Kanenaga

I came upon this auction by accident. Some tsuba, other kodogu, inro, etc. https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31871/fine-Japanese-and-korean-art/

Late, but as requested, here's that whole copper tsunagi. The "nagasa" is 13.5 inches, so o-tanto or ko-wakizashi.

I think Steve wrote muneami.

Apologies, Curran and everyone, I did not mean to mislead. It's the same copper tsunagi. I suspect it's a copper alloy because there is none of the usual copper oxidation. The color in the photos is pretty close to the real thing. The previous post was about kanji on the blade portion, and I got some very helpful info from Jan. This now is about the nakago portion, and thanks to SteveM for the translation, which seems to make sense even though it is not in the "standard" form of a mei on a sword. Regrettable that there's no Natsuo, Ikkin, Yasuchika, etc, Ian. I have no idea what the original blade was, or if there was one. The shape of the tsunagi (hira-zukuri with sori) suggests to me not earlier than Nanbokucho. I'll post a photo when I return from travel. Les

This is the nakago of a copper tsunagi in a wakizashi koshirae. It doesn't look to me like a normal mei. I'd appreciate some translation help.

Thank you, Jan.

Some assistance please. This is a tsunagi to a wakizashi koshirae. It's made of copper or some copper alloy, with these kanji engraved. Auspicious incantations, perhaps? Les

Can we know more about the Ko-Aoe Koretomo? I have a particular interest in this smith. Les

Rather than hijack another discussion, I borrowed this partial photo from another thread just for illustration. And please dismiss me if this has been discussed before. It's about the double cutouts around the nakago-ana in this tsuba, which create a "figure 8" shaped cavity. I see this from time to time, most often on Owari-sukashi tsuba but occasionally also on other iron sukashi tsuba, always on one side only. It's not clear to me that these chiselings alter the dimensions of the nakago opening itself. Does anyone know what these are for?

Shinogi-zukuri

Here's another with features similar to my new one: thin plate with blurry hi-relief images, and the distinctive worm-eaten rim (borrowed from a website for educational purpose). Are we to think these were made by the same craftsmen who made Curran's? Seems unlikely, they are so different. Are these older or younger? Copyright Elliott Long

Yes, thanks Tim. You've helped educate this small focussed group of tsuba collectors.

... and the translation?

Took another photo of my new addition, brings out the figures more clearly. I can make out seated sages (?) at 5:00 and 8:00, a fox at 6:00, kikumon at the top, perhaps a genie figure in profile at 11:00. I cannot identify the figure at 1:00. These early tsuba are not seen very often, and I've found very little written about them (in English). There was one other at DTI, asking 1M yen. They are bronze castings, and the designs tend to be crude compared to the contemporaneous mirrors, which leads some to argue that they were likely not made by mirror-makers as the name implies. There have been prior discussions on this forum in the 2010-15 time frame, several started by Marius.

Bookseller said he thought the translation came with the book, but in this particular case it seemed to have fallen out. That suggests that anyone who has the book is entitled to the translation. Plus what Brian said.

So different...

Here's the tsuba. It doesn't photograph well, if I had time I'd enhance the images. I particularly like the "rotten wood" design on the rim.

I acquired a kagamishi tsuba at DTI last month, have ordered a copy of Sasano-sensei's little book on these guards. I understand there exists an unofficial translation of this book, if anyone can point me to a copy of the translation it would be much appreciated.

FWIW, recent Juyo zufu no longer use the chu-Aoe/sue-Aoe terminology. Only ko-Aoe and Aoe.

The gold tier seems to be working, I would be ok to see multiple donation tiers. Like the gold tier, but add platinum and diamond, perhaps 2x and 3x? This forum is for a community that collects expensive things, some high-end collectors lurk, many (some) would be ok to donate more. Tier badges would be a constant reminder and encouragement to donate, even without a quid-pro-quo, and hopefully with less need for periodic pleas. Might be not too difficult administratively (actually, I know nothing about managing a forum like this one, but I'm sure it's more work than most of us realize).

As Jussi and others have noted, there is a wide range of Aoe craftsmanship, some swords are rather plain. Tanobe-sensei says #5 is an outstanding example of Nanbokucho Aoe, with dan utsuri. And yes, this blade was in the Aoe display at the SF show.

Add in one more? #5 ? Same vendor, same photographer. 74.2 cm.

"This is a hobby; it's supposed to be fun!" Ralph Bell, RIP

Here is the beginning layout out of the Aoe display at the SF show, prior to the actual hands-on viewing. There were 6 daito, 1 wakizashi, and 2 tanto. The sword committee seriously underestimated the attraction of the display. More than 100 people attended over 2 hours, 50 handouts disappeared early and so did other supplies. Kudos to the NBTHK-AB and the NCJSC.

Thank you for this scholarly gift. You are carrying on Darcy's tradition.