even though attended by an ice breaker and didn't get home until Oct 31. Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Good on you. John

Hi All, Recently I obtained a sword that intrigued me because of the inscription. Suriage so the mei was truncated. I have made an attribution and wondered how it stands in other NMB members eyes. Be brutal. John http://www.johnstuart.biz/new_page_4.htm Oh, sorry it is the one below the Mihara Thanks.

You bring up a good point Milt. Fittings made fron sterling silver in my mind look absolutely terrible when black. They almost never have an even patina. Conversely brightly polished silver looks almost as bad. These fittings when on a koshirae that is used regularly show nice wear pattern with the areas buffed by clothing contrasting with the darker areas. Now being stored tend to tarnish more, especially where sulphur laden fuels heat homes. I have a koshirae being restored by John Tirado with whom I asked his opinion on this, it being all sterling. He has lightly buffed the fittings but not to a high polish. I hope to get it soon, been a year and a half. John

I really like the colour of this kogai. I had understood that one of their functions was to identify a battlefield kill for later retrieval of the head. Of course during the Edojidai peace they became decorative objects while maintaining the toilet function, in regards of the ears. Curiously, though, I am aware of hair ornamentation for males especially pre Tokugawa times but I had not been aware of their use as hair pieces. john

Hi Martin, This is what I think of when I think Mid to Late Edo period Shoami. Nice looking plate and good theme. John

Hi RCW, I have them in a safe when at work. In a katanadansu when home except for my daily sword and bokken which are wall mounted. If I could afford nice display cases, sort of like glass fronted barrister shelves, I'd do that. Security is my main issue. John

Yes Milt, from autonomy to automaton. Done that; 'nevermore quoth the raven'. :lol:

Ha ha you guys. Just a bad picture. better ones below, including kanteisho showing horimono and the koshirae with tsunagi. Whew !!! Almost scared me there. No, definitely finished and the horimonoshi's plan. John

Maybe added later I guess. Why? Who knows?. But, there must be a technical term. Interesting how the small hi at machi goes to middle and does that loopy thing. Bored horimonoshi? John