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

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

Mauro got very close. This one was attributed to Horinshi in Hizen but "slightly" different quality http://www.finesword.co.jp/sale/kodougu/htm/1001_1050/1026/1026.htm and this one (only ura)

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

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...

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

Everyone ends up selling, Bob. Not you, then your relatives, next generation or the following, doesn’t matter. That’s the way of collecting 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

Markus’ meikan doesn’t have this name.

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

John, your fk is signed "Shōkatei + kaō" (松下亭) This name was used by various Goto artists (ruled out) and members of the Nakagami/Otsuki and Kazutsura schools. Thus, I see few options here: - it's one of the adopted sons or students, and there were quite a few, of Nakagami Motohiro (H 05869.0), who's go was "Shōkatei", since strokes and kao are put differently but quite close (see example of Motohiro signature) - it's someone related to Ogawa Tomotsune (H 10154.0), who's go was also "Shōkatei" with a kao in "Nagatsune" style, see example Btw, there is a theory that Tomotsune was himself a student of Motohiro since he signed "Shōkatei Motohiro". - it's a collective image of a guy under H 08748.0 entry. His kao is different from others who signed "Shōkatei". Personally, I choose Nakagami family...

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.