-
Posts
703 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
4
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by Ron STL
-
The sword looks worthwhile but of course condition is less than desired. I don't see obvious sanban hamon (Mino) but maybe it's just not jumpingout at me. Certainly needs closer study to determine what it is. Mei is of course "katana" mei. Nice namban tsuba which looks a bit large for the sword which is not all that important. All in all a surprising "wall hanger" to find when the other blades were such lesser items. Don't disregard this sword too quickly. Not seeing the complete nakago, it could be ubu.
-
Ah, Michitoki...I thought of that but wasn't sure about it. Peter...when you're settle in, give me a call. Still have the yari sitting here. Ron
-
Looked at several swords a friend brought over today and I'm puzzled by the mei on this one. It's dated: Kaei 5 (1852) and a nice quality work. Signed: Michi---- saku koreo. Help anyone?
-
Looks like a very nice tanto that one could certainly enjoy studying. I wonder if it was a Kaga school work, noticing the sharp cut nakago-jiri. If not a "treasure," it is something to be enjoyed and perhaps learned from. As for kikuchi yari, I've always admired their dynamic sugata. I only own one yakinaoshi-kikuchi yari that was convered into a tanto. The one I've always wished for surfaced in the early 1970s here in St. Louis, a "gift" to some family during our 1904 World Fair. It was boxed with extensive hakogaki "history" and was soon offered at a Chicago show. I could not afford it back then, but it eventually ended up in the UK and published in an issue of the newsletter of the British club. Just a short reminisce. Ron STL
-
Today, my hard bound copy of Nobuie Tsuba arrived from LuLu. My E-book is already in the computer, but I haven't had a chance to review it. Paging through the new arrival I was pleasantly surprised to find to find one of my tsuba illustrated in the book. As some know, I enjoy the works of Jirotaro Naokatsu and his followers and their copies of Nobuie tsuba designs. My favorite Naokatsu tsuba is illustrated on page 29 of the hard cover edition (page 25 in the E-book) as an example of work following Nobuie. What a pleasant surprise this was. It's always a perk when a published book illustrates an item in one's collection! My tsuba was purchased at Dai Token Ichi in Tokyo about five years ago. The tsuba was expensive but I had to have it. A little begging saved a few hundred dollars but I'd paid the asking price if needed. The owner obviously loved the tsuba very much. I'm sure he realized the tsuba received a good home after we shook hands on the deal. While I have some very good quality Naokatsu tsuba, this one stands out above the others. I just wanted to share my good news today. Many thanks to Marcus for translating this book on Nobuie Tsuba for us! Ron STL
-
- 3
-
-
Maybe Barry will recall this, but "many years ago" when this topic was underdiscussion -- Barry and I were prolific letter-writers back then -- he sent me a cartoon from an Aussie newspaper. It depicted to guys hammering out a sword from recovered satellite parts, chatting about making "Jap swords out of Jeep springs." Pretty funny stuff. Sadly, I "lost" that cartoon somewhere in my papers files since then. It wouldn't surprise me to see Barry find that cartoon tucked away in his well organized filing system. Ron STL
-
It may interest some of the members will be the current exhibit titled "Conflicts of Interest, Art and War in Modern Japan," opened recently at our St. Louis Art Museum. While I have not visited the exhibit which just opened, I look forard to it. The largest collection of prints pertaining to Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. Go to http://www.slam.org/to read more on the exhibit. Ron STL
-
- 1
-
-
Just came across this topic. Could it be a "somebody" doctored up a discarded origami to fit the sword? It's been done before. I would doubt the NBTHK would make such a mistake or offered such a favor. Photo of origami? Ron STL
-
There were a number of sword thefts back around that time, Hawley, Stanley Kellert, I'm drawing a blank on the well known east coast collector who was robbed. I started to keep a file on what was stolen for the JSS/US whenever a usable list of stolen items could be gotten. Not sure the "file" ever did much good to have. Makes me wonder if it's still filed away somewhere here. About this time is when the JSS/US stopped issuing a membership roster complete with members' names and address by state/country. Everyone became more security conscious. Ron STL
-
Appreciate the thoughts. I had thought of Shitahara group but could not see their work in the jigane. Nobukuni of course came to mind but it's not Yamashiro work. Okay, what puzzled me was a shinsa call to sue-koto Suruga Sukemune. I didn't think they made as elaborate and extensive hori on their works. We did find the book examples of katei by horimono but nothing on this specific style of dragon. Just kicking this around with my friend in hopes of learning something. Ron STL
-
A friend was over today and we were trying to kantei a tachi (tachi-mei). The hori is very well done but a little worn. Examples of the hori were identified but being very stylized as they are, we could not pin down which school they might identify with. Opinions of schools and age of blade differ from early Muromachi and as late at sue-koto. Based on this style of hori alone, I'm (we're) we would appreciate some feedback from the group on this kantei. The sword has an origami attributing it to a school, but I'd like to see what other might say before before revealing the shinsa team's kantei. That's why I'm calling this kantei by horimono...in hopes of learning something. (photos are hopefully clear enough for this purpose.) Ron STL
-
Nothing wrong with long-shots. As I said, the Japanese artists never created a design by accident, so incorporating an odd number of petals very likely related to something as you suggested. Maybe after the SF show which is coming up fast, I'll continue to see what can be found online. Ron STL
-
Beautiful Hizen-to Marius. Awhile back I sold/part traded my Hizen Masanaga katana. It also had a full signature that ended close to the end of the nakago as your sword does. It was a tough one to part with! I'll see if the owner might share a photo or so for you here. Hamon was a little different, more like a cluster of midare-gunome, some suguha, another cluster and so-on. Mr. Tanobe told me that to find an intact, full mei of Masanaga (sandai Masahiro) is rare to find. I've always found the works of Hizen Masahiro and his brother Yukihiro quite interesting and once had several generations to lay out together for study. Today I have only my early found shodai Masahiro and Yukihiro, but have added three sword by their father, Hizen Yoshinobu, brother-in-law of mainline Tadayoshi. Again, congratulations! Ron STL
-
Thanks everyone, I think the idea of a kiku in the wind relating to the waves does make sense. Earlier today I was directed to another such treatment on a Heianjo tsuba. The kiku in wind was also mentioned. Curran, interesting to read you're idea that this might go to Umetada instead of ko-kinko. I've always thought of it being ko-kinko but since few have ever handled the tsuba before (never been to shinsa), Umetada would see a good possibility. I greatly enjoy ko-kinko, tachi-kanagushi, early works, so my thinking could be influenced by that. As you said, either way it is a beautiful tsuba. My intention is to have this in the 2017 KTK catalogue. Ron STL
-
I'm in the process of writing a description of a ko-kinko (personal opinion) and am having difficulty identifying the kiku-looking petals that surround the tsuba. First, there are 31 "petals", an odd number. If you can see from the pictures, these are oddly made on a slight angle, not perpendicular to the tsuba as one would expect. This leads me into thinking these do not represent kiku petals but something else. It is unlikely to be sloppy carving by the maker, that would be unlike the Japanese in a case like this. Opinions anyone??? Tsuba size is 67 mm x 64 mm x 4 mm at rim. Ron STL
-
Marcus, apologies for my forgetfulness. Just sent you $45 via Paypal. Good luck on the back surgery next month. To fix that problem will be a blessing for you. Ron STL
-
I recall being handed a Juyo sword, the first one I'd ever held before, and my knees were shaking. The sword was a naginata-naoshi owned by Roy Hashioka back in 1979. Fast forward to today, I have a number of Juyo swords in my collection and while I'm very proud that they reached that level of judgement, at my age I'm not so sure I'll worry about submitting any more promising blade to Juyo shinsa. As Peter pointed out, the sword if successful will be out of your hands quite possibly 18 months before you see it again. The sword will not have changed, but the ego trip does feel good. I sent a mumie Nambokucho Nio daito through twice, on Mr. Tanobe's advice without success. He insisted it is a Juyo sword, but advised me to just wait a couple of years and try again, that is will eventually pass Juyo. However, I've chosen to simply enjoy the sword as it stands and "let the next guy" worry about it receiving Juyo. I sort of look at a Juyo or higher certificate as adding "value" to a sword whenever the sword is to be sold. Meanwhile, the sword under discussion looks wonderful and so "Nambokucho." Enjoy it. Ron STL
-
Running a bit late responding, but as always, I'm in on this project. Ron STL
-
Minamoto Moritaka Commemorative Statement
Ron STL replied to Ron STL's topic in Translation Assistance
Kuniie was in the thick of it. Very much admire his work! Ron STL -
Minamoto Moritaka Commemorative Statement
Ron STL replied to Ron STL's topic in Translation Assistance
Wow, what a fast response! Thank Kunitaro. This is more information than I hoped for and greatly adds to my understanding of this sword. Ron STL -
The photo shows the nakago of a gendaito by Minamoto Moritaka. It carries a commemorative inscription below the date. Years ago when the sword was first found, I was told it reads: "Made to commemorate the fall of Singapore and Hong Kong." Today, I'm trying to confirm this information along with the Japanese reading of it. I've searched my books, NMB and online, but can not come up with this information. I eventually sold the sword to a good friend and recently repurchased it after his untimely death. Perhaps a redundant question, but I'm just trying to rebuild my file on the sword. Thanks! Ron STL
-
This makes me recall visiting an elderly lady whose husband would take kogai and wrap them around a form to make bracelets out of them. Fortunately, this kind of "reuse" was done on very average/low quality fittings for the most part. Ron STL
-
Yoshioka, that was what had been on my mind but was hoping to hear that from someone else. Thanks Thierry. There was a fantastic tsuba at the Chicago show last weekend that the owner (name escapes me) said was Yoshioka, if I remember correctly. (Asking price: $50k so you can see how super quality it was.) I have some excellent Yoshioka tosogu but nothing to compare with my tsuba, so this attribution sort of surprised me, but reasonable. John, I felt this tsuba was not at all Goto or Mino (Goto). The vertical nakago pattern indicates, as you pointed out, either ko-kinko or late Edo kinko -- I always watch for that, loving ko-kinko -- and this tsuba was definitely not ko-kinko work. With this direction I'll now seek out some comparison examples of Yoshioka. The rest of the koshirae is intact and beautiful with f/k and menuki displaying double mon in rich gold utori on f/k and combo utori/shakudo on menuki. Nanako is more bold than on tsuba, so perhaps the tsuba was once matching the other fittings. Interesting mumei blade, too...but that's another story I may get into later. Ron STL
-
Here is a shakudo tsuba, 71mm x 64mm x 5.5mm, rim decorated in low relief kiri/wisteria/etc in rich gold overlay, a few in copper. Nanako is made in vertical pattern. Color of shakudo is good as is the richness of the gold. The camera shows up the very light wear worse than it is. I'm not at all sure of where to place this tsuba as to a school. I would not think the Goto did this design. I would appreciate some thoughts on kantei for this one. Lovely work. It is mounted as part of a koshirae for a mumei daito recently purchased. Thanks! Ron STL