kissakai

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

I have been asked to display and discuss part of my tsuba collection which I'm happy to do. There was also a request to discuss swords and again with the information I've received from the NMB I am also OK to do this on a very basic level such as describing the basic parts like the hamon shapes etc I have one problem, I only have one Aikuchi/Tanto and I posted this about two years ago and this was one of the few comments I received: The blade looks all wrong to me, stubby kissaki, cookie-cutter hamon. Shinogi-zukuri? The problem I have is that I've no idea of the date or school. I assume this is a tanto that like so many others is of no real interest to a collector but for this discussion I'm sure the main question will be 'how old is it', so your help will be very much appreciated Grev UK

Thanks Piers for taking the time to ask your sensei Grev UK

Hi Piers The seller thought it may be Yamashiro Grev

I bought this tsuba from a MNB member a few days ago and struggling with the full mei With some help it appears that one side is Minamoto 源 Masahisa 正久 The opposite side has me stumped Maybe 大釦夂 Literal translations Big Button!!!!!!!! Late or some reference to winter? The last kanji maybe友 = Friend A mokune tsuba made by a swordsmith between 1700 – 1800 I would welcome any help Grev UK

Hi Andy I've only been into tsuba for two years so I can understand the difficulty you are having Books are a good bet especially the one below: My latest publication is a classical meikan, a signature comparison, namely for sword fittings. It contains about 4,100 pictures of about 2,000 Japanese sword fittings artists. Its purpose is to serve as a reference for the comparison of signatures on sword fittings and is thus practical for both the collector and for antique dealers Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists by Marcus Sesko Try not to get carried away with Sesko's books and he has a secrete desire to bankrupt all NMB members As these are real images it is easier to compare actual examples The classic reference book is the 3 book Haynes Index, I also use Robinsons 'The Arts of the Japanese Sword' and Yumoto's samurai sword. Yumoto's book is good for kanji that is not a smith's name such as numbers, descriptions etc. If I can get Mr Haynes permission I am hoping to offer The Haynes Index in a searchable spreadsheet for NMB members I am not very good with translation but have had a lot of help from the NMB To show how little I know I will be posting a tsuba mei for translation later today I hope this helps Grev UK

Hi Is it worth replacing the feathers and if so any idea how to go about it They look a bit bare Grev UK

Hi I said in an earlier post that I bought these arrows and so have included some images Earlier described as ‘Kago yumi have been described as being constructed with whale bone and horn’. These look to me to be bamboo (hollow) but not a bamboo I’ve seen before and very slight traces of feathers. The arrow head would appear to be forged but roughly finished and indication of a hamon. Arrow head type 1 and 2 All arrows This was part of the wrapping around the tang. It looks as if rice paper is wrapped around the tang until there is a tight fit to the shaft with the help of some twine whipping It would be nice to hear any more comments as the images above show a lot more detail Grev UK

Hi Brian I bought the arrow heads when Jean mentioned they likely to be Japanese I'll put some images on the NMB when I get them as I'd like to know a bit more about them Another 'score' for the NMB Grev

Hi I asked about the LULU codes and eventually bought one of Marcus's books I am after three more of his books and I've searched the net for the last week without success Anyone have some new LuLu codes so I can purchase these books Looking for 20% or better Grev UK

Hi Mauro Looks a good match to me I'll have a look in my sosho book tomorrow, then do a search on the internet to see if I can find any examples of his work Many thanks Grev UK

Hi Thomas I only visit my friend every few months so if I had known he was after a translation I would have taken my camera He doesn't have a computer, a digital camera or phone so I'm stuck with just the handwritten copy If I had done this I would have added images of the vase which is quite stunning If no one can help I will re-submit this request after the next time I see him Grev

Hi I've been asked by a friend if anyone can help with this translation which is on a large Japananese cloisonné vase, cockerel and flowers He is very good at kanji translation but this 'grass' script defeats him I would welcome comments from anyone that has used M Sesko sosho book as it's an area I like to try to learn I do have the 1944 dictionary of Japanese (Sosho) writing forms by O. Daniels but find it extremely difficult to use Grev

Update ref Now I have it in hand I've tried to view it objectively Good even patina Good surface finish Nice and even bars Ascetically pleasing (to me) I showed a well known dealer images of this tsuba He stated that is was a good tsuba probably around 1850 and offered me 3 times what I paid on Ebay just from the images As a dealer I would think the mark up to be around 50% I didn't sell as I may mount this on one of my katana Grev UK

Interested purchasers I've just bought the book but waited for a decent discount The is a LuLu valid code for three days for 20% RDM14 Grev UK

Thanks for all your help With a recognised theme it makes the second tsuba much more interesting Tsuba 1 Does anyone think this has some age to it? Ooops I mixed up my tsuba - should have been: With a recognised theme it makes the first tsuba much more interesting Tsuba 2 Does anyone think this has some age to it? Grev UK

Thanks for all your help With a recognised theme it makes the second tsuba much more interesting Tsuba 1 Does anyone think this has some age to it? Grev

Hi Thanks I can use one of the more exact examples for the grill tsuba I've checked the link and saved a copy of the image but it is so low quality that I can't see it very well Then checked the internet but most links are to books and none of the other links have images Interesting it basically is north, south, east, west & centre which will have many levels of meaning A good subject for a tsuba of this age Can anyone help me further? Grev UK

Hi Chris Thanks - made me smile Looking at the 1st tsuba upper shape it's obviously ghosts - don't why I didn't see it in the first place doh Grev UK

To replyee (no name) This is this dealers standard format and usually never commits to a solid description You view and take your chance Grev UK

Hi I've just bought this from Mariusz and asked him if he knew what the symbols were Unfortunatly he didn't Anybody have any ideas? Obviously put there for a reason so I'd like to know a bit more --------------------------------------------------------------------- I put this on the NMB about a week ago and was successfuly given a translation of the poorly cut mei - thanks Now I have it in hand I've tried to view it objectively Good even patina Good surface finish Nice and even bars Aesetically pleasing (to me) I'd welcome your opinions as most of my tsuba are generally low quality (invert cheap) Also what can I call the design so I can add this to my description Grev UK

Hi Can you help with the first kanji? This is netsuke I bought at the weekend which I believe is modern but was drawn by the expressive face I assume the 2nd kanji is yama. I tried the kanji count but wasn't sure of the total stokes so I looked at counts 4 to 6 but without success Grev UK

Hi Mick I don't advertise the name of the museum I'd rather wait until I've done all I can (with a lot of help) I bought a turn of the century catalogue that showed around 500 tsuba that hadn't been on display for over 80 years It seemed a shame that these should be hidden away so I contacted the museum and over a number of months photographed all the tsuba with the intention of producing a book. I didn't realise the enormity of the project so I'm still undecided on how to progress! I've had loads of help from the NMB but still a long way to go Grev UK