Tsuba gardener

Related to this post is a tsuba featuring 4 Gingko leaves with gold coloured dew and insect nibbled leaves. Neil

A recent acquisition relevant to this post, sorry for being late to the party, ... again). This features a circle of 4 Gingko leaves with gold coloured dots of dew and insect nibbled leaves.

Hi Spartan, yes you can, but may l ask you credit where relevant please. Btw l have 2 other tsuba from the same auction that were also from the Poncetton collection. 1 was in the group of 5 sukashi as the de Tressan. When l have time l will post.

This may be of interest to Spartan Quest as during my research l found this tsuba in his recent book, Additional Early Articles for Tsuba Study 2. This tsuba was published in the Marquis de Tressan's 1911 Bulletin of the Society Franco Japonaise, the Evolution of the Japanese sword hilt from the beginning if the 17th century to the present day. I purchased this at Bonham's Samurai Snow auction but at the time the auction house did not have details of provedance. It was only after researching an auction tag on another tsuba that led me to a site citing this tsuba came from Tressan's collection. The Marquis was killed during the First World War in 1914 but the tsuba was not auctioned until 1933. lt would be interesting to know who owned this tsuba from 1933 to 2024. There is a vary similar tsuba (number 218) in The Hartman Collection of Japanese Metalwork (1976), but this is described as a daisho set and the seppadai appears different. Neil B.

Good day Kantaro, Just read your post as l was going to message on a similar subject. I have experienced various problems from Customs, 2 which are current. But to reply to your post, antiques have exceptions, which means they are less stringent than for modern items. Items abroad are required to have commodity codes, and antiques have 2 depending on their approximate age, over 100 years or over 250 years (clarify with the requirements relating to the country you are importing from). Commodity codes are important as antiques attract a %5 tax compared to %20 for newer goods. The sender needs to include an invoice detailing what each individual item is made for, made of and approximate date with commodity codes and whether there is a requirement for additional certificates or restrictions. I believe many custom departments are inhouse within the relevant parcel courier and may not be aware of the regulations. So in my case l have had a DHL parcel containing kozuka from Denmark returned to Sender because it was deemed it required an over 21 signature. Noone contacted me before returning the parcel. I had to explain that they were handles only, no blades and l am (well over ) 21. A tsuba parcel I'm still waiting on from Australia apparently was sent without an invoice. Parcel Force required an invoice, description, dates and commodity codes. If the issue isn't fully rectified it will be returned within 28 days of Parcel Force receiving it. Another DHL delivery from a Swiss auction house was incorrectly charged at %20 VAT even with an invoice, made worst by DHL quoting it was an approximate charge. I am awaiting confirmation from either DHL or Customs. I have also had Customs queries regarding the value of orders, one from Denmark was sent back to seller who clarified the value, one from Japan was clarified before it could be sent back. I also had a tanto confiscated 7 years ago because Customs didn't know it was an antique. I got compensated for that one. I spoke to an understanding representative who told me that Customs has been taken over by private companies staffed by inexperienced people. Hopefully your issue will be sorted soon if it hasn't already. Neil Bolden

Hi Richard, I have a similar design to the rice ball/ headbang tsuba which l posted a while back. Your design is shown in Haynes catalogue number 19 and described as a Yagua design Robert was shown my tsuba and described it as ko-Shoami. A member here stated it could relate to Raijin the thunder God.

Thanks Bryce, thanks for your reply especially as you brought points up which have questioned my hypotheses that only the heads of the school used a kao rather than students.

Hi Bruce, thank you for your in-depth response. Neil

Thank you Rivkin, for the context. Reading your explanation made sense in the context of metalwork.

Hi Group, 1) l'm aware that mei could be faked on fittings but did the same occur with kao? 2) Why were kao added when a mei was present? 3) Was it only the master of the school that was authorised to use a kao? 4) Why wasn't kao used on schools such as Myochin, Kinai, Soten or Nobuie. Many thanks in advance.

Nice design , but Owari and Kanayama were 2 schools l know of (possibly others) that made Yagua designs. Yes the first generation Yagua did make their own but apparently there are few.

There are a few boxes that don't have a pillar. Instead there is a tsuba sized recess which the tsuba sits. You can make a similar version by removing the pillar and both pins then cut 4 pieces of balsa or stiff foam and shape each internal curve to match the tsuba but make the curve slightly larger to allow for the thickness of covering material. Glue with a suitable adhesive.Alternatively use 1 piece of balsa or stiff foam and make a hole slightly larger than the tsuba.