Caracal

Momonari Kabuto, it seems freshly painted (restored?) I wonder what shape it might be as someone paid almost 4000 euros for it. Interesting if anyone has knowledge of this type of helmet. I've never seen one like that before, but you never know.

Here is the description: Kabuto helmet with yoroi mask, Edo (1603-1868). Kabuto with a moon-shaped datemono. Menpo men yoroi with mustache. Black lacquered. Shikoro with four slats laced with sugake-odoshi. Yoroi mask with red lacquered inside.

This his one is sold at auction what is it? Can someone describe it?

Dōjigiri (童子切, "Slayer of Shuten-dōji") Tokyo National Museum

I picked up this tsuba for my collection some time ago. Interesting Kyo- Sukashi Tsuba in very good condition. The Kyo-Sukashi-Tsuba is an open worked tsuba that was produced centered around Yamashiro Province (now Kyoto Prefecture). Feel free to discuss and comment on it. TSUBA - KYOSUKASHI 京透鐔 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon The Kyo-Sukashi-Tsuba is an open worked tsuba that was produced centered around Yamashiro Province (now Kyoto Prefecture). *Hakogaki written by Dr. Kanzan. KANZAN (KAN'ICHI) SATO was born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1907 and until his death in 1978 was regarded as one of Japan's foremost experts on the Japanese sword. He graduated from Kokugakuin University and worked in the National Treasures Section of the Ministry of Education and the Tokyo National Museum. He was the Executive Director of the NBTHK Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords and the Deputy Director of the Sword Museum. His publications include works on Kotetsu and Higo metalworking and The Japanese Sword Book. Sayagaki: Often a sword's shirasaya can have an attribution written on it. Usually these days we see work by Mr. Tanobe Michihiro (Tanzan) of NBTHK, and his opinion is very highly regarded by collectors as one of the current top experts on Japanese swords.

Hi Piers, Interesting!

Thanks Piers for the translation. These are not my pictures and this is the description from the auction house. (Japanese fuse-lock gun, 18-19th century, signed barrel with decorations in brass, lock with mark, lock and mounts in brass, 120 cm, barrel 84.5 cm; trigger and parts missing.) The bid today is $275 //Robert

Thanks Geraint for the translation, They are not my pictures but they seem to be swordsmiths from Bungo "豊後" bungo Takada school and Shimada School in Suruga Domain (present-day Shizuoka Prefecture), and yes it is a wakizashi. //Robert

Hello I would like help with translation on this Katana. A. B.

Hello I would like help with translation on this Teppo. It is up for auction.

I got this answer from Jesper, a colleague at NBTHK-EB. Several schools use openwork, geometric and symmetrical designs. Normally one thinks of Kyo-Sukashi and Owari, but Shoami, Kaneyama and others use it as well. Kyo-Sukashi tsuba normally have a thin and fine design that is very symmetrical. The school was very widespread and influenced other schools. A characteristic is that Seppa-dai and Ryo-hitsu ana tend to be quite slender. Owari tsuba is e.g. also symmetrical, but seem "heavier" in design. Higo tsuba, eg. The Nishigaki school also sometimes used geometric patterns. The same goes for Shoami, Kaneyama and others, also Yagyo and Yamakichibei. We can therefore not only go by the design, but also have to look at the surface, e.g. Tekkotsu and Tochime, steel quality, etc. Eckhard Kremers mentions in his book Sukashi Tsuba that several tsuba attributed to Owari and (Ko-)Shoami may be Kyo-Sukashi. In other words, it is not simply…

Thanks Ray for your help. I really appreciate it. //Robert

Need help Help to translate a signature on a Naginata //Robert

Thanks for your explanations Thomas and Piers. I get to read more about these tsuba schools and that period. //Robert

Hi This Tsuban comes from Aoi Art I Japan and is attributed to Kyo-Sukashi. It has a Hozon paper. The reason I ask about its origin is because I have seen several similar Tsuba from collectors, auction houses and others where they refer from different schools. I can see that they are similar to the Tsuba I have but it is different if you look at Kozuka hitsuana and one has papers from NBTHK Shoami, mine has NBTHK Kyoto. I also found a similar one that has been sold at Christie's auction house with description CHRISTIES AUCTIONS 2007, A Higo Tsuba, Edo period (18th century), inscribed Shigemitsu Circular iron sukashi tsuba carved as a six-lobed flower blossom, the interior with stylized bracken ferns. https://www.christie...m=salessummary&lid=1 So my final comment is who to believe, and how to know provenance/school with so many opinions, the most wonder is about NBTHK different descriptions. What do you think? Thanks for all the help and interest in this tsuba. //Robert

Comments about this Tsuba, School? Tsuba artist/maker? *Circular iron sukashi tsuba carved as a six-lobed flower, the interior with stylized bracken ferns. Thanks for your help //Robert

Thank you Piers

Hello Can someone translate this signature found on a Menpo. Grateful for answers. Thank you Robert /

Naginata (薙刀) - The Samurai's Glaive Read more about Naginata on this page. http://gunbai-milita...samurais-glaive.html

Really nice Abumi Gary....

Very good thread, and instructive, Thanks for more of this topic and other similar topics for those of us who don't have the knowledge yet. //Robert

Here is a full picture of the Katana and a link to the auction. https://prob.auction2000.online/auk/w.object?inC=PROB&inA=20221219_2158&inO=33

Thank you for your translation. It is not me who took the photo, it comes from an auction site. But the translation was successful so I thank you for that. //Robert

Please help with translation, Can anyone tell me which blacksmith made this katana, it looks like a Shinto blacksmith. Would like more information. Thank you in advance //Robert

Sword guard (Tsuba) of a Christian Samurai Kirishitan (キリシタン) Tsuba (鍔) - A Christian, symbol