Spartancrest

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!!

Piers should we be scared of the Hannya mask on that tsuba - or the patchy patina?

The largest known snake in Japan is the Hime habu (Ovophis okinavensis), a poisonous pit viper of the southern Ryukyu islands, which reaches average lengths of 1.1 to 1.8 meters (3.6 to 6 feet) long, and a maximum of 3 meters (9.8 feet). However this report talks of a much bigger specimen! In May 1973, a group of 4 forestry workers reportedly encountered a 10 meter (33 ft) long snake as big around as a telephone pole. The creature was described as having shiny black scales, and it reportedly made a loud chirping sound. In the months that followed, local officials organized a large-scale hunt for the snake, enlisting the help of hundreds of volunteers. While the creature was not apprehended, the searchers did find what appeared to be giant snake tracks that measured 40 centimeters (16 in) wide and passed alongside fallen trees. The following month, in June 1973, local officials responded to escalating fears by mounting a large scale expedition to try and find the giant snake or snakes. Volunteers scoured the mountainside in the vicinity of the sightings, looking for any evidence at all for what people had reported seeing. They found no snake, but they did discover what appeared to be a track left by the creature. The long track was 40 cm (around 16 inches) across and led through fallen weeds and flattened brush. Those who examined the track said it was undoubtedly that of a large snake of some kind. Bizarrely, a local museum actually claims to have a jawbone measuring 34 cm (13 inches) wide, which is claimed to be from the very same snake. Critics have pointed out that it is merely the jaws of a shark cleverly arranged to resemble a snake’s jaw.

Yes we were all a lot younger then and our memories were better! Richard K. George - facebook - https://www.facebook.com/266005023454853/posts/this-round-iron-tsuba-measures-757mmh-x-752mmw-x-622mmt-max-at-mimi-the-theme-is/3391206787601312/ https://www.tsubaotaku.com/tsuba-gallery-9?lightbox=dataItem-k56uc6rl

Also a thread here from 2013

Most of these images have some sort of description - either Christian or clock-gears. No definitive consensus. Each image found at these sites: https://www.samurai-katana-shop.nl/en/japanse-katana-tsuba/kikka-gata-katana-tsuba https://www.aoijapan.com/tsubamumeiunsignednbthk-hozon-paper/ http://nihontocraft.com/IHS_Tokei_Tsuba.htm https://www.ebay.com/itm/144850835597 https://varshavskycollection.com/collection/tsu-0284/

Dan your tsuba has a copy in the Detroit Museum of Art formerly from the Frederick K. Stearns collection number 90.1S2982 - The Detroit example looks cast and has no surface texturing [ishime] How does it feel having a "Superior" piece to a Museum?

You might be excused from thinking this is just made up- But you can check it out yourselves - https://www.creema.jp/item/10613613/detail A Tsuba lucky charm for face masks! - Only in Japan! No wonder I caught COVID I didn't have a charm on my mask! [I love some of the descriptions!] This can't be right: Edible silver tsuba? https://www.higotora.com/cp-bin/blogn/index.php?e=187 Google translate has much to answer for!

Glen - I bet the younger members are all looking to Google for an explanation of who is "Fozzie Bear" - So last century!

Seriously Glen - great work on the design origins

Good point Jeremy - they might be covering all bases.

Sorry Jeremy - I beat you to this one, 3rd post on the 12th July. It is taking some time to sell, I wonder why?

Back on topic - what do people think of this site? https://varshavskycollection.com/collection/tsu-0323/ usually very good information but not this theme! No rabbit I know has a long bushy tail like this.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/o1078569561

Well not a tsuba but a Kozuka decorated with them : https://www.jauce.com/auction/l1078554647 Unfortunately I think it has seen better days.