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Barrie B

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Everything posted by Barrie B

  1. Banzashi Daisho (and other swords worn in within Edo Castle) had to have horn Kashira, IAW the Tokugawa edict. This is totally in keeping with this Koshirae; no problems there.. Barrie.
  2. Hi Robert, Not I, but a nice pick-up in my opinion.. Not sure why the Fuchi is on the wrong side of the Tsuba, but hey.. Thats what we are here for - to put these things right. Certainly a nice project to complete.. Finding the right Menuki will be the trick. Should be (two) mons for the Wakizashi, but probably any Shakudo/ Gold Menuki would be okay under the ito, or even plain Shakudo to be more subtle. I wonder if it was part of a Banzashi Daisho at one time..? I don't think I I have seen that 'moon' Mon previously either - if it is a moon..? Congrats to whoever won it, Barrie.
  3. Steve, Thank you; much appreciated. Sincerely, Barrie.
  4. Hi Guido, Thank you for your explanation. I am most grateful and very appreciative. I like koshirae anyway, but this saya was different.. As Tom stated, it must have been a devil to apply - but I am guessing - once applied (and cured), the final product could then be 'worked' back to obtain the final even surface and shape.. It looks like Kusune to me (in the triangle hollows), but is probably black ishimeji, as you say. Thanks again.. Barrie.
  5. Hi Peter, I can't access that site.. It says 403 Forbidden. Access to this resource on the server is denied! Barrie.
  6. Hi all, I do think it is nice; in fact I like it a lot. Even the Shitodome is nice..! Some more picks of the Koshirae, but I am really interested in learning more about the saya.. Barrie.
  7. Hi all, I have an unusual saya and would like to know if anyone knows what it is called please. I am guessing it is pine needles (?) that were all cut to the same length and then painstakingly arranged/glued in the pattern we see, before lacquer was applied and finally rubbed back..? The look and texture of the saya is amazing. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Barrie.
  8. Hi, I have a fairly normal (but nicely finished) Meiji period Sword Cane Koshirae that has some kanji on the bottom. Although I can read most of the kanji like hisa and tada, I cannot put it together to decipher if it is a maxim or the sayashi's signature. Any assistance would be appreciated, thank you. Barrie.
  9. G'day Pete, Hozon paper was issued 30 Jan 1991 (Heisei 3). Unfortunately the paper does not say much else other than the obvious - Snake Gourd design, round, raised mimi, two hitsuana etc.. So I guess mid/ late-ish Edo jidai. Barrie.
  10. Barrie B

    New Koshirae

    Hi Mark, Nice Koshirae. Iron fittings, leather Tsuka-ito, metal Kojiri and ishimei Saya. I would go with Higo or Edo Higo.. Barrie.
  11. I have a one sided Tsuba - if you want to call it that. I think mine is 'finished' on the back, (as in the Jigane) but simply has no design. (intentionally left blank). Mine is papered to Aizu Shoami by the NBTHK. Barrie.
  12. Hi Grev, Nice tsuba. Is it mokume, or just acid etched to appear that way? I thought I read somewhere that Tsuba that were intended as gifts were often signed on the ura. I might be wrong.. Barrie.
  13. Hi, Yes, it was posted on Facebook and I thought it might be a good read, since I like Koshirae and he purports (is that the wrong word?) to make Koshirae and Tsuka.. I know there has been some bad press about him recently and I don't want to get into that. FWIW, he is not replying to my emails either. I was just wondering if the book was worth having.. I am guessing no members have purchased this book. Barrie.
  14. Hi all, Has anyone purchased or received a copy of Hans Koga's (Koga-bijutsu) book, YUHI - Mindset and techniques for crafts of handle-wrapping and Japanese sword furniture? I would be interested to hear back about the book please if anyone has received a copy. Thank you. Barrie.
  15. I live in Australia and have used Kelly many times with oversize items like Yari Koshirae and precious DaiSho koshirae that I wanted care with. Every single transaction was perfect in every way - with lots of communication the whole way. I have also purchased a large Katana Tansu through Kelly, which was amazing. Contact Kelly if you have any hassles. Barrie.
  16. Yup. I paid, but I wasn't trying to jack the price up; I actually wanted those items... Cheers Stephen. Barrie.
  17. mmm... I thought I read somewhere (Markus Sesko maybe?) that Menuki were originally always placed under the palms when Tachi were more commonly used. With the evolution/ development of the Katana (and Wakizashi), (with the cutting edge now up instead of down), the Menuki were not moved, due to tradition maybe..? Although, of course, they are (orientated) the right way up on Katana (and Wakizashi) when worn, as opposed to being upside down. I am away from home at the moment so cannot check my books. Or I might just be totally wrong..! Either way, it is a good subject to discuss. As for extant examples of Menuki under the palms, I have - on one of my daisho - Menuki orientated in the Yagyu Ryu style. That is, with the Menuki placed under the palms when holding a sword for combat, and in fact, on the Wakizashi, there is only one Menuki. The other Menuki is not missing; being a one handed sword (sho), there is only one Menuki that resides under the palm when held - albeit by the right hand. These are not Yagyu Daisho; just the Menuki placement is in the Yagyu Ryu style. BTW, of all my Koshirae, these are the only ones with this orientation for the Menuki. So not very common.. Barrie.
  18. I can reiterate what Ed has said. I have also chased items on YHJP that have not had a bid placed on them for days.. All of a sudden when the auction is ending and I bid, someone shill bids.. This goes on for a while until I think, okay, it is a fair price now, but when they get greedy, I stop. On several occasions 'the shill bidder' has won the auction. Like Ed, I know they have been caught with their own item. Occasionally though, the next morning I'll wake up to an email stating the highest bidder pulled out (surprise surprise..!) and the item is mine. Thankfully I didn't go too high and I actually wanted the item, but their blatant dishonesty is outrageous.. Barrie.
  19. FWIW and if anyone wants to do a comparison, similar themed Tsuba can be seen in: ​The Isiguro School of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists (Ishiguro Koreyoshi) pp.68 and Japanese Swords and Sword Furniture in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Natsuo) pp. 320 & 321. Barrie.
  20. Steve and Kyle, Thank you for your assistance. I genuinely thought these were made by different kinko artists and one was a later commission; however, they are - as Steve said - exactly the same in finish and design. Although this did not surprise me as these artists were very clever and could match anything.. I am pleased to know that they are a true set though. Thanks again, Barrie.
  21. Thank you so much. I was really stumped with this. So these were made at Hiratsuki Kasama by Yukiyoshi..? What does 彫剣之 mean? And do we know who/ or which family used this Mon, or is it too generic to tell..? Thanks. Barrie.
  22. Hi all, I have what appears to be a Daisho Fuchi; however, they seem to be made by different artists? Perhaps one was a later commission to match the first..? I am interested to find out if both smiths are contemporary? The Fuchi both have exactly the same Shakudo finish with matching Mon(s) - which I can't identify either. I have Hawley's Mon Book and this particular Mon is not recorded. The Matsudaira had many 'similar' Mon, but not this 'exact' one, according to Hawley. Can someone please assist me to translate these? I have worked out that one of the smiths was Yukiyoshi Ca 1800 or 1850 (H 12488, 12489 or 12490), but the other has me stumped, as does the rest of the kanji. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, Barrie.
  23. I too have used Kelly on several occasions and can thoroughly recommend his services. One benefit I found was that Kelly was able speak directly to the seller to negotiate the sale of a very nice Daisho Koshirae - that the seller did not want the hassle of selling internationally - whilst also securing a very reasonable price. Kelly was then able to organise the export license, which the seller was not willing to do obviously.. I have also used Kelly for oversize items like Tansu. Barrie.
  24. Alexsandr, I agree with Steve and BT.. If you really wanted to draw a long bow, then this would (or could) be a 'Merchant Koshirae' but, it may also be an early Meiji 'put together'.. Antique fittings and a (really) nice saya with good same' under the ito.. Enjoy it for what it is.. Barrie.
  25. Thanks Michael, I was looking at this Tsuba and thought it had similar traits... Especially the mimi, Seppadai chisel marks and Hitsu-ana (Kogai & Kozuka) shapes. And the Reed design crossing into the Seppadai slightly. Although, I agree that mine is a little more 'chunky'. Perhaps mine is a late attempt at copying Hayashi work? Barrie.
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