Spartancrest

Sorry no idea how to write it in Kanji - You can find it here - https://www.abebooks.com/Tosogu-Kansho-Endo-Tatsuo-Tokyo-Shoyukai/30388416659/bd Double volume - much more expensive - https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b1064-tosogu-no-kansho-ii-rare-2nd-volume/ The other book. Tsuba Meisaku Shu by Homma & Sato, 1963 https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b459-tsuba-meisaku-shu-by-homma-sato-1963/

Hi Vitaly, the second book is "Toso Soran" by Torigoye Kazutaro (1978) [What sort of money did you pay for it?] Another good book in both Japanese and English is "Tosogu no Kansho" by Shoyukai. [1982] It is not a very thick book but good images. Also "Tsuba Meisaku Shu" by Homma & Sato [1963] a bit harder to find and no doubt more expensive. Some of the more common shapes you will find in tsuba.

Shachi is only a small section on this guard. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20503/lot/1033/?category=list Fuchi - https://www.jauce.com/auction/j1080038495

There are three in the Metropolitan Museum of Art No. 91.1.784 - 91.1.803 - 2008.465 All signed Tsuneshige.

Grev? https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=5090586270987496

The man to see is GRC Glen Cordner he has been collecting images of these for sometime and must have close to 90 examples so far - each a utsushi but also individually unique. Also an old thread here: One not to bother with: https://www.buytsuba.com/Hawk-Japan-Samurai-Sword-Katana-Copper-Fitting-Tsuba-Fuchi-Kashira-Menuki-10.html

Nice job it does look much better. You can just see a little seppa-shadow line where it has been mounted for some time, it isn't a recently made piece.

Wow if this is your first tsuba purchase you have luck on your side and good taste! There would be plenty of people waiting to be second inline if you don't want it.

I realise these are completely from a different school [or schools] but the leaves and in particular the four petal flowers are very close - these are from the Cleveland Museum of Art and the only description is "Tsuba of Flowering vine". The stems also show signs of segmented sections as does the original posted image. So we may be looking for a vine rather than a plant?

Howard I came across a tsuba with many of the elements on your kozuka - the way the hat was done in particular - perhaps it might lead you to the school or maker? Sorry I don't have a translation for the Japanese - the image comes from this book. On page 117.

Well the auction on Jauce from OITA province has either been pulled or he sold it for the lower BIN price. The eBay listing is still running from TOKYO - I wonder if he bought it or will shortly be pulling his auction down if he can't supply? Personally I didn't like the way the "toy dog" was attached - too much solder?

Jesse which advertising site did you find the "Toy dog & Fishing rod" tsuba? Ebay with the price tag of US $1,171.17 or Jauce/Buyee for 70,000 yen [approx.US $537.34] Is it some new rule that pieces are twice the price on eBay now? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325502158557 https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1078354423

Ha ha ha - I have just been looking at the same things - mainly Obidome - it is anyone's guess what the animals really are, one top right could even be a short eared rabbit and the three under it could be French bulldogs?

Piers I have no idea - it has the same jacket, curled over tail and is that a bell on the top of the collar? I found this Obidome. The translation says "puppy" but it sure looks like a cat! http://ikedashigeko.jugem.jp/?cid=6 No worries I found the tsuba I was looking for, so we can ignore the Katamenuki [face is odd and why is it wearing sunglasses?] Can anyone translate the name of the book? I have it but I don't remember what it is called.

Well I found the dog so far. A katamenuki. I have seen the fishing rod and dog/puppy in a few Japanese books - just a matter of finding the right book! Nice to note the little rabbit particularly as this is the Year of the Rabbit.

Brian we need a drool emoji for the "like" section! Stephen that tsuba has a distinct seppa 'shadow' so it was mounted for a considerable time span - it was very much used. [a lovely piece by the way]

Look what has turned up on eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/404088533168 Condition is not great needs a lot of TLC. Now why can't I find Grev's example twin?

Hi Howard - the guard looks like it is correct but has had a 'touch up' with some paint perhaps. Do you see any crosshatching on the iron holding the 'gold' [nunome]? Is it the lighting or does the 'gold' leaf gradually turn grey/green - meaning it is not 'gold'? Someone has assembled the sword incorrectly, there is a cut section on the seppa that should be on the hitsu side of the guard so in effect it has been put on upside down. What is that scrap of fabric doing between the seppa and the fuchi? I think the Fuchi/kashira are at least a match pair 'Mino Goto' not top grade but not rubbish either I have seen far worse. JMHO

Like many reproductions created for a certain purpose - once that purpose has been separated from the object, the object can take on a life of it's own. This paperweight was created as a museum souvenir. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Namban-Tsuba-with-latin-cross,-Kirishitan-313-c-A5A4039A51 Description Japan, 17th century, Edo period (1615-1868), tsuba Namban in bronze and iron, pierced with a representation of a Latin Christian cross, signed. Signs of use. Dim.:9.5x9.5cm. Well the dating is a little off, more accurate date of manufacture would be early to mid 1970s! Importantly the box and the nakago-ana insert that was designed as a handle for the paperweight have gone missing - so the seller has fallen back on the inscription as being true. Unfortunately the piece is not uncommon and the nakago-ana is not correctly shaped. The price being asked is excessive [opening bid €1,300] when you consider the same item can be purchased for about $54 USD with all the accessories - https://www.jauce.com/auction/371174105 Yes the same piece from the first post in 2020 is still doing it's rounds! And the price has not changed from 2017! What is a fifty year old paperweight worth?

Well Howard we can't predict what we will find, that would go with pieces we have sold - maybe that is why I am such a hoarder . I found it , Otago Museum [New Zealand] They can run but they can't hide! https://otagomuseum.nz/collections/search-the-collection/F73.47 The museum says "book" but it is clearly a storage box for Noh masks. [I copied all their tsuba for a 'private research' book back in 2015] Kinai school? Not signed which is not usual for Kinai - they liked to advertise!

Howard, I think it belonged to a Samurai who liked to party! There is a Kinai tsuba with the lacquer box and Noh masks - Somewhere? I am still looking - So there are a few pieces of tosogu that follow the Kabuki or Noh theatre theme. Cultured Samurai.

Lacquer storage box, Noh face mask, drum [Kotsuzumi or Okedou-Daiko meaning "stave drum".] And what looks like a hat worn by Sanbaso dancer - all to do with the theatre.

Hi Grev. I think this one can be added as a similar design to your original post - a little worn and only some of the sukashi is outlined. Dote-mimi. https://www.jauce.com/auction/p1079036165 not very common. [I do wish the sellers knew which way was up!]

I have no idea what this guy is selling - - but I don't want any! I do think his tsuba is not as good as this one No still not buying it!!