Steve Waszak

Really appreciate (and try to share) your approach, Curran. Moving from great to sublime is hard, not only because great pieces are, well, great, but also because it takes so much focus, discipline, and patience. I believe it is worth it, though. In my experience, one great piece is worth ten good ones, and one magnificent masterwork is worth ten great pieces. Quality over quantity, when both cannot be had. Eagerly looking forward to what you'll acquire, Curran, and really pulling for you.

Very hard news. More hard news on top of so many recent and major losses in the community. I knew Richard, having seen him at San Francisco sword shows several times, and visiting him at his home in Portland, Oregon, where I saw the elaborateness of his photography set-up. Good guy. He will be greatly missed. RIP, Richard.

I have this book: HIGHLY recommended for anyone with an interest in the Nobuie smiths and the context out of which they arose. This is a lavishly done publication, highly readable, with beautiful black and while life-size images of the pieces illustrated. We desperately need more scholarship on this level in our field. Superb.

Looking forward to seeing your site grow, Curran. It also gives me a ready place to "visit" that superb Nidai Yamakichibei tsuba.

Email sent.

Tsuba are SOLD, pending funds.

These tsuba are the final four from my friend's collection I'll be posting here. I will offer these pieces through the weekend; after that, any that are unsold will be returned to my friend, so, if anything appeals to you, this weekend will be the time. Tsuba #1: This is a small (5.5 cm x 4.8 cm x 3mm) irregularly-shaped kinko tsuba with a pleasing motif of plovers over waves. I believe the material is yamagane, with gold accents applied to various degrees in the plovers. The rim is gently upturned here and there, suggesting of some Umetada and Kaneie rim treatments, though this piece is, of course not of those traditions. Seppazuri is strongly present on both sides of the tsuba. The sword guard presents with deep color and is in very good condition. $140.00 plus shipping. Tsuba #2: Here is another kinko tsuba, one whose material is a little challenging (for me) to identify with confidence. It seems like lower-quality shakudo, but very well may be of some other metal or alloy. As with the previous tsuba, this one features gold or gold-colored accents in the kiri mon motif elements. This piece also three very crisply-done kiku sukashi elements. The overall presentation of this tsuba, with its very small kogai-ana, suggests latest-Edo to me (seppazuri hints at this being a late-Edo work rather than 20th-century, but honestly, I think the tsuba does come across as being of such recent vintage. It measures 7.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 4mm. $75.00, plus shipping. Tsuba #3: This is a mokko kinko work that may date to pre-Edo, and is almost certainly no later than early-Edo. It features numerous inlaid brass dots, some of which are missing, together with subtly carved mon elements amidst a field of small circular spots. I believe the material is yamagane, plus the brass dots. It measures 6.7 cm x 6.1 cm x 3mm. $125.00, plus shipping. Finally, a tsuba I had offered some time ago, and am now re-offering at a significantly reduced rate. The form and motif elements of this piece usually result in an attribution to (ko-)katchushi, with the larger motif elements identified as stylized snowflakes. This tsuba features a strongly-hammered plate and a nakago-ana indicative of the guard being fitted to a fairly broad blade, measuring at 3.1 cm. The tsuba itself is a good size: 8.1 cm x 2.5mm. I would locate this sword guard in the early-Edo Period. $100.00, plus shipping. If a buyer would like all four tsuba, I would reduce the price from $440.00 to $300.00, plus shipping. I will leave this post up through the weekend, as I say, after which I will be returning any unsold pieces to the owner.

Superb. Thanks so much for sharing this. A real treat to see.

Tsuba #2 reduced to $125.00, plus shipping.

Price reduction to $1,150.00, plus shipping. Really fine iron in this tsuba.

That will be an absolute must-have publication.

Tsuba pair #2 is SOLD.

A few more from my friend's collection. I am presenting these as two pairs of tsuba. Pair 1: The first tsuba here features a triple tomoe motif, and measures 7.9cm x 7.7cm x 3mm. The second piece has a motif of what looks to be kiri with blossoms, together with a lattice design. 7.5cm x 5mm. Pair 2: The first tsuba in this pair presents with a large "dancing-kiri"-with-blossoms motif. Shakudo inserts. 7.8 x 7.7 x 5mm. The second tsuba also features a kiri motif with a strongly rounded rim. 7.2cm x 4mm. Each pair is $240.00. For all four tsuba, $400.00, plus shipping.

The third group (three iron sukashi tsuba, no inlay) has SOLD. Additionally, the first two groups of three tsuba are reduced to $185.00 plus shipping, each.

Okay, guys, up for today are three groups of sword guards from my friend's collection. These are meant to move quickly, and so are listed with asking prices that are quite low. In each group, there are three tsuba, so, a total of nine in all. I am not providing details regarding dimensions, motif features, possible "schools" or traditions with each of them, but if anyone has a question about such information about a specific piece, please reach out to me and I'll try to provide an answer. The prices for these will work like this: each group of three tsuba is $285; six together (two groups) would be discounted to $540; and all nine would be $765. All excluding shipping, of course.

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