kissakai

Hi Can anyone give me an idea when a tsuba changes from round to oval? I know that size would be a consideration so maybe better to use a % As a hijack to my own post, does anyone have a tsuba that is wider than its height? I have a Nara tsuba that is 75 x 76 (wide) x 5.4mm I know it is only 1mm but it is an anomaly that doesn't occur on any other of my tsuba Grev UK

Brian I think a round of applause is in order

I have no idea how the namban seppa dai fits in with the general design Has one part of the design been added later?

I've just watched 'American Pickers' about an old car It was an Auburn but the restoration (ignoring the innards etc) only really removed the crud It was patchy worn and looked great - It promoted its age on its sleeve for all to see For years it was all about bringing a car back to showroom condition as this was the aim promoted at all the car shows It looks as if the trend is changing to not hiding the character/age I pleased to say that the posted tsuba has character

Hi Thanks for your replies but I did think there would be more response to stimulate a better discussion Guido I thought you were itching to say something now the caveat had been removed! I'm pretty well in agreement with the replies but I did have a tsuba repatinated to remove a very small blemish that distracted my eye every time I looked at it As it is a tsuba I'm sure I will not sell the price was immaterial

Hi Guido It is OK with me to ignore the caveat I was just worried where the discussion would end up

Hi I’m curious about the general feeling about restoring We have seen spectacular results of restoration posted on this forum Some times it is obvious that when a item has been reworked by an amateur (most of us will have seen the cleaned up religious painting) or damaged that restoration will be beneficial What about the attached image? This tsuba has only just been purchased from a member of the NMB and I’m very pleased with it so there is no need to discuss its merits You will see that there is no damage just discoloured If it was restored would it be, more desirable, less desirable or make no difference? I didn’t want to this topic to be based on value but just your personal views Grev UK

Great images - thanks Dave I wonder if there any more images available

Hi Sebastien This is a lovely fuchi but for a collector they really need the kashira If you look on the board under orphans there are loads of single items The possibility to match this up is virtually zero Apart from admiring the workmanship it could be 'up-cycled'

Hi Jean I took a couple of photo's and this was the best As you say, I'd assumed it was the tsuka maker

Hi I bought this from the NMB a couple of weks ago and noticed this kanji Does it mean anything? Grev UK

GB Token Ashmolean Tosogu lecture An event at the Ashmolean today organised by the GB Token Society was a great success. These events don’t just happen, there is always a bucket load of time and effort required by many of it’s members so please accept my thanks for a great day. It started with an introduction by Paul Bowman followed by: Pre Edo Iron Tsuba by Mark Radburn Ko Akasaka tsuba by Eckhard Kremmers What’s it made of and what does it tell by Ford Hallam Viewing various tsuba from the Church collection Each talk was exceptionally delivered and it’s the old cliché ‘you needed to be there’ but I will add a couple of quick comments. The significance of seppa dai and ‘ana’ shapes, differing surface and ‘iron bones’. Ford threw in a grenade re yamagane among other gems. Just in case you were wondering it was Ford that used the Spock analogy For me I loved seeing the various tosogu and swords in full koshirae. I have a tsuba once own by Eckhard which I showed him and he not only give me some additional technical points about the tsuba he also said it was originally owned by Sasano (bonus). After looking at black and white images of the Church collection is was wonderful seeing them in ‘colour’ So a congratulations to the organisers and I look forward to the next one Grev UK

I look forward to seeing you Are you taking any items with you?

Hi I meant to ask earlier but I wondered who would be at the Asmolean 'Tosugu at the Ashmolean Museum Oxford on 10/09/16 (tomorrow) I'll be there and it will be nice to put faces to all the collectors I've contacted via email Grev UK

Hi Randy I bought the tsuba book but couple it with the anatomy book that looked interesting I saw that shipping would be reduced for multiple buys The anatomy book was dirt cheap so it helped with the combined price I'll let you know more when I get them

Being a bottom feeder I get a lesson every time anyone says something

I have this on my watch list

Hi Prior to posting this item I searched 'kantei tsuba' and there were a few 'hits' but these only show isolated examples such as 'a kantei point for this tsuba is......... I see over and over again nihonto analysed using kantei points and I wonder if this was because there are so many recorded and salients points for a maker/school I have just had papers for an Owari Daisho that I showed to Bob Haynes Anyone who has been helped by Bob will know how kind, helpful and considerate he is with a novice collector With this set it he was so adamant they were not Owari, not a daisho or even made at the same time! He said this in the kindest way possible but I could detect he was disappointed with the papers which is echoing what the previous replies are saying Grev UK

Hi I have seen and copied the kantei sheets for nihonto and it is a good exercise Is there anything similar for tsuba?

Looks nice to me

Originaly from this post I wondered what all the fuss was about It was only a seppa! Then to see it mounted was amazing So Josh I wouldn't be surprised to find out yours was a tsuba Just leaming all the time

I buying from outside the EU use the correct tariff code and import duty = 5%

In the words of Victor Meldrew from 'One foot in the Grave I don't believe it!!!!!!!!! After looking for info on this (rare) kozuka for quite a few months 4 examples come to light in a few days Amazing - Thanks for all your help Grev UK

I saw it had a high estimated price Almost back to topic, lets assume the demand/price has gone down so if I find the owner and offer £1000 all's fine! Obviously it would should demand a high price I suppose it is a very long shot that it is owned by a NMB member Grev UK

Hi Arnold From a scholar and gentleman as you are I only get good advice and an honest opinion - thanks It's funny how you develop as a collector, for me although I have some nice older pieces that Ford has helped me appreciate am very proud to own tsuba by Kevin Adams and Marcus Chambers that are a delight I'm still looking for a really nice kyo sukashi tsuba and a good kogai that are within my price range and as soon as I get them there will be something else on my 'must have' list In the catalogue that started this post 'Southerby's Japanese Sword Fitting from the Caldwell collection?' No59 is my current favourite tsuba Grev UK