BjornLundin

http://www.ncjsc.org/item_tanaka_yoshikage_tsuba.htm "Tanaka" Yoshikage 義景 (c. 1850) Certification: NTHK Yoshikage was a student of Tanaka Kiyotoshi 田中清壽, and worked in Shiba in Edo. His works are mainly in the style of the Tanaka School. His family name is Morikawa 森川, and he used the art names of Hoansai 宝庵斎, and Hoshinsai 宝真斎. This iron tsuba exhibits the original, and much admired, red-brown patina this school was known for, as well as the rust these tsuba were prone to develop. As can be seen in the photos, there is no more rust on this tsuba today, then there was when this tsuba was photographed for "The Naunton Collection" catalogue, around 1912, shortly after this tsuba was made. At that time this tsuba was only 50 or 60 years old. Much of this rust can be reduced, leaving a much nicer look, as seen on the top quarter of the back view. The iron plate has a waxy, slightly irregular, surface and looks like stone or leather. Much of the gold on the tree and branches is applied very thickly using nunome, with few hints visible as to the method used. This subject was very popular among the rich merchants of Edo, in the late Edo period. A very similar treatment of this theme was done by Natsuo.

Ty all. Thank you for the advice! I will keep my eyes on the bidding 🧐 -Björn

I noticed this a bit strange shape of a wakizashi. I was wondering if my eyes are right, it feels that the proportions are a bit of, long kissaki also... I feel, I need some more education in this one 😀 https://auctionet.com/sv/1763172-wakizashi-Japan-mei-kanda-ju-kanetsun-shinto-1597-1780-nagasa-38-cm

Hi Kyle, I like the Kuroda kanon tsuba, but is the text in white? Best Björn

Have been inspired a bit of this design with knobs, and gama hada, it is nice to work with your hands.

Another One that sparked my interest. I like the design and the dots. Anyone seen it before. The seller show a photo of a similar one in a Book. And a Link for those who want to get it 😤 https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/t807932927?conversionType=search_yac_browsing_hisotry_list

Thank you! As always need to study more 👍 Dangerous price intervall, do the sellers take that into account? As usuall when you finally saved up a good chunk you start to glance to the next budget step and then the next budget step...

First, when I noticed it, I was like 250000 Yen. It cant be true. It was 2.5m Yen lol. Any way, been looking a bit for a blade with this form. Any reasons why not, except it is beyond my budget right now. https://www.toukenhataya.jp/goods/sword/sword_s1904.html Best Björn

Thank you Jean! Ah yes, Akasuka been there a few times. I guess the brain picks the stuff it remembers 👍

Hi, Monday again. Found this one in my taste also. Yes My taste is strange. Tadatoki, Akasuka? https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/t807045482?conversionType=mypage_watch_list Got outbidded, so I was wondering if the piece warrents a higher price or if I should be happy to be outbidded. Best Björn

Yea, it really destroyed my day, talk about anticlimax. Feels like a only in Japan thingy.

Hi all, I really wanted to get this tsuba, but seller withdrawed the auction in the last minute. So anyone can give information of this one and what school so that I can search for a similar piece. https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/l667744382?conversionType=mypage_closed_watch_list

Thank you all. The path to enlightment is a looong and steeep one, but atleast for this one I liked the scenary and expected as much and most probably reflected the price. Alteast someone bidded the same amount as me, which always is good to know that I am not the only f*****ish fish out there. But low quality, ough, now I need to get me a good quaility kozuka so that my brain will be blown out. Thank you again for all the good information you get on the board -Björn

Some pictures from the seller. The small recett on the back of the handle, could that be done to be fitted with the fuchi. Thus point to be a kozuka for nihonto? Best Björn

The other side.

Thank you Bob! No one, wants to bring the bad news 👍 I think you are right that it may be pressed. I think I see by shining light, that the metal is negative hollow in the opposite side. Or is that just a technique for making the shape. There are one part of gold wire missing in the horse rope, and I can see the recession were it was. So I think there have been some hands on work on it. I dont know if it for a western knife, it looks to be made to fit a kogatana and fits my only kogatana quite well. Do anyone have some pictures how these western knifes would have looked like it looks like now? Where these made after meiji restoration or second half of 20th? Still, if it is pressed it is ok for me. It is a nice piece and totally ok to have one of these types also. 😋. Next one will be more in focus to complement my other fittings. Knowledge is best experienced in hand. Still hurts a bit but it is what one could expect. Missed to take picture of the other end. Ty all Björn

Hi, I missed a tsuba but got a kozuka. I got my emotions get the best of me. Hahaha Im totally not following how to collect nihonto advices and just follow my heart Not good for my wallet. So please tell me the bad news. Fake or ok. I paid 15000 yen o.O How is it made, carved? if so there is quite a lot of 3D texture here. Any guess of school. I am dreaming a bit that it was a quite good piece once, but wear and tear has taken away the smaller details of the stuff on the highest point. I am totally in awe of all the details they could make in such a small form factor. Love the horses, it looks to be a a river where the horses gets to have a bath. First, I thought of Japan war in Korea, forcing horses over a river. All the best Björn

Found another tsuba on auction. It somehow stuck with me. Any reason for it to be a fake. Looks ok in my view. Cast or carved? Best Björn

To bad it ended a bit West of my max. But I got something nice, but worn instead from buyee that actually landed in my expected price range.

Ty, will scramble my piggybank to search for some extra pennies. Best Björn

Hi, I found this tsuba that may wed nicely with my wave FK set. There are som active rust and was wondering if it is a good buy of not. Already over 30000 yen. https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/k541595791?conversionType=mypage_watch_list Best Björn

Wow, that is one good looking tsuba. Ty for the reply! -Björn

Hi all, After been on the hunt for tsuba and fittings, I started to notice that there are no stones added as "decoration" to the fittings. Is it an unspoken rule to not to use stones fitted, to represent for example stars, or is it just the tradition in Japan that fitting of stones is not seen as decorative as the work in metal. Best Björn

Found this om toukenhataya. First, I thought it said RIP om the tsuba. Think it is PIP? Kashira: AFRSIRIS... Almost looked like a @ but it is a circle in a circle anyone? What does it tell? Im curious. https://www.toukenhataya.jp/goods/sword/sword_s1879.html

Looking for a match for this kashira. For me it looks like unopen chrysanthemum flowers and mino bori style. But I am no expert. Any tip or match would be much appreciated