TETSUGENDO

Jean, I have also been trying to decide if this piece is built on an old Tsuba, or if it was designed this way in toto at its inception. I don't know either. BTW the mounts are rather heavy gauge silver- I probably should have noted the materials. Perhaps an old Tsuba with some special meaning to the person who had this piece "created"? Thanks for taking the time to comment. Steven K

Teimei, Thanks for your input. Steven K

Thanks Grey, I do. I was looking for an opinion on school, etc. I don't quite know where to place this. Steven K

Not quite sure what to make of this. Comments, opinions, please. Steven K

Grey, Late 19th C to first third of the 20th C. Chinese, commercial export quality. A few years ago the value of things like these would have been very little but, with the Chinese market on the boil I have no idea. I don't think they would hold any appeal for a serious collector asian or occidental, though the general market should be checked. Steven K

Barry, Not Mito in particular, unfortunately Mito has become the Kodogu equivalant of "THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK". An easy scapegoat, too often the first attribution that rolls from the mouth when some work is suspect. Mito is hard to pin down, it can be anything and everything, so no. Sorry. Steven K

Barry, Two cents worth-- A competant craftsmen can reproduce the technique, he can emulate the form of the individual elements. The difficult part is acheiving Teruhide's non repetitive "CHAOS"--- order is easy, abandon takes real talent. One must be a master of the the rules in order to successfully break them. Steven K

James, Looks to me like you only have half of what was a two piece habaki- that would explain the "GAP". Good luck with your project. Steven K

Bruno, Just passing thru and here you are again. Another nice Tsuba. Feel compelled to mention that you should attend to any bright green colorations noticed on copper, or copper based alloy components of Kodogu. Steven K

Bruno- Nice pics. I have always liked the Tanaka when its good, unfortunately much of the late work of the less gifted workers can be pedestrian at best. Happily, your Tsuba is not one of those- take care of it, it is a better one. Steven K

GRANT, You are most welcome. So glad to hear about Ford taking care of things - you are in most capable hands. It should be beautiful when he is done with it, can't wait to see it. Steven K

? Steven K

Very nice Tsuba Bruno. Name has historically been read both ways. And yes Tanaka and Ichijo related on several levels. Here are some close relatives-

Piers- I see the appeal immediately. It has the charm of the spontaneous- It simply IS. The patina of of old Staghorn is hard to beat, mellow, translucent- lovely! I would'nt call it crude... lets call it Mingei, or Mingei-esque. StevenK

Grant, Your have a very beautiful piece of " SOTEN STYLE" work produced in the secound half of the 19TH CENTURY. It is a fine piece of workmanship in extremely perilous condition. YOU SHOULD DO NOTHING TO IT....NOTHING! Please, no rubbing, no scrubbing, no brushes.....NO! Heed FORD'S advice- someone who knows what they are doing can set this piece right- it needs EXPERT cleaning and a new foundation (Patina) to stabilize it. A competant restorer will give it a light vegetable wax finish -NO OIL! Steven K ps- EVERYONE......THINK!, BEFORE YOU SCRUB.

I agree with Barry- most probably Buffalo horn. This design is uncommon but I have seen a scant few over the years. I recall an outstandingly beautiful one (by Shibata Zeshin) done in clear lacquered bamboo decorated with tiny ants in gold and multicolor Makie. Steven K

Bugyotsuji- Love Daikon( HUNGY,AGAIN! ). Many western collectors don't understand Netsuke at all. To understand the subject without immersion in the Japanese aesthetic is impossible. Could you post a picture of your Daikon? - I'd like to see it. In reply to your last comment- " FOOD IS LOVE ". Steven K

Bugyotsuji- Glad you like it, me too, this piece makes me hungry! Love how the Japanese celebrate all the things around them. Vegetable themes in western art are not very common. -Steven K

Here is another- Steven K

Bernard- Looks like a Netsuke to me as well. I agree with Bugyotsuji as to the means of attachment. As far as date looks mid 19th C to me- no later than early Meiji. It appears to be dark stained bpxwood? Its a very interesting piece, very nicely carved, I like it very much. Can you let me know the dimensions? Steven K

Kai-Gunto, Can you tell us something about the artist? StevenK

THE HARE IS LOVELY. THOSE EARS ! - A VERY KAIGYOKU MOMENT. -StevenK

NEITHER- The bucket with lotus is a rather smallish ( late 18th/early 19th C) netsuke. There, as you know, seemed to have been a fad for rather fussily detailed small lightweight netsuke for use with inro at this time. The Daruma is an ojime. -StevenK

No. -StevenK

THANKS BRIAN, WILL TRY TO REMEMBER TO CONVERT TO JPEG. -StevenK