Michael 101

Dear members, just 24 hours remaining to bid on this beautiful tsuba and a reminder that 10% of the final value will be donated to the NMB upkeep. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/257192052932 or eBay USA: https://www.ebay.com/itm/257192052932 Kindest regards Michael

An extra picture taken in this morning’s sunlight - Ive reduced this tsuba and 5% of the final price will go to the NMB. Its very large for its type and unusual that it doesn’t have the usual brass or silver inlay of the Chrysanthemum design, perhaps it was a special order. The insert to the nakago ana was polished bright but Ive darkened with use of egg white fumes ( sulphur) and it should continue to darken nicely.

Hi Kevin, thank you for highlighting this Ive now amended all my tsuba listings to world wide shipping ( hopefully that worked as I never meant these to be EU only ) kindest regards Michael

Dear members, please find attached link to an ebay auction of a beautiful iron Higo tsuba made by the late Ford Hallam. Ford was a keen and active member of this board and a good friend to many of us and in honour of this I will be donating 10% of the final selling price to the NMB. The auction starting price is way below what I paid 15 years ago but it gives more people a chance to own one of Ford’s beautiful works of Japanese art. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/257192052932 Happy to answer any questions. kindest regards Michael ps I also have two other antique Higo tsuba listed.

Dear members, please find attached link to a 3rd Jingo Chrysanthemum design sukashi tsuba of huge size for Jingo 8.58cm. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/257189743835 kindest regards Michael

It was with Choshuya around 2010 - with the benefit of hindsight I would have bought it. Twisted rope inlay goes back as far as the first master in the Shimizu Jingo school but rarely seen in the work of the first or second. When used by the early masters its very finely done and quite different. Here is another similar example of its use by the third master, again signed with his earlier signature style. Incidentally this is also specifically identified as being 2nd master by the NBTHK due to the confusion of the generations within the school. kindest regards Michael

A beautiful example of the third Jingo masters work. I regretted not buying this one when it was offered to me by Choshuya many years ago. Congratulations.

I have a very similar simple design Higo Toyama tsuba in my collection its signed Toyama Minamoto Yoritsugu saku. The design has been kept very simple, just the single enlarged kozuka hitsu and udenuki ana with a yakite finish giving the surface a delicate unevenness and dull gloss. Its maru gata shape and spartan atmosphere described as enzo “zen circle” and to me it exemplifies Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic. kind regards Michael

Here is one of Ford’s early works from my collection. I cannot recall when I bought this from him. It’s one of the most tactile tsuba I own and has beautiful and playful subject. Its made of iron but carved as finely as it it were soft metal as was his rare talent. best regards Michael

This is an example from my collection made by the third Jingo master Nagatsugu but again in the round shape. Interesting as it uses brass inlay for the cord around the bobbin. hope you manage to find the example you are seeking. kind regards Michael

This is the only signed Jingo Ive seen of this design, its especially nice it has the rare “3rd Jingo” noted in the signature ( 4th master of the school ) coupled with his distinctive key hole nakago ana shape. Classic Jingo flat round shape. Im surprised it hasn’t been snapped up !!

Thanks Paul, I will follow your suggested lead up. Earlier than Jingo but your on the right track as Toyama were very early Higo workers thought to have worked for Kato Kiyomasa the Daimyo of Higo province before the Hosokawa. Their work tends to be very austere in accordance with Kiyomasa’s tastes. many thanks Michael

Thanks Florian, I was thinking that might be the case but not having a price ( as far as I can tell ) and marked as page 31 made me hope that it’s a book. Let see if anyone else recognises the format. kindest regards Michael

Dear Members, I recently acquired the attached Higo Toyama school tsuba online - with it came a picture showing the same tsuba illustrated in a Japanese book but unfortunately no reference to the name of book. Does anyone recognise the tsuba in a publication they own who could share more details? id greatly appreciate members help on this as Id like to include the details in my collection notes and record a little extra detail on its history. kindest regards Michael

Hello Darren, sorry to say that this is definitely a modern cast copy. if it was sold to you as original or it was expensive then I would see if you could get a refund. the main giveaway points are its crudeness, signatures carved in soft metal ( eg copper brass etc ) would be much more crisp than your pictured show. worth reading some of the articles you will find here on cast copies so that you can get your eye in. by the way we have all bought these at the start so take it as a lesson ( hopefully not an expensive one ) kindest regards Michael

Hello Steve, thank you for your feedback. I relieved to read Im not the only one that had been struggling and scratching their head over this one. Its nicely written as you say, fingers crossed another member can point us both in the right direction. This is the associated tsuba for others to see. kindest regards Michael

Dear members, does anyone recognise the signature of the author of the attached hakogaki ? I dont wish to trouble anyone over the full translation just looking to find out who wrote it. its not a familiar one to me and Im unable to work out the signature - hoping someone will be able to assist? kindest regards Michael

Please mark as sold and remove listing. contribution will be sent to board on receipt of payment. kindest regards and thanks Michael

i have now added this tsuba to ebay but the price offer to members still stands to those who buy direct rathe than via ebay. I will also now include post of postage on the members direct buy price. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255545695016 kindest regards Michael

Further pictures

Dear members, i offer the attached signed Jingo tsuba for sale. design of the water dragon to the front and simply carved reverse with light silver inlay. the style of the dragon and signature is typical of the last two Jingo generations ( 4th and 5th master ) as is the shape of the nakago ana. size 8.05cm x 7.52cm x 0.42cm x 0.35cm SOLD

Here is an example by the 5th Jingo master.

I just see absolutely stunning examples of the work of the first two Hayashi masters - No 5 I think I would consider doing anything short of murder to obtain. No3 is a rare signed Shigemitsu ( 2nd Hayashi ) which is I am pretty certain Juyo rated ( as is no 5 for certain ) the pictures do no justice to the iron quality but do serve the purpose for design comparison. very interesting post kindest regards Michael

I rather like this one - and for its original owner to bother adding a shakudo insert to one of the hitsuana I think he did too. the carving is slightly naive but I think it gives it more charm than more precise work. From its carving style and the seppa dai shape I would think Hizen. nice find ! Michael