Anthony de Vos

Hi! Here is my example of the Dee silver lighter mentioned above. It’s a beauty with gold on the inside. Enjoy! Regards Anthony

Hi! Thanks gentlemen for your nice words. Regarding how the collection, which is the largest in the world, come to be, well I had to corner the world market buying everything on it for many years. Most of them are found in Japan. I have some interesting info regarding who invented them and when, but unfortunately not much on how they were worn. I have multiple examples from some models, both in iron and brass, and are willing to sell some to interested people. PM me if interested. I enclose some information that I have regarding the lighters. (The silver walnut mentioned, made by Henry William Dee, is one of 3 known made by him. I am lucky to have one of these three and it's the earliest item known by the silver smith. If I remeber right the stamps indicate that it's made in 1867. It's interesting that Dee managed to use the same button to open the lid as well as working the snaphaunce mechanism itself compared to the Japanese that has 2 buttons) Regards, Anthony Info netsuke tinder lighters.pdf

Hi! Here is a nice example in more detail. Regards, Anthony

Hi! Here is my collection of something often labeled as ”Snaphaunce netsuke tinder lighters”. I don’t think they are netsuke in the ortodox way but still they cary that name. What do you think? Netsuke or not? Regards, Anthony

Hi! Here are some high resolution pictures of, IMHO, excellent nanakoji. The chrysanthemum kozuka is papered TH. Mito Yoshinari was a pupil to Isigurou Masatsune. well carved motif with lovely regularity in the nanako technique. Enjoy! Anthony

Hi! The Saotome’ School of kabuto makers is believed to have been founded by Ietada, after Sekigahara. One can often see Saotome tsuba dated much earlier than that. I believe that the tradition to date Saotome tsuba to Muromachi and Momoyama might need to be reconsidered. Anthony

Hi! Some later info regarding a sword for JD. Sometimes FLAK miss the target🤣

Hi! I bought many things from him in the past and have also visited his shop. He answers in mail contact. He even found me a Bamen school koboshi. Never had a problem. Some items nowadays sometimes look like they had a ”touch up” Anthony

Hi! Agreed, some nice prices and many nice items. Anthony

Hi Ian! Thanks for the info! Great to get a name to the tsuba. I hope you got some nice items. I agree, there was plenty of eye candy at the auction. Lot 8, 61, 68 and 336 was also items I liked. Maybe not the most expensive or rare of all the lots but they stirred my heart. 😁 Anthony

Hi! Any views regarding the Cooper Collection sale. I thought it was some nice tosogu up for grabs. I got only two lot’s but was happy anyway. I was overbid on many. Got lot 317, liked it a lot. I took a huge chance on lot 335. They had two identical pictures, quite blurred, by misstake, nothing from the back. Described as signed but as with all lots no description of the mei. I have no clue so it will be fun to see what it is…..I hope!🤣 Someone else getting something? Regards, Anthony

Hi! I found some nice tigers that I think work well together. The F/K is signed Yanagawa Naokatsu. Do anyone have an idea what school the tsuba could belong to? Anthony

Nice, Gary!

Hi! His kodzuka is one of the finest work I have ever seen. It’s sbsolutly stunning. He is working on a new piece of tosogu besides his other engraving work. Anthony

Hi! I liked the yari hidden in the kanabo, rare sight. Unfortunately the underbidder since I had no time to follow the auction. The rest, maybe with the exeption of one or two yari, looked terrible. Anthony