kissakai

Thank Marius I can see the sasa shape but katabami is usually three petals If this is right then I wonder why they are grouped together! Anybody else have an idea on the first image Grev UK

Thanks Marius Originally I had the second tsuba as an oxalis but your suggestion of a water lily fits the shape much better Tried looking for a family mon but only found one but the shape was inverted so no success there The first tsuba shape request yielded no answer which surprised me as it can not be that uncommon as I have another with the same sukashi shape shown blow I would appreciated any additional help Grev UK

Hi Is it possible to save this to my hard drive? A splendid and inspirational film Grev UK

Hi Any one gone this ones mate? A common theme so I'm hoping to pair it up Grev UK

Thanks for the replies and links which I enjoyed reading I think the San Diego tsuba are important for styles and dates of the tsuba brought up from the wreck Seems a shame there not any more information available Grev UK

Hi Can any one help with these two tsuba The first image The sukashi shape I've always thought was an iris Someone else suggested orange leaves I've looked at my book of mon but it didn't look like any The second image Does anyone know if this is a family mon? Iris Mon Grev UK

Thanks for the link but on the website they have the same tsuba twice! I think the first image should show the tsuba, lower left of the group of tsuba Any one know if any have been restored and how many tsuba were recovered Grev UK

Hi I have three 'San Diego' tsuba I looked at a previous link on this subject and found one of my tsuba in the image but the link to the website doesn't have very much detail Does anyone have other images of the tsuba recovered? I also know there is a book on this subject but I think tsuba will only be a small part of the book hence I haven't bought it I wonder if any of the tsuba have been restored As this was a valuable discovery especially as a dating guide I'd love to find out a bit more information Grev UK

Hi The first may be cast It was just that my friend spotted the second image as cast straight away but was happy the first was OK There is no apparent die line on the first image but what do I know Grev UK

Hi I added a tsuba previously and originally it was thought to be cast I have this example that is obviously cast I thought newbees can see how deceptive a tsuba can be when viewed in one direction It is a good pointer to view in all the holes as this can tell you a lot I would be interested if there are any pointers that a tsuba is cast just by looking at the face A friend at once which was cast and the uncast one without looking at inside faces! The first image is an Namban tsuba that is not cast The second and third images are the same cast tsuba Grev UK

I bought three of Thierry's tsuba and they arrived today I looked at these loads of times but was put off by the colour I've added a new image which in my opinion shows the colour better Now I have had another look I may be buying #40 & #70 Grev UK

Hi I use a felt covered board with perspex pins I wanted them on display so I can see them every day rather than hidden away Initially they were on a mustard background but when we redecorated I had to change the colour of the felt A bit of a pain but marriage has to have compromises! These are my learning tsuba and they will be reduced to around 40 to 50 tsuba so I may change to a display cabinet Grev UK

Sometimes it is not the value or quality of an object that makes it a favourite This is my bad boy I started collecting tsuba in April 2012 and while nosing around the internet came across the NMB site. I wasn’t very busy at the time and read hundreds of posts, even as far back to the time that some images were corrupted. I couple of months later I plucked up enough courage to post my first tsuba. It was posted in June 2012, the post went to five pages with 60 replies and 2825 views. After what felt like a multiple mental beating I was feeling shell shocked. Was I an idiot, is this tsuba so bad it was an embarrassment? Should I stop collecting and in the classic words ‘never darken the door of the NMB again’. After a bit of encouragement from Brian I re-evaluated the replies and these are a couple of my favourites from my first post: Poor Kanshiro is probably turning in his grave now. How on earth can you attribute this doodle to Nishigaki?, that's embarrassing. I love you Tosogu guys I was thinking till now that disputes among members were reserved to Nihonto Now such tsuba form/pattern has an Higo flavour (whatever it is: Juyo, junk, cast, Meiji - BTW, did I forget something?) A later reply said not to forget 'Chinese' It’s what this tsuba has led to that was life changing My collection numbers over 150 tsuba. These are my learning tsuba, from these I will reduce to around 50. This will give me a nucleus so I can strive for constant improvement to my collection. I’ve been working with a local museum and with help I will endeavour to publish a book. I have conversed with NMB members from all over the world and their help and expertise has been faultless. I have been offered the chance to make my own tsuba. Had a personal introduction to Robert Haynes who I’ve spoken to on many occasions. There more but I have to end somewere I would have liked to add a picture of Brian as a ‘favourite’ but maybe this isn’t allowed. Grev UK

I cleaned out the cut-outs to better show the inside faces From looking at the mei in another post I see this as an authentic tsuba Why copy a tsuba of little interest with so little detail and the correct mei is so vague it can not be easy to copy Grev UK

Hi Thanks for the replies which were a lot better than I expected It only arrived a day before my post so I didn't notice the substance in the sukashi but it smells like bees wax Once I knew the mei I found another excellent post on this website that had an image of the mei and some further info Grev UK

Hi A tsuba of no distinction but I wondered if the mei was real or just a poor attempt Image has been enhanced to try to highlight the mei and this was my best attempt No need to be kind although I know most of you shoot from the hip Grev UK

What a great thread Lovely examples with an interesting link to the description I've followed this from the start and it just got better Thanks Grev UK

Hi Good job you just asked for samples and did not request quality! :D Some revival tsuba and some not actually hitsu ana but something to look at Grev UK

Hi Markus I'd like a copy As you did the original translation is it possible to add your notes/translation to the catalogue? Maybe as a download I have no problem with an extra cost but I would be more comfortable with your descriptions Grev UK

Thanks, Chris, Uwe and Denis Suming up looks like 真田 Design display? Deliberate damage? I've no idea if it is a mei. I've added an image that I've highlighted the 'mei I did this but looking at the mei with a loupe then adding the 'dot to dot' to the image Grev UK.

I have this tsuba for about 12 months and only just realised it has a mei Although it is very faint can anyone help translate the mei? Also not sure what the hot stamps represent I think this 1800 - 1850 Size = 83mm x 81mm x 5mm inner and the mimi is 6mm Grev UK

Hi Barry Thanks for the LuLu updates I tried INDIE on one of Makus's books but it didn't work There is no need to reply as you are just the messenger but info for other NMB members only Please carry on with these codes as most of them work Grev UK

Do the grapes signify anything? In Europe they would denote a full harvest or bounty but I would think this will not translate into Japanese ideology Grev UK

Hi Some really nice replies I especially like Peters information: The Japanese word for grape is budo, "way of the martial arts" and the word for squirrel, rizo, is something like "setting high ideals." I was told the he fox is quite an arrogant creature and loves grapes but can not reach them When asked why he didn't eat the grapes rather than admit defeat he said he didn't want them! As this is the same as Aesop's story so I prefer Peters description. The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is Maybe there are other interpretations so you pay your money and take your chance. Grev UK

I bought this tsuba from a NMB member, Christopher Klojer As I was delighted to own this tsuba and I wanted to share this with other NMB members I always wanted a true sukashi ito tsuba as many are wider gaps that have the edges 'rolled' over I checked the cutouts under a medical microscope and can find no indication that these are 'rolled' edges I sent some images to Bob Haynes and he filled in the gaps in my description Details Mito in the province of Hitachi. Sugiyama School? Signature: Mito 水戸 Ju 住 Tomohisa 節 久 Saku 作 Haynes H09909 Period: Ca 1800 Style: Sukashi. Ito sukashi Ito. The width is approx 0.16mm Subject: Legend of the fox (kitsune) and vine although examples show this as a squirrel Size: 74 x 71 x 5.4 mm Shown illuminated from the rear Grev UK