christianmalterre

just allow me to say-this was an fast,but equally very effective Kantei! just some days ago i had an quite similar collection in sight...from 10 there were at least 5-6(the sixth one i got puzzeled myself)Ditto to this candidate here... but to(maybe?) highten morale for further days.... see attachement-(some of us at least are well aware about happenings in "collectors life"...-LOL!) an image to keep in mind and hopefully in constant focus! DO BUY YOU BOOKS BEFORE YOU DO BUY YOU ANYTHING ELSE! Christian

Saotome certainly is the best call here in mine eyes... Certainly an good Tsuba which would look very nice if fitted on an nice and simplistic arranged Koshirae. Good find Mariusz! Christian Edit:-mine first guess was Haruta(due the iron and it´s obvious glossiness) Saotome would explain the sharp cuttings... I do like this Tsuba!

Yes David, i just browsed this book this morning(three times)-and it´s definitely not in. Equally non other in this stylism... I have seen this stylism of Tsuba just recently-do but not remember where exactly(that´s the problem with crowding and browsing all this literature-bunch)( ) I do think you are right with heading it into Owari group(certainly but an late to very late piece,as it´s equally untypic for the main-lineages influenced by Shoami and Kyo) It equally could sort out Kinai(in regard of the Mimi´s execution)or,as you say Higo province(here but not the common main-schools either...it is somehow out of their´s style) It´s too tricky to evaluate just from these pictures only.... I do know this style here-as but already said,i actually do not know in which of the books it´s depicted and attributed... Maybe but an other board member can track it? Owari but-is certainly an good first call in mine eyes-and we had to head into this influence they did spread... Cheers! Christian

Dear David, it´s not listed in Nihon To Koza Volume 6 (Jap.Edition) Equally there´s no similar one listed.... Don´t know to which one your´s friend did maybe put it in consense with? Sorry-can not help you. Christian

Pourtant Jean! Une fois n’est pas coutume!-Il faut battre le fer tant qu’il est chaud-Non? Christian

This-certainly is an expert´s attribution! (somehow i but miss connaissance here ) Sorry Kantei? (c´mon)did already get better ones in past... Christian

Thanks Henry Yes!-You are right of course. see: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/kamakura.htm Christian

did experiment an bit more...Rich... especially in regard of Tanizaki´s writing and Soetsu Yanagi´s words equally mentioned in the text... Here´s an somehow "contra-experimental" essaye i actually did play with...LOL! "new colours in live" LOL!(not to ben taken too much seriously of course) just for fun... :D Christian

not really "possible" to expand Brian- as i am still bit puzzeled...(can not really attribute it actually/somehow criss-crossed in several points) Maybe but someone here will get it right? "Shishi/Rock" but yes-at least... I actually think this Tsuba got worked out in "spe"-to Furukawa Genchin... However it´s execution is generally more individualistic "maybe"? Either way-enjoy-or not?-LOL! (just do see this actually as an add.picture into this stylism-) Christian

Thank´s Alex if an Chinese does see this-it certainly will get high-they buy like crasy! Those Tsuba but-Well? Christian

Aha! much better! :D but here you see again -we had to "hit on water so to awaken the fish"- LOL! Christian

certainly no matter what i do post here who cares about? Christian

???? :lol: this one is 7th Juyo token-no.403(Soshin Mei posted) and i am pretty shure it´s NOT what you dream of. (as the mentioned 8th(???)-did certainly not sign in "Iga no Kami Kinmichi"... (if you don´t have that-i´ll provide you with this literature)(NBTHK)(PM) C´mon folks- Christian

don´t know Peter- He´s known to have ben worked in Mino,Yamato and Soshu style,and in ha-agari-kurijiri. His boshi are worked in Mishina or Sampin-and here i can not really see... Mei from him attached. Question i do ask myself is why he may had any reason so to change this custom. He,as an reknowned and highly esteemed smith had certainly just vague personal interest in changing this custom-Not? Christian

Thanks Pete me did not find anything in mine books...have to pass. Christian

seems i have to browse now-as nobody connaissant into this specific "field" does/better said/-did reply here... Curran!-yes!-after Joly i read same this noon-still but am hesitant due to this NBTHK attribution.... Hey Guys-i think this Tsuba here is much more interesting for us(old Tsuba "constellation-infected")than formerly first supposed by just an fast short glance of an look... Do need time here-as(some know it)-i have to browse the racks of books now...(and i hate it!!!!!) Just Patience is the Motto Antti! Patience.... ! Is that Virus already gotten?-me do hope so!(Smile) Maybe Ludolf???( ) Christian

such speaking-while reading your´s better description now- i even have to say-this Tsuba very certainly is worth study! If it´s really that what you wrote-it´s certainly very interesting indeed. As i wrote-i had put it to Edo Tosa Myochin... Don´t have the literature here-i am but certain an boardmember heading into especially this(these) group(s) can tell you more about.... Well Done! Christian

Dear Antti, Welcome! If this one here really is your´s first Tsuba?-let me confirm you made you an much better choice than many others(for an starter piece). The composition is interesting indeed-not an mainschool piece-certainly,-but worth to inquire about. Sidebranch Akasaka influence-i would tend to agree here... Did you compare it with Tsuba made by Tosa-Myochin group?(you may find some stylistical parallels) Somebody here from the members who has got the Tosa books for reference? (if it had not already ben certified by Motherhouse-myself had placed it straight to Tosa) Nice study piece! Christian

There´s an very excellent essaye-or rather said some continuous essayes(think 6 or 7-had to look...)written about iron,steel,namban Tetsu,propper evaluation and Kantei/Nihonto-constellation by Author F.Coutinho Published in the older 2010(around) JSSUS-Newsletters As far as i know,he´s an extremely knowledgeable collector in Nihonto and an very excellent "Hobby"-Metallurgist.... If you don´t get or have them-let me know(PM)-as such,i would do you some copies then (you but had to take the copycosts and shipping of course!) Christian

Haaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta! so it´s You now having it-LOLOL!!!! Funny story...i saw and studied it directly from Gassan-san´s hands in Japan those days... :D When i did ask him if it would ben for sale his response was an very kind neglect-as he already sold it during it´s manufacture/pre finnished process... Incredible how small this planet is! And now-it´s seemingly in France-just 500km apart from where i do live myself....LOL! Funny story! (will have to crowd some old pictures and send them to you!(as i did shoot pictures those times)) :D Edit: mine error!-just saw you wrote Sadakazu-(this of course can not be i met him-LOL!)-just did read Gassan.... I do mean Sadatoshi of course just browsed mine pictures and saw the one i was refering to....it´s not the same but very close indeed... Sorry for confusion... I but will send you those spoken pictures....such,you do have an nice "family booklet" for your´s personal reference... Cheers Gilles Christian

Dear Rich unquestionable myself never was aware in fact!-Funny not?? You do raise an intriguing topic here! Phantastic Thank you very much for heading me here! Great we do have this forum here -i am very happy about,and one does continuously learn something new...!!!!!!!!!! Christian

Hmmmh! ! Yep! Classic and beautifully centered on the each´s essential Rich. Thank you for posting :D Good eye me here as an absolute lay in photographing still personally prefer sunshine... i but feel confident once in future you may show me what to do better... some of mine attached... the top one for publication,the other one for personal correspondance in past e-mail traffic... Christian

LOL! Thank´s Brian well-this(term,wording) is known to me of course- I would but ben glad to see an close up picture of an such applied process... Such must ben available especially from Katchu-publications...(Maybe???)???? Close ups showing the very details... from Tosogu the word/technique does refer to: A method of making (Tsuba),the surface of which is raised through hammering or: Uchidashi-baika A style of mounting(tachi) wherein the hilt is covered with silver sheeting embossed with wave crests resembling a row of plum blossoms. This style was in fashion during Ashikaga Yoshimasa shogunate. Same as uchibaika,uchisame,oshisame (Hawley) somehow puzzeled refering to the text/description given here... Is it same process meant?(constructional) or is the wording taken different from Tosogu terms-? What exactly is meant here in this description: "renowned for his ability to manipulate sheet metal to make it look like iron, a technique known as uchidashi" Christian

question to the Katchu collectors here... Whom of you could please explain me what is meant by "Uchidashi"?(see description in text)? Christian Iron horse mask bamen, attributed to Fukutake Ichiro (1928 - 2002) Japan, Showa period, 20th century Length: 24 1⁄2 inches, 62.5 cm Width: 15 3⁄4 inches, 40 cm An iron horse mask, bamen, in the form of a fierce dragon’s head, hammered in separate sections that are riveted together and with two side panels that are attached to the main mask with leather straps. The expressively modelled and contoured head has large, bulging eyes with protruding eyebrows, antler-like horns, distinctive, pointed ears and long whiskers. Traces of gilding are visible on the mask, particularly on the eyes. This unusual sculptural dragon’s mask was made as a head protector, bamen, for a horse. Masks such as this, accompanied by full body armour, were originally employed in Samurai battles, but at this late stage of manufacture probably had a largely ornamental purpose and were used in military parades. The mask is attributed to Fukutake Ichiro, one of the last traditional armour makers in Japan, renowned for his ability to manipulate sheet metal to make it look like iron, a technique known as uchidashi. Fukutake lived and worked in the Kurashiki area of Okayama Prefecture, where he was active from the 1950s to the 1970s. Stylistically this horse mask can be compared to earlier, 19th century masks, examples of which can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston1, and in the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum in Dallas, Texas.2 1 Museum of Fine Arts Boston, gift of gift of Dr. Ernest G. Stillman, accession number 47.998 2 Barbier-Mueller, J.G., Art of Armor, Samurai armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection, Dallas 2011, cat no. 97, 98 and 99

Dear James i still hope and wish i am wrong here with mine observation! This-at least-would ben mine personal way to see this piece while presight observating an bunch of Tsuba in auctionhouse Lots... Me,would not much care about it-certainly not bid on it.... I but still hope,i am wrong here in fact;as i do know how discouraging such "attributions" can be...and it´s like always-we just can judge from pictures here... seeing and feeling(haptic)in live-Always is essential! There were schools(Kanayama for example)who produced Tsuba in multiple way! There may be Sanmai constructions done of course,Sandiron,wrought Iron used,forged Iron used ect... I but doupt hard that Tosa Myochin(and this is the stylism here)did use or work such... They had first class iron ores on hand!(see those excellent Tosa Myochin Akasaka,Nobuie "copies" and Yagyu Tsuba they produced) Christian