Spartancrest

I have another thread dealing with just this issue https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/49404-museums-are-not-always-a-good-spot-to-learn/ I have to say though, that the Museum of Vancouver does its best to rectify any mistakes - if they are made aware of them. People should not be afraid to notify any museum if they notice anything wrong. [The Vancouver has a lot of typos and bad spelling in its descriptions, it also sites some "Expert opinions" that are not "EXPERT" at all.] For instance DB 504 has the RESEARCHER'S / EXPERT'S REMARKS : In Kaga this inlay pattern was commonly used on the bottom of abumi (stirrups) as a brass inlay design. It is called shippo pattern, the same as the cloisonne pattern from China. Unfortunately the pattern is actually called "Asanoha" which means Hemp pattern - https://project-Japan.jp/asanoha/ - Shippo is very different. So much for experts! The Frog/Toad tsuba DB 403 states twice that it is Iron, The iron plate of this tsuba was cast not forged. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Iron; roughly oval; frog carved in the round in relief; no signature legible. where they get the Copper and Silver alloy idea from is probably lazy copying or "cut and paste" at some time, the "iron" has no patina and looks silvery - They may have thought it was a silver alloy due to its appearance? Clearly they didn't read the other entries!

Well I found another signed one [also on the ura] - Found in the Museum of Vancouver DB 403 They state: The iron plate of this tsuba was cast not forged. No signature legible. It looks worn away or else was very superficial to start with. Well that makes two that are signed! I think unless someone can read the signature we are stuck with either the signatures are gimei or perhaps by the caster? The Museum also states: DATE OF USE 17th or 18th century So they believe it was made in the Edo period. [Let the arguments commence! ]

Very unusual to see one of these frogs with a signature. Though there are many signed cast pieces, I think the signatures were designed to give a bit more "authenticity" and entice buyers. I wonder if some of the other members can get a translation?

Froggy is cast - sorry there are hundreds, but don't despair some of the best museums in the world have the exact cast copies! Ashmolean Museum [Oxford], Victoria and Albert Museum and the Riijsmuseum [Amsterdam] https://nihontofrance.com/tosogu/tsuba-crapaud/ The French have the name half correct "Crapaud" = toad the first half of the word is more accurate = crap https://www.thierrydemaigret.com/lot/22009/4944606-tsuba-en-fer-representant-une-grenouille-shoami-xviiieme? 600 euro ! The Rijksmuseum has an authentic frog tsuba and one of the cast fakes. AK-MAK-1077 & AK-MAK-1063 It is all in the Sekigane - the fakes are all identical and have simulated sekigane, the tagane-ato are also cast in. From https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/49789-wild-things/page/3/#comment-527781 December 2, 2024

For Bruno

Not related to the huge cast "tsuba-like" objects so far in this thread, but surely a joke heaped upon a joke is this "thing" https://www.jauce.com/auction/s1199150878 A recently made fake copy of a "Mass produced reproduction" that has been doing the rounds for at least 15 years [likely much longer than that]! Bonhams sold one back in 2010 for US$976 https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18307/lot/6093/a-nagatsune-tsuba-by-minamoto-nagatsune-edo-period-19th-century/ An earlier fake copy from 2023 of the numerous "replicas" - Huge joke on anyone silly enough to buy any of these, surely a one minute image search will turn up references to this forum and the true nature of these things - could AI be used to protect people from these fakes?

Marukawa Hiroyoshi was a student of Uchikoshi Hirotoshi (fl. 1810), and he worked at Mito in Hitachi Province. There are dated examples of his work for the years 1841 and 1842. Something simple from my collection - Two Roosters on one side become only one rooster on the other.

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m49776336419 One with a handle - Trivet

I think you might need a days head start in any battle.

Close? The Norimitsu Odachi is a huge sword. It is so large, in fact, that it was said to have been wielded by a giant. It was forged in the 15th century AD, measuring 3.77 meters (12.37 ft.) in length, and weighing as much as 14.5 kg (31.97 lbs.)

Now you need the others in the set! Horses: & Daimyo procession: 280 mm x 252 mm 275mm x 245mm x 7mm Weight 1884g There is another type but it is constructed differently and may be from another company.

I think you are correct - from the dates it must have been a very speedy "repair" - it will be interesting to see if they make a profit from the work!

Found a very poor example that has sold on 25/8/2025 so also not long ago - these are definitely trying to get together! https://www.jauce.com/auction/u1197263335 looks like 70 mm diameter Also a papered one - excellent condition. No idea what the papers say and it looks like a Japanese facebook site. https://www.facebook.com/japaneseSword.Yushindou/posts/商品入荷のお知らせ特別保存刀装具-鑑定書付蕪透図-佐渡鍔-利姓よく練られてた上質の鉄地に蕪の葉を画面一杯に彫りアクセントに銀象嵌を施されています利姓のセンスの良/1376497902499900/ Hmm. . . you don't see any, then they turn up everywhere!

I don't recall seeing that pattern before either, plenty of Daikon or Nasu but not this pattern - It has almost a "Valentine Heart" look to them. I might go looking for something to compare them to.

I noticed a fairly good Sado "turnip" tsuba selling a week ago and noticed today possibly the pair or at least a utsushi that could match. There are no guarantees that these two are indeed a pair and one looks a lot more worn or neglected than the other. I find it very strange that these two have "reunited" in the same time span and come from two different sellers from two different prefectures - Synchronicity? Or are they trying to get back together? https://www.jauce.com/auction/h1198288489 74.5mm x 72mm x 6.4mm. Weight: 159g And https://www.jauce.com/auction/o1197857776 71mm x 70mm x 5mm I won't be bidding on these as they don't fit my current Kawari-gata "craze" but I do think they present an opportunity for someone else to grab. Good luck! [Yes I realise these are not "High End" but that is subjective at best!]

I do love odd shaped tsuba - but really! https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1197577920 Antique and signed it says - Oh yeah! So not like a thousand like this one then? https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/Japan/jp/auction/yahoo/input/t1110482883/ or https://jp.mercari.com/item/m83676371999 https://ru.pinterest.com/pin/313352086570656895/ What were they thinking? Crap into scrap?

I did think the guard was decorated with two or more tones of gold, it gives it a more "aged" look. Yes a little light clean wouldn't hurt but it is in pretty good condition. A lot [most] of guards look much better in hand, lighting conditions often either fail to reveal true condition or overplay it. JMHO

Nunome-zogan, [gold overlay] very nice Ume/ategane with "cat scratch" decoration - there are several styles and they all have Japanese names [I hope others can clarify the type]. Very nice genuine piece.

Colin, one in the Ashmolean collection with two "letterboxes" - I presume they mean box for keeping letters, not something the postman sticks a delivery into! Unlike your guard the two boxes are both shown with the lids on. [sorry, I am a dog with a bone when I go looking for images ] https://www.ashmolean.org/collections-online#/item/ash-object-365270

I am going back to the document box idea. This guard is much later than the tosho. From Grev. Cookes book on the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

I think the sukashi shows the two parts of a "Fumibako" or document box - there is even a round hole alluding to the bronze ring used to thread a ribbon to secure the two pieces.

Willkommen Sensche, I agree, late Hizen with rain dragons - rain dragons routinely have a split or two tails

Good purchase - where do you find them?

Got us all thinking - great to see!

I disagree - looks like a very rare beautiful piece. No real idea what the theme is, but it reminds me of the privacy screens set up around Samurai commanders "Jinmaku" The small symbols could represent mon also seen on these screens - Just a wild theory.