Nikanoru

If it’s really nekogaki[cat scratch]-yasurime then it’s not Goto. Goto were more about sujikai-yasurime.

Some details tell me it could be Waki-Goto subject to file marks on the back. Nanako looks fine.

Motif is beginning of spring, February, plum tree flowers.

But something is still bugging me about this kozuka. Maybe it’s just color repro on the pic. What is the weight of the kozuka?

Could you please show the ura (back) side? Is it copper or gilded with any kind of yasurime (file marks)?

It should finally look like this one

This is Somin and yes he made it after the painting of Hanabusa Itcho "Shirabyoshi Dancer in Asazuma-bune".

This tsuba is made of two different metals for omote and ura and "fused" together.

Somin did a lot of works, not only in katakiri, look in Somin to Sono Ichimon.

Sorry, Edward 

Wakizashi / Katana fuchi, dragon motif.

 

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F292689254277

Mauro got very close.

Could be cast. Even by Goto, they made tons of those dragon menuki.

Goto "wannabe" to me. Details of the dragon are not classic Goto. Could be Waki.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/9091-coiled-dragon-menuki/

and

Who has a reference book that has this mei style listed?

Signed when he was above 75.

Few bits out of collection on ebay. But I can talk direct

https://ebay.com/usr/tosogu_antiques

P.S. Maybe it should be moved to ebay section...

You are right Alex, and I will always consider selling most pieces in my collection if the price is right.  However, in general, I try to improve my collection and sell when I am ready or have to sell to raise funds for new purchases.

 

Absolutely. I think most of the collectors follow the same logic.

Bonsai principle. Cutting part or all the leaves of a tree, usually during summer, in order to force the tree to grow new leaves. Recommended only for trees healthy enough to withstand this demanding procedure

Sorry, I have no plans to sell them. I was just following along the guribori theme. Alex, you taunted me into posting some photos! Cheers, Bob

No one lives forever. Unfortunately we can’t take our toys to the better world.

Unless you have plans to donate it to a museum, of course

Best,

And considering we are in for sale section logically the price should follow

From Baur

And a selfmade side-by-side

Doesn't Markus' signatures book have him in it? Haven't had a chance to look yet.

Markus’ meikan doesn’t have this name.

I have a daisho mounted with guribori - both fuchi kashira and tsuba.  I never tire of looking at them.  

Who's the hero?

I bet it will reemerge soon...

Those are not new. Those are from the collection of the great Russian collector Sergei Petrovich Varshavsky. I can't speak on behalf of Sergei, he might tell more.

And thanks, Chris! 

Here is one for you, Sergei.

My centipede is a NBTHK papered Shoami.

Of course they can, items can be attributed to a certain artist, his style. But it’s just a paper, opinion. I wouldn’t bother.

I would suggest bakumatsu/meiji, around Mito area. Criteria: condition, snake design and 'root' shape and how it's attached (no chikaragane).

Tokuho Iwamoto Konkan's snakes

and these are hozon Mito

Snakes are snakes, after all, they all look alike

Just wanted to support your enthusiasm towards Hosono with this daisho set, Andy, no teasing 

Unusually they are not signed Teruhide, but Matsushiate (never found out who he was).

what do we think of these

 

http://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/m240441530

Gimei, workmanship is fine

Items are in too good condition to be Teruhide (Eishu), all dots are there, kao is too sloppy. Most probably gimei, like the majority of "Teruhide" works out there.

Menuki are very nice but form somehow resembles Natsuo's waves menuki.

Some much later work is in front of us, I presume, but still a very nice set to own.