roger dundas

Yes, I think you are right Manuel and thank you again for searching for and copying the original picture. My curiosity is just why would any inlay artist choose such a difficult design - difficult to chisel all the twists and turns and then to successfully inlay the brass wire and further- just when was this work done ? . Another thing noted by Gary Murtha was the fact that this design, for some reason, suffers a fair amount of loss from the plates- why would that be ?I saw it in such an inlaid tsuba three or four years ago on e-bay. Anyway, it looks like patience is the game due to the pattern being quite rare as you noted Manuel and once again thank you very much for your interest. Roger d

Thank you Ken , I had a look and will keep in touch with both sites. Thanks for sharing them with me. And thank you Manuel- that is the very tsuba I initially was referring to as posted by Grey Doffin. Particularly it is the pattern that I find intriguing but for all that it is a lovely example in all ways -yours I presume ? There was one having the same inlay pattern offered on ebay three or four years back with a fair amount of inlay loss and I haven't seen another since but have only been paying close attention in the past year. Does your response indicate that you might part with it Manuel or was it to help out with identifying which design was meant ? Again thank you very much for your responses- Roger d

Thanks Oshy, I did see and follow your post about your wakizashi which had the matching fittings with over lay brass wire décor plus the fact that the Metropolitan Museum of Art had similar items. Well done. Roger D

Peter and others, My enquiry was for just one particular and intricate, quite convoluted inlay design which doesn't seem to appear often (in my experience) so will just have to keep trawling. Peter, I have just seen your latest post with examples shown- very nice. Thanks again, Roger D

Peter, Thank you for your response and clue to what to follow up. It was nicely done' Roger D

The following details might be insufficient to draw a response but are the best I can offer; Posted on the NMB on March 28, 2014 by Grey Doffin was a tsuba with coplicated brass wire inlay design, all in good order. Grey stated it to be an Onin (or Heianjo - zogan) tsuba. Another with similar inlay appears in Gary Murtha's book on Onin-Heianjo-Yoshiro book on page 85. I just don't know how to get those depictions onto this post so if not good enough we can forget the matter, but if anyone can deal with this as presented I would be interested in purchasing an example of this type of work. Thank you, Roger Dundas

'To each his own' and probably just as well for that although it is interesting to see just what will appeal to some and not to others and we all know that. Not for me either, this above tsuba. Roger d

Thank you for that BaZZa and thank you for taking me through it. Quite wonderful. All the best to all, Roger D.

Noting your comment Jean, about Ken Goldstein being an expert on Heianjo tsuba with a collection to match can I appeal to Ken here to offer some of his knowledge and 'best of' in his collection ? This possibly is a clumsy way to broach the subject but I assume I wouldn't be the only one who would look forward to such information. Can I ask you for that Ken ? I really am wary about being out of order here and mean no offence if that is the case. Thank you, Roger D

Good day Jean and once again I am reassured by your input which seems to me to be always on the mark and well considered. As for the Heianjo tsuba I haven't had it long but hoped it was an earlier piece so am pleased to read your assessment - thanks for that. When I took the opportunity of joining the NMB and mentioned an interest in heianjo tsuba , Ken mentioned then that this was an area of collecting interest for him and I imagine he has many fine examples plus a deep knowledge also. I have been trying to dig another word out of my brain to describe your NMB; it came and it is ...the" scholarship " that you members have and generously share ! Thanks again, Roger d

Thank you for that Ken- I suppose we should have known that we couldn't repost the original but we didn't and of course it shouldn't have turned up where it did in the first place ( maybe it's not the first time I have messed up ?) Not wanting to cause any further irritation to the NMB, I will just remain an onlooker if that is O.K ? But as I repeat once more, it is such a great thing (having the time and the interest) to be able to have access to this wonderful NMB with it's great range of intelligent members, characters too. Roger d.

I love the way these discussions develop with the cross fertilization that goes on and how memories get prodded and new information emerges. Your Catfish and Gourd certainly fits the theme of all three tsuba George so once again thank you. And we know a lot more about Catfish and earthquakes thanks to you Dale and George. Roger d

It is really reassuring to read your posts Dale, I too recollect those times and also during the war with most of the grown men away in service and the milkman (woman in our case), the butcher, the baker, the greengrocer and the iceman all turning up in their horsedrawn wagons and the only nihonto and tosugo around was pretty much being wielded by a very aggressive enemy ( unknown to us at that time ). That's right, letters twice a day, food rationing and the women at home with their ears glued to the shortwave news service from London. But in fact it was a breeze here in Australia compared to those poor buggars who had the war stampede through their backyards in Europe and Asia. Now back to tosogu which flooded out from Japan post war. I will follow with fascination what else your sharp, analysing mind has discovered about the world of tsuba and possibly the degree of deceit involved in the mystique surrounding so much of this wonderful field of collecting. Well done to you Dale, Roger d

My wife/adviser and I just don't know how to take this post from here to the Tosogu section. Sorry about that and maybe it's time I left the field to the professionals and this bloke (me who is no mental greyhound), just retire to the bleachers. You have given me a good run, certainly I have learned a lot and thank you all for your tolerance. I'm actually not that super thick but with age things are a little slower to pick up. I do actually come from the end of the horse and buggy era and sometimes hitched a lift to school with our neighbours kids, chalk and slates still in use- no bloody computers in my childhood but no doubt that would go for many here. Thanks again, Roger d.

Thanks for your comment too, George. Is there some connection also with catfish and earthquakes ? I seem to recall something along that line. Roger d.

Thank you Stephen and Ken. When my internet helper returns we will try to rectify the posting to Tosogu. Ken, you asked why I wondered if the first tsuba was 'for real' was because I have not seen another similar or with such a finely finished edge to the mimi. It doesn't appear to have been mounted so wondered if it wasn't quite modern and meant to be anything but a personal test piece. Glad to see you think it is legitimate. I had wondered if the plate had been turned up on a lathe ? Roger d

Absolutely wonderful to follow this discussion- and what an eye opener it is, so congratulations to all, particularly and especially Dale. And yes, it would have been a long, chilly swim in very turbulent waters (Bass Strait) using a steady dog paddle. Roger d

As per usual I would appreciate any and all comments members might like to offer . The first tsuba was the first I purchased but in fact is it a tsuba or just something that looks like a tsuba ? It measures 73 x 73 and very thin at the edge, 5mm at the centre area. Iron I presume, shakudo catfish and one gourd, silver the other. It appears competently made to my eyes but I just don't know what to make of it. The second tsuba is the last tsuba I purchased and I think it speaks for itself- I really like it.Am I correct : Saotome plate, later Kaga inlay. Azuchi- Momoyama era. 8.8 x 7.76 x .38 in measurement. If someone wants to be harsh in their comments, I can wear it . Roger d.

Thanks once more Dale, great research but also so well explained. Roger 2

Thank you for that Dale. I could have swum over and spoken face to face instead of posting ? But seriously, it is interesting to see the extent of it all. Roger d

I would like to ask/say this- It must be a bit of fun and somewhat financially rewarding for someone to be taking some of the tsuba collecting fraternity for a ride ? Now this isn't meant to be critical of collectors who across all facets of collecting have been subject to sharp practices and certainly not meant to be having a shot at tsuba collectors. Rather, I'm just curious to know who would be churning some of these things out ? The Japanese themselves, the Chinese more likely or just who ? Does anyone know or doesn't it matter ? Me, I am just curious. It's something of a game being played in a way as is so much of what we do. Roger d

Thank you also Guido and Patrice for your responses- I appreciate it. Roger d

Ah thank you BaZZa for your response particularly regarding what I thought was ishimi ground- toad skin possibly and I'm good with that. I realize that these aren't particularly exciting or spirit lifting items but assume they have a place in the enormous world of the Tsuba. A great place to have access to, NMB, in these times particularly. Stay safe, Roger d

In the spare time available to many of us, here are two qite different tsuba for perusal : No. 1 A bronze plate with ishimi ground ( I think ).Military accoutrements- I just don't knowe what they are called and the names don't always stick in my memory for some reason. Measures 73 x 69 x .4 No.2 An iron plate, nicely chiselled to my mind though someone might say cast - I just don't think so. Dragons might be common but I am O.K with this one. Copper flower heads over laid - five on omote face, one on ura. Any comments would be welcome- I well realize they aren't anything special ( after seeing what else gets posted here ) ! Roger d

Maybe senility has set in with me but I do like reading the above comments which to my mind are civil and generally considerate, one of the other. As well of course being informative. But it is the civility that appeals. Possibly it is because of my own sometimes social clumsiness when younger and it being nice to see how it should be done. Why do I write this ? Just to show how much I enjoy you letting me join your NMB- so thanks. Who knows where we will be this time next year? Roger d. (should I have posted this here because it is relevant)?