Curran

In addition to the 3 no-reserve 7 day auctions I have up on eBay: _________________________________________ (1) Signed Bushu tsuba: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Edo-Antique-Signed-Iron-Bushu-Tsuba-Orchids-w-box-katana-koshirae-/322534344781?hash=item4b188b884d:g:B2UAAOSw1WJZK1~w (2) Old NBTHK Hayashi Tsuba Papers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-NBTHK-Tokubetsu-Kicho-Papers-for-Higo-Hayashi-Miyamoto-Musashi-style-/322534361711?hash=item4b188bca6f:g:NRoAAOSw3gJZK2eq (3) Old NBTHK Goto Kozuka Papers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-NBTHK-Tokubetsu-Kicho-Papers-of-Goto-Kozuka-related-tsuba-katana-sword-/322534366898?hash=item4b188bdeb2:g:4B8AAOSwtGlZK2t6 __________________________________________ I am also 30 day listing offering out one of my two Hazama tsuba: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Mushroom-NBTHK-Hozon-Hazama-Antique-Tsuba-for-Japanese-katana-koshirae-/322537433264?hash=item4b18baa8b0:g:-0oAAOSwCQZZLqVr -- Proceeds guaranteed to go to other kodogu related expenses.

Ford- love the new avatar image you chose.

DAB- As NMB Chief Brian said: No, not worth shinsa time and expense. It is a Hikone tsuba. Says "Hikone" on the tsuba. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikone,_Shiga Google Hikone Tsuba images and you will get some similar. It is not of great value, nor is it a drink coaster. If you go down to the Tosogu / Kodogu section of this message board and post images of your two remaining tsuba, people will help you identify them.

They've been awake and snorted the coffee for a long time. They are what they are. High volume, so lots to see for those of us Nihonto channel surfing. Anything with high RPM, watch your fingers and don't lean over if wearing a tie.

I don't mean it as snark when I say that I wish you the best of luck with that. I mean that specifically in regards to Aoi Arts. While it would be nice to have the luxury of time and talent to write a Darcy B. or Arnold F. top down complete reply as to why I feel this way, the practical zip gun version is to say previous experience is that Aoi Arts generally feels (1) It is product they will move one way or another and (2) {Aoi Arts specific} while they may outwardly listen to you, they are inwardly dismissing you. You live there and might get more play. Still, prior personal experience and that observed from other's experiences with Aoi over the years makes me think it a very poor return on time and effort. Aoi is neither the best of shops, nor the worst of shops.

It wouldn't be the first time. Quality control at Aoi slipping a bit. As least these are more convincing that a few of the cast tsuba they've posted. You also have to be incredibly careful of many fakes on Yahoo!Japan these days. A friend was fooled by a kozuka the other month, and it fooled me at first glance too... then we found 2 more just like it. I can see Aoi easily being fooled by these in their current high volume small floorspace operations. Also, are they not moving some time this summer?

I was wondering why no one went this route. It was the first thing that came to mind.

I love this smith.

Thanks for the link. The Tampa images are more than half in. Some good shots of Arnold, Danny, and a few others.

Prices tend to be dear on them, and one collector has done a good job of cornering the market on the better ones I have seen over the last 5 to 10 years.

-Positive envy-. It took me time to develop a full appreciation for mainline goto menuki. Part of it is the small size, depth, and attention to detail all coming together when you see them in real life. On a table with multiple examples of other menuki, they really pop. In one of my minimalist fits, I sold a set of ko-goto fishermen menuki to a member here living in the UK. I'd learned most of what I wanted to from them, but the small simple looking menuki had so much complexity to their workmanship could have easily made for a 30-45 minute lecture on technique and stage planning as complex as any Caravaggio or Rembrandt chiaoscuro oil painting.

Yes- mistreated. A shame, as it is a nice little design. In its current state, it isn't coming back on its own without a ----very---- long time of care. For these mortally wounded ones, I'm okay with someone professional repatinating it. This one may not be worth the expense. "Shoeblack" might be a better option. Lord knows some of the sellers from Yahoo!Japan use such tricks. One of them is notorious for it.

Very good eye. I missed that at least three times before noticing what Stephen was referencing. Thanks for the explanation John.

Hi Peter, Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings Sale ==> The name sort of supports the idea some fittings were sold. I was teasing. I have the books and results here on the shelves. I have not looked at them in a long time. I believe I placed a few bids. Your lists represent only a portion of the sale.

Hi Peter, I don't think that is a complete listing. I remember the sale quite well. Lots of nice fittings in that sale. Wish i could track one or two of them down. There was a Juyo tsuba I would very much like to have owned.

Lol- You put up good stuff at good prices.

If looking for something in particular, post in the Wanted section. I no longer deal and have almost nothing left I want to sell unless it is 1 out for 1 in. Still- several of us more veteran collectors have shared 'wish lists' and look out for what our friends collect. Though sometimes our own friends beat us out (grumble, grumble, shodai kinko kanshiro.... some day that one shall be mine Buddy!).

lol.

lol. I found that painting on eBay back in 1998 or 1999. It came in a paper bag crudely taped shut and had to be cleaned by a friend who works in restorations. Most people never notice that painting among the others in the house, but it is one of my favorite ones. Most visitors to the house comment on the European paintings, though the American, Chinese, and Japanese are the best we have. As we become more 'spartan' in our living style, I'll probably sell off the European ones. They're shlock.

Piers, There is a great love for these, just not so much in Japan. There are premium shops in San Fran and NYC importing them and selling them. Some people collect the highest one ones depending upon their purpose and little features like whether they have original iron wheels. While not as deep a topic as Nihonto or Netsuke, it certainly has its appreciation. Until we settle down in a major city, wife has restricted me to 2. I also have 3 antique kake. I only have photos of this one, which is dated on the bottom with the shop of manufacture and the date 1753.

+1 to this. Fishing pole, tennis racket, rapier with the right grip and play, etc...

Jose, I must disagree. After Brexit sunk the GBP in June 2016, England has been the source of some of the best buys for the Euro, USD, Loonie, or yen. Even the Japanese are buying from there. Thinking of 2 Japanese dealers, a significant number of pieces came from England. A few bargains pop up in the USA or Canada sometimes. Meanwhile Yahoo!Japan seems a bit overrun these days with prices on many pieces going a bit high. In bookkeeping, of the tsuba I sold over the past 5 years, about 10% sold to Japan, maybe 30% within North America, over 50% to Europe, with the rest elsewhere. To be fair, it is mostly higher priced items that go International.

There have been two exceptional Koto sword deals on NMB recently. (1) The TH Shikkake that Daso currently has up (2) A very nice H Bizen Kiyomitsu offered by a gent in Alaska. If I were still collecting swords, instead of limiting myself to fittings, I would have gone with one of these. If you tend to swing these at anything- then it is a no-go. You might as well finish a car, then drive it into the nearest wall. Turn what has been elevated to Art, back into Scrap or Salvage.

If I must mark them, it is usually with a label-maker label on the underside. Most of the boxes are custom fitted, so it helps identify which box for which tsuba in those rare instances when they need to be in a box.

These days the majority of tsuba on eBay "out of Japan" seem to be copied from other websites. When I do searches, they are now often Distance from my Location. That seems to cut down on the 'arbitrages' and chinese tsuba very much. That way I'd drastically cut down on having to wade through the sea of junk. I've actually picked up 3 very nice tsuba over the last year. One of them was only 50 miles away, and cost about 1/5th of what a near identical tsuba cost in Japan at the DTI. Cost me a little to paper it, but what a bargain.