kissakai

Hi I've just frinished reading 'The Namban Art of Japan' by Y. Okamoto Although only one tsuba image it doesn't give any references to tsuba but more on art work and clothing It is quite clear how much Japan was influenced during the 14 century and demand for art items which were in short supply Lots of images from the Kobe Municipal Museum of Namban Art which I've yet to have a look at I have no knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish swords so please bear with me on the following statements so any input from members conversant in these styles would be welcome It appears the Portuguese where the most in demand but their swords are nothing like the type we see as Namban The Spanish image below is much more like the type we see as Namban and the Spanish were excellent metal workers Also I am disregarding any other country as influencing Namban tsuba apart from the Chinese designs but not the making techniques​ My biggest desire would be to understand why the design goes over the seppa dai which to me just doesn't make any sense Grev UK

No 2 on hold Grev UK

Hi I put a request on the NMB for a mounted katana and I didn't get any replies I assume my money pot was too small so I'm selling some tsuba to increase my chances of buying a sword 1 = No: 25 - School: Chōshū - 78 x 74 x 4.5mm 2 = No: 45 - Description: Satsuma mon - School: Shōami - 66 x 63 x 4.5mm 3 = No: 152 - School: Kanayama - 74 x 68 x 5.5mm 4 = No: 166 - School: Owari - 64 x 60 x 4.3mm Grev UK

Hi I have some tsuba for sale The price incluces PayPal Fees and P&P I have no problem with any NMB member providing an observation providing it is not just a personal opinion 1 = No: 25 Description: Flowers in a river School: Chōshū Mumei Approximate Date: 1700 Price: £210 - $300 2 = No: 45 Description: Satsuma mon School: Shōami Mumei Approximate Date: 1800 Price: £250 - $360 3 = No: 152 Description: Hanabishi School: Kanayama Mumei Approximate Date: 1625 Price: £400 - $570 4 = No: 166 Description: Birds School: Owari Mumei Approximate Date: 1750 Price: £150 - $220 If you 'hover' your mouse over the image it will show its number Grev UK

Hi Randy Can you please add me to your ever growing list Very nice Grev UK

Hi I've looked through my books and nothing in Sesko or Wakiyama (the three volume series) Haynes has quite a few alternatives for both kanji but the only name I found that fits with Haynes is Toshikiyo but his only reference to Toshikiyo has a different kanji Does this just go as an unrecorded maker? Grev UK

Could the first kanji be 亦 ? I agree that it is difficult to see all the strokes Grev UK

Stunning Mario and Thierry - this gets better and better I see not are dated which is a shame Grev UK

These are the first Namban tsuba that I've seen papered Is there any date or location shown on these papers? Lots of information for me to collate Thanks Gre UK

Hi I looked for the suggested book but without success If I do find it is there an English text? Grev UK

Hands up if you like Namban tsuba This topic was posted on another message board but thought it would also do well here I don’t expect many raised hands but if I’d asked about Noda Mitsuhiro’s thousand monkey tsuba I’m sure there would be more raised hands. Not so different but I do see some exceptionable workmanship with Mitsuhiro’s tsuba In some of my earlier posts I mentioned the museum tsuba book I’m working on. There is one section that can be improved. This is the Namban section. In my opinion a very under researched area of tsuba. In the draft book I put these in design and then date order. I would like to be specific if I go into print. I have cobbled together the information below. I have given no attributions as most information is regurgitated notes from a hundred years ago I’d like your comments corrections to my notes. No rush maybe something to mull over during the Christmas holiday. I use rounded up dates for ease and I’m not bothered if the dates are a few years out. I may be a bit too early with my start date. As I’m aware there is nothing set in stone especially with Nihonto items so I suggest the most plausible details Namban were produced in China or by the Dutch East India Company in India and imported from the middle to the end of the 16th century. They were copied from European sword guards. Some of the earliest design will incorporate European designs. One big step would be to have proof of manufacture outside of Japan and some dated examples About the seventeenth century there was a demand for foreign designs. The work is characterized in general by very small perforations, undercutting and in most instances a slight use of gold nunome inlay. The introduction of the dragon and a conventional flower into the " tendril design" characterizes the popular canton work made at Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Yedo from the beginning of the eighteenth century. Namban dates approximated for convenience: Early: 1550 - 1650 Middle: 1651 - 1750 Late: 1751 - 1850 Namban features Design than encroaches over the seppa dai Non standard seppa dai shape Design resembling fine to delicate filigree work Hard iron Can be solid Beaded mimi Raised katchushi style mimi Oval is the most common shape No hitsu ana Hitsu ana added post manufacture. Would this indicate foreign manufacture or a later addition? Hitsu ana incorporated during manufacture indicating this to be Japanese manufacture Styles Canton: Integrate design in a Chinese style that is symmetrical Kagonami: Integrate design in a Japanese style that is asymmetrical A bit more info: There are 61 tsuba at the museum dated between 1600 to 1890 There are three unusually thick tsuba that are 7mm+ tsuba and date pre 1750 Previous snippets from Namban posts on the NMB Those tsuba that are today called Namban (literally ‘southern barbarian’) appear to have been produced in China or by the Dutch East India Company in India and imported from the end of the 16th century. The category also includes reproductions of these imported pieces later made in Japan’. Ogawa (1987). This remains an interesting thread. I continue to be convinced that MOST of what are counted as "Namban tsuba" are mish-mash creations of stock motifs that reflect the Rampeki or "Hollandamania" of the late 18th century. That fad was a popular phenomenon of mass culture. Namban portrayals of this era show European carrying swept hilt rapier. Bilobed and cup guards that inform many "Namban tsuba" date from the 18th century. There were, of course, Continental military campaigns going on as the Momoyama era was passing, so I think it is not surprising that "Chinese" guards were repurposed by Japanese soldiers. All of those things get conflated as "Namban." From the quote above Ford was referring to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period approximately dated from 1573-1603 not any part of the Edo Period. I personally extend the date of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period to include the Siege of Osaka castle which ends in 1615. After the battle Tokugawa Ieyasu had killed off anyone else that could have had any claim to rulership of Japan (i.e. Toyotomi clan). A great proponent of foreign "Nanban" culture in Japan of this time period was the Shogun Oda Nobunaga. The popularity of foreign culture continued under leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to include the invasion of Korea 1592–1598. The only book (I have a copy) ‘The Namban group of Japanese sword guards: a reappraisal" by Dr John Philip Lissenden’ does’t really say anything If one accepts Ford’s premise that the label ‘Namban’ represents a style rather than a school, then the temptation to attribute this group of tsuba to a finite location is greatly diminished. I have no doubt that, in the early days of this style, the main location for their manufacture was, indeed, the immediate environs of Nagasaki. But by the late 18th and early 19th centuries the popularity of these tsuba was universal, to the extent that 'they suddenly overwhelmed a generation' [Homma and Satō, 1935-36], and it is likely that many of the existing schools throughout Japan had adopted Namban traits. Final observations Whether a school or style doesn’t bother me as they will always be but into a section so dealt no different than other tsuba schools Most collectors will just know what a Namban tsuba looks like although some Hizen and Hirado work can muddy the waters Unless there are specific proven Namban examples then it will remain a grey area Reading through I have rethought my order so it may be Original then later added hitsu ana Raised pattern that encroaches over the seppa dai Pierced work Solid form All I can really ask is for members to agree or disagree with my comments so I can be a bit more specific with my own knowledge. I difficult request If there are any specialist collectors of Namban tsuba would they PM me Grev UK

Thanks Peter Nice reference with as many fittings Ideal to have close ups of the mei. the descriptions are also useful If you click below the image is does go elsewhere so click inside the image and all should be OK Grev UK

Thanks Mauro - I will call it Six ken unless someone has a better description Grev UK

I'm surprised someone didn't answer this within minutes Do not polish the blade!!!!!!!! There are many posts on the NMB about sword care so have a read As you are in Australia it may help if you stated the area you live and maybe there is someone close to you that you can show it to for further advice Grev UK

Hi Does this design have a name? On my records I always use a description in the title but I've no idea what to call this one Grev UK

Thanks Joe for the pointer. I just bought the Katchushi or Onin school tsuba Grev UK

PM Sent Grev UK

Hi had a reply yesterday with images Grev UK

I've not heard anything yet Grev UK

I emailed Larry using his actual email address but haven't heard anything yet but it is less than a day Grev UK

Email sent for the tsuba Grev UK

I've sold most of my swords in a two week flurry and just a couple to go I wanted one reasonable example of a tanto, wakizashi and a katana I have the tanto and wakizashi but still looking for a katana (hint, hint) It was much easier than I thought as the responsibility of looking after them all was becoming quite onerous With my wives aversion to swords being on display it will be so much easier to look after just the three There must be some that are special to you so you may regret moving these on. Let your heart rule There will always be regrets but that life! Best of luck with a difficult decision Grev UK

Hi I have a cast Namban tsuba which is easy to see that it is cast If you look inside the opening for the blade (nakago ana) you will see a joint line. On mine it was easy to see but I can't see a joint line on your tsuba Grev UK

Lovely work - I look forward to see it in a couple of weeks Grev UK

Hi As Sal has had very bad news I thought it may help to say that I have bought his wakizashi It may save anyone sending him emails about purchasing this item when he has a lot of other tings on his mind I know he has appreciated every ones kind words Condolences Grev UK