Tigerinbamboo

Hi guys, I'm looking at buying this tsuba, but I have some concerns. The texture on the surface looks like bubbles and wrinkles, maybe from casting?

Is it safe to buy tsuba on ebay or yahoo Japan at all? Jeez...

Bugyotsuji, by Jove, I think you've got it! ????

Stephen, Piers and Ed, thank you for the suggestions. Now my head is spinning more than ever. It seems like an undecipherable mei would be less likely to be gimei? I'll try and get some better photos of the hamon and hada...

I am contemplating buying this lovely little tanto, and hoping to get some insight from the experts here. I was hoping to start with translating the mei. Any assistance and advice greatly appreciated.

That's a nice bunny! ????

Could be worse. I recently bid on an ivory netsuke located in the Netherlands (not eBay, different online auction). I won, paid, and was then told, "Sorry, it's illegal to ship ivory to the US. We'll be keeping the netsuke, and no refunds." ????

Ken, how will you ensure that the collection will stay together after your death?

Ken, I assume any sales option would split up a collection. I can't imagine someone buying an entire collection. I'm actually arranging to donate my collection to my college. Things they don't want will be sold at auction. Cheers

Tom D. Why would you not consign a collection to a large auction house? They have a very wide audience to reach other collectors.

Chris and Ford, I'll take your advice on the cleaning. I use brushes like that for cleaning ningyo. It didn't occur to me to use them on something hard like a tsuba. John, thank you. That's exactly what I have! Glad it was only about $30. The expertise here is amazing! Cheers, guys

Vajo, like a soft toothbrush?

Ford, thank you. That makes a lot of sense. Would it be advisable to just clean it with a q-tip and some alcohol, or a jewelry polish cloth?

I came across this tsuba, portraying Murasaki Shikibu, author of Tale of Genji. Is it a cast knock off, or a nice find? It looks to need some TLC. Is it worthy of sending for some restoration? Grateful for any opinions and advice. ????

Brian, as a teaching point, are you saying the menuki are NOT cast? If so, how do you tell? Curiously,

Bob, I've reached the same conclusion. It's beautiful work, probably intended for a special gift or presentation, but it's way overpriced. Cheers, Kathleen

Um, Pete and Brian, this is not a gender nor a government funding issue. All museums, and I've worked with one, have limited funding, space and staff. In order to continue showing new and interesting items to their public, they have to de accession items to obtain new ones. The exceptions are items that are donated with the condition that they are never sold, like the Bushell netsuke collection at LACMA, or the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, or the Mitchner woodblock collection in Hawaii. They can be reluctant to accept items that require labor intensive maintenance. If you think Japanese swords are hard to protect, you haven't owned ningyo (Japanese dolls). If you find a museum that wants ningyo, let me know; otherwise my collection will be auctioned off on my demise. Respectfully, Kathleen

Peter, ouch!

Thank you ???? "Nobody"Do you know if this was likely to be an omamorigatana? Kathleen D

It was passed at auction (no bids) and is now for sale.

Info from seller: Nagasa (20.5 cm length) with beautiful Masatsugu horimono decorated with partially-gilt floral motifs; SUGURA with NIOI KO NIE; hada: MUJI (well forged); boshi: HAKIKAKE KO NIE; gilded habaki with the same flower; nakago mei "NAOMITSU 1867 - IKKANSAI - MASATSUGU", a mekgi-ana. Horn koshirae with screws, decorated en suite with a flower; the SHURIKEN (mei MASATSUGU) of the saya en suite. Japan, third quarter of the 19th Century length 31.5 cm. Conditions: good

Hi guys! Pretty new to nihonto, so asking the amazing experts here for some help. What do you think about this tanto, unpapered, said to be valuable Naomitsu piece?

I think you're right.

Those are spiders, with 8 legs. Ants only have six.