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Bob M.

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Everything posted by Bob M.

  1. Item No. 250 Tsuba in dark Shibuichi with shakudo , gold and enamels 8.40 cm x 8.15 cm x 0.43 cm Subject of a cormorant fisherman at night signed by Hirata Harunari with kao . 19th cent. The fisherman has three cormorants on lines whilst working in a boat with a blazing fire basket to attract the fish. Red enamel really brings the fire basket to life , while the colours of the fisherman's clothes are nicely portrayed.
  2. Item No. 249 Kozuka in copper with shakudo and silver Subject of wasp set on a stippled background and with basketwork pattern. Mumei probably late 1700s to early 1800s. Just a pleasing composition , quiet but compelling. The way in which the basket weave pattern merges into the stippled background is well carved.
  3. For easier comparison of the above....
  4. Item No. 248 Fuchi kashira in copper with gold , silver, copper and shakudo inlays. Subject of long life , good fortune and courage in battle. Signed ( 1st. Gen. ) Yasuchika . Nicely shaped and sculpted set with ground effect produced by use of a ' y ' shaped punch. The cat and butterfly is a commonly used theme in Japanese Art , although fairly rare on tosugu , as a symbol for long life ( meaning over eighty years old in Japanese word play ) . The spider brings blessings from heaven and the dragonfly never retreats .The cat is modelled in 3D with protruding tongue . There are also removable ' fitting shims ' attached to the Fuchi and Kashira as shown in the second set of pictures - maybe these performed a function when mounting the sword or could be just decorative showing a nice shakudo border . There is a cut out exposing the signature on the fuchi to complete the effect. NTK papered , acquired from Japan some ten years ago. Thanks to George Miller for his help on this.
  5. Thank you Morita -san - I will use this translation when I post the tsuba to the NMB some time later this year. Best Regards Bob
  6. Item No. 247 Tsuba in shibuichi with gold , copper and shakudo 5.75 cm x 5.04 cm x 0.35 cm Subject of persimmon fruit with bird signed Nomura Yuki ( his earlier art name was Nomura Masatada ) early 1700's. A tanto sized tsuba from the third master of the Nomura school , finely crafted and restrained in execution.
  7. Item No. 246 Iron tsuba with gold , copper and shakudo 8.28 cm x 7.64 cm x 0.52 cm Subject of Raiden , the thunder god , striking his drum . By Ford Hallam , approx. 28 years ago. Design in the style of Hokusai on front , with a ' shadow in the clouds ' on the rear. This tsuba is one of Ford's earliest and he explains about its making in his video short - Stepping Stones 03- on his YouTube channel.
  8. Re Item No 245 - this information received courtesy of George Miller - Thanks ,George ! Your most recently posted kozuka is actually very important from a historical perspective. It depicts a dance/festival that was recently revived in the Kyoto Gion Festival circuit after being lost for more than a century. Within the last few years, scholars used a painting to trying to recreate the dance/festival that is depicted on your kozuka! Shijō Kasa Boko 四条傘鉾 — An Umbrella and Children’s Dance Recently Kyoto has revived a festival and dance to its Gion Festival Program that had been lost for over a century. It is called Shijō Kasa Boko 四条傘鉾 — An Umbrella and Children’s Dance. The modern Shijō Kasa Boko is not exactly the same as it was in the Muromachi Period (1337–1573) but much of the symbolism remains. Originally the components were carried by hand and now many are on floats. The highlight of the Shijō Kasa Boko is its children’s dance and music. With Ayagasa Boko (a large umbrella with beautiful embroidery around the edge and flowers/plants on top), it is unique in the Gion Festival Saki Matsuri‘s July 17th procession. In the dance that accompanies the umbrella topped with flowers/plants , two boys wear costumes and red “bear wigs” in a lively dance, and other boys with golden hats accompany the dance with various percussion instruments like drums and bells.
  9. Re Item No. 245 Some more pics taken in different light and magnifications - the smaller of the children measures 12mm ( 1/2 inch ) high as carved.
  10. Item No. 245 Kozuka in shibuichi with gold , copper and shakudo. Subject of procession of street performers , with one holding a large umbrella while underneath another beats a drum and two children dance at his feet . Signed Ganshoshi Nagatsune with kao ( Ichinomiya School ) 19th cent. Nicely modelled and with much finely detailed work.
  11. Hi Piers , The tsuba is a bit of a conundrum in that it only shows the two pine trees and Mt Fuji - unless the hawks are hiding in the branches . Is it possible that the hawks are actually there , but represented by a sort of wordplay ? Maybe if we can find the exact meaning of the poem , it will help unlock the riddle. I am also told that the words ' Nasu' and ' Hino Hikari ' are nicknames for the Nikko area of Japan , so there is maybe some connection ? Thanks for your interest ! Regards
  12. Steve , Thanks for looking at this I realise that it is not straight forward at all . The other side of the tsuba has one mount fuji and two pine trees, which together with the three eggplant form a set of auspicious characters to dream about ( especially first dream of the new year ). We can possibly see something about Mt Fuji in the sunlight ( __ Kawa__Ya__Fuji Toki Taru Hino Hikari ) This info. courtesy George Miller. Regards
  13. Item No. 244 Iron Tsuba with gold 8.05 cm x 7.95 cm x 0.55 cm Subject of tiger and bamboo next to running water. Mumei. Late 18th cent. ? Nice composition of fiercely animated tiger - not one to meet at night ,not even in your nightmares. This is the first of a number of Tiger pieces to be posted over the coming months.
  14. Maybe a sounding bell , having just been struck.
  15. Added to thread as requested... Regards
  16. Hi Everyone, I would be most grateful for a translation of the attached poem , inscribed on a tsuba by Norichika. Many Thanks !
  17. Item No. 243 Iron Tsuba 7.12 cm x 6.4 cm x 0.58 cm Signed Kofu ju Tatsutoshi , known as Mitsutoshi ( Haynes 05505 ) . Early 1800's , worked in Kofu and Omi. Family name Ito - he was the son of Yasutoshi - ( Haynes 11313 ) and used the names Namitoshi , Tadashichi and Tatsutoshi. Although often described as a lock shape , most museums identify it as a kite or cruciform shape. Great condition with good grey-black patina. Thanks to George Miller for supplying much of the above info.
  18. Hi Anthony , Tsuba 241 could have been made by a number of different schools , especially if the design was included in one of the pattern books available at the time. There is however , a remnant of the sales information for a fuchi / kashira using this exact design on the seiyudo.com site - just type - Seiyudo FU-010929 - into Google and the link should appear. This set was signed and papered to Konkan - if it was one of his patterns , I do not know. Konkan is said to have come from the Iwamoto school in Edo and to have been working during the years 1744 - 1801. He was a student of Ryokan and was greatly influenced by the work of Yokoya and also Nara school. Regards
  19. Item No. 242 Iron Tsuba with gold and silver 7.22 cm x 6.95 cm x 0.52 cm Subject of monkeys in a peach tree with bamboo and vines , signed Edo ju Nara saku ( Ko-Nara School ) approx. years 1650 - 1750. Very good overall condition , considering its age. Bought from European auction some 10 years ago.
  20. Re Item No 241 Some slightly sharper images ...
  21. Item No. 241 Iron Tsuba with gold , copper , silver , shakudo and shibuichi 6.38 cm x 5.90 cm x 0.40 cm Subject of Shoki and oni - mumei , mid to late Edo. Shoki is shown standing on a river bank watching an oni on the other side making off with a banner. Minutely detailed, the oni is obviously enjoying itself , Shoki does not see the funny side in the least. Museum /collection acquisition number painted on rear. Bought from auction in Europe about 18 years ago , I use the image of the oni as my avatar on the NMB.
  22. Item No. 240 Iron Tsuba 7.68 cm x 7.50 cm x 0.45 cm Sukashi tsuba with subject of cherry tree , the trunk forming the rim and the blossoms carved in kebori - mumei. Delicate carving from a master hand. Excellent patina with great tactile feel - the thickness of the plate reduces from 4.5 mm in the centre to 3.8 mm at the rim. Rim edge is rounded. Possibly late Hayashi school or Kamiyoshi school by the Master Juhei . Late Edo period. Any views as to the proper school to place this piece in ? Ex Clarence McKenzie Lewis Jr. collection.
  23. Item No. 239 Fuchi Kashira in Shibuichi with gold , silver and shakudo Subject of fisherman and boy signed Sekijoken Motoharu , late Edo. Provenence - Lundgren Collection No, 299
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