Spartancrest

Steve W. "I might add here that something profound is lost when "present-day craftsm[e]n," however technically skilled, produce works that simply copy the designs of the "groping" artist whose works emerged organically, and with piercing resonance, out of the zeitgeist of a time and place. The resulting authenticity of the latter, with vanishingly few exceptions, simply cannot be captured by the former, regardless of his "superior" abilities. " Does this opinion include the miriad utsushi or only "present-day craftsm[e]n," (noting the original quotation was taken from 1914 and not the present time). It is my understanding that a great deal of utsushi have added qualities that often surpass the original, being not mere copies but emulating the spirit. A further quote from Wikipedia - "Utsushi is simply not copying or reproducing a masterpiece or motif from the past. Instead, Utsushi promotes a dialogue between the artist and the masters of the past, connecting past, present, and future."

Ford. This is taken from: Terry's Japanese Empire, [COPYRIGHT 1914] Terry, T. Philip (Thomas Philip), 1864-1945. This extract from a section on Curios - tsuba, sword fittings and netsuke: "In this connection it is worth remembering that many modern works of art are in reality much superior to those of the past. The present-day craftsman is often much defter than his groping prototype, and where equally good materials are employed, new work is not infrequently preferable to the old."

Some Hirata had only partial fills of enamel. So perhaps only the closed portions would have been enameled? Just an idea.

Nothing better in lockdown than counting feathers on a 'chook' [ chicken for all you non Aussies] You notice the birds crest on your examples? Not represented on all examples, why?

It looks like the Hirata school - who forgot to include the enamel - is it possible it is unfinished work?

Ron STL http://www.shibuiswords.com/owarimikawa.htm Looks like the book and english translation has sold but they may lead you to another copy. Both iron and kinko are included. Hope this is some help.

Barry Hennick This is off thread a little but - There are an awful lot of sellers who proclaim their pieces are, 'unique' - 'only one of its kind' - 'original'. Even way back in 1884 George Audsley said "Although we have, in the course of our studies, examined thousands of guards, we do not remember ever to have seen two exactly alike." - he should have got out more! One example in his own collection may look very familiar to many NMB Members. Back on thread. Here is one you can't hold a candle to! This one is mine - not very well made at first sight, but when you consider it is only 14mm wide, shakudo within a fukurin its not so bad. Probably part of a tobacco pouch clasp. I am considering having it mounted as a type of signet ring. You will note it shows the ura side - the omote is covered by back fiitings, that's assuming it is decorated at all on that side.

Piers, no there is a group of tsuba designs mainly miochin that have riveted plates in imitation of the rivet pattern on helmets (kabuto) they apparently were often done to show off the smiths skill like an advert for helmet makers. I had a reference for them but is lost in the clutter. I will keep searching, maybe this is a different universe to the one I was living in a few months ago!

I noticed these some "time" back ! I like the 'Kabutoshi ' but it looks pretty modern. https://www.ebay.com/itm/The-one-and-only-antique-Tsuba-Clock-in-the-world-with-registered-utility-model/402223763540?hash=item5da6679054:g:hGQAAOSwIL9elToI My mind is playing up is 'Kabutoshi ' the correct term ?

Pietro I think everyones prices are high at the moment! No, really this sellers prices are probably avearage or slightly lower than a lot of the regular dealers - except for this one of his https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Edo-period-Japan-antique-Iron-Pine-Tree-Leave-Tsuba-sword-katana-rare-menuki/324108647768?hash=item4b76617d58:g:po4AAOSwhpleXb3l Now that is expensive for a very poor cast copy, its a common pattern and pops up every so often.

Torrez The first picture in this thread was from eBay right? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Japana-antique-Edo-period-iron-bemboo-Wave-Tsuba-sword-menuki-kozuka-katana-rare/324108742680?hash=item4b7662f018:g:EO8AAOSwv~pedE9y

Barry Hennick & others. That gold pocket watch case - was it the one formerly from the Behrens collection? Here is a page from my 'Early Articles for Tsuba Study' book. Guess its fair if we wreck theirs they can wreck ours!

Malcom I am learning something new every day! Mon and Kamon very specialized and obviously not my field. Piers D The picture is very horse-centric, saddle frames, stirrups and mouth bits. Just 'tack' in the reins and blanket and you can 'horse' around all day!

Not an expert on Habaki but it looks good to me, “neko-gaki” cat scratch pattern sometimes also called falling rain pattern, and I would say with those tiny dots that is what this one represents. Back to the tsuba - well the better images only confirm it to be a later reworked casting as the seam is very evident in the mounted photo. Added to this the tagane- ato (the punch marks top and bottom of the nakago-ana or tang hole) they look deep but have not resulted in any spread of the metal into the void (which is what they are used for). This would suggest that the punch marks were cast into the guard and not actually real. There is a possibility that if the punch marks were real the opening was filed down to remove excess metal at a later time for remounting, but in this case I very much doubt it. At the top of the guard photo (usually up side down) is another casting fault, see blowup. If this had been hand made that little dag of metal would have been cut off. One great thing about Japanese swords is they were designed so you could change the tsuba fairly easily and was often done.

Here is another example of the tsuba design - unfortunately no school attribution. https://daimyou-armor.com

Just a thought but I wonder if the clock movement is at least Japanese? Or East German?

Patrice L Here is something that started out not being a tsuba. I notice the nakago-ana are cut, in a counter-intuitive direction as for strength, on all the Kiri examples, I wonder why? [ is it insulting to have the blade edge pointing away from the old imperial family emblem?] The crane example would probably not work any other way.

These are a little less stressful.

Oh the humanity! What were they thinking?

Tom That's what I thought, Its been reworked but they didn't do all the sukashi. The hitsu look cleaner (difficult to see clearly) Would the two seppa (loose) reflect the tsuba has been changed from the original mounting? [i am not a sword person]

Stephen Yes good idea, they look like they are floating - but will get dusty! My open board displays need dusting probably more than they get!

Florian Sasano's book has the same guard listed as 'Hayashi' (Yotsu-hanabishi - four diamond-shaped flowers) Page 230 of his 'New Enlarged Edition' But you can't rule out Owari or Akasaka as they did some similar designs (as you have already seen on the link). What do people think about the high-lighted areas of the guard?

Just came across this display stand presumably in perspex or acrylic. little expensive - and the tsuba are not included [pity] https://www.jauce.com/auction/o387300197

Peter & Darrel Would super glue be safer or even wood glue, or would that be an infringement on tradition ? - has anyone got some really old boxes where the (中心 or 忠) nakago rest is held by some other means? [ Darrel you mixed the 'g' and 'k' around ] This could be a whole new thread. I have usually had good luck with shipped guards being packaged seperate to the box, from Japan, except once where the rest had come off and as you say the pins were exposed, lucky the guard was already in poor condition anyway [if you call that luck] Everyone should follow the experts advice [and don't include me in that list] and not ship their guards in the box [kiribako]. new boxes can be seen : https://www.ryujinswords.com/kiribako-boxes and from the same firm check out the reproduction tsuba : https://www.ryujinswords.com/search/products?keywords=tsuba Not an advocate!

Brian True.