Toryu2020

nice piece

Now this is not based on anything but vague memory I beleive the Saru-hiki was at one time seen as representing Tanuma Okitsugu, a corrupt official who essentially ran the shogunate. The Shogun being the hapless monkey on a leash... -t

from the Tsuba Gadai Jiten Saru hiki or Saru mawashi - entertainers who trained monkies to do tricks then they would travel house to house seeking tips for their performance.The origin seems to be a monkey that was owned by the Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiuji. the monkey was said to dance wearing an eboshi and kamishimo while Noto n/k Mitsumura played the tsutsumi (drum). when the performance was over the monkey would hold out his hand asking for tips. People it is said were delighted. By the ate Muromachi they could even be seen visiting the Gosho, Imperial palace. By late Edo there were theaters that put on elaborate plays with exciting plots and spectacular costumes. At new years these troops would be invited to the Nishinmaru of Edo castle and there entertain the retired Shogun. They also visited various Daimyo mansions. The regular costume for the monkey was a simple scarf but when performing for Daimyo they wore montsuki hakama or kamishimo

a few more...

a few images...

日本刀一振りを？

A real loss.

奉奇進 read Hou ki shin

奉奇進 With pleasure I submit this

Hisamura or Kumura? Shichizo Kumamoto ken Kumamoto shi Koban cho? this was dedicated to a shrine maybe I need my books to get those first three kanji... -t

Like Evan says, "its just a matter of time" I have a basket of ochoko and guinomi but nothing this nice. Still it seems a study of Nihonto leads to all good things Nihon. Bought this tsuba because it reminds one of Bizen-yaki... -t

Sugoi! Omigoto! Great doings David, and great to see Andy doing well... -t

Exceptional jigane, a rare artist, and a very fine thing to have in ones collection... -t

Chris Who is the author and publisher of the Late Edo tsuba book? -tom

Excellent, Thank you Ray

You certainly have the mojo Guido, I'm actually not thinking Myoju for my piece, the final stroke lacks curve. I am hoping it is one of his students, still looking for references... -t

More mojo...

Folks Looking for reference signatures from Umetada tsuba. I've checked the Kinko Meikan and several sword books. Hoping to find other references. -t

Love it Ray, the whole package.

Never seen that color combo - I'll say modern repro

Very nice

FWIW a petroleum smell is sign of repatination. I often sniff at nakago. -t

関 Seki stamp below that ま Ma stamp below that two taps of the chisel (who knows why?) -t

Michael et al If you go to the for sale page youll see everything in the order he loads to the page BUT if you look in the upper right hand corner you will see a menu bar, there are pull downs there, you should see a pull down for swords wakizashi tanto menuki tsuba etc... So the price range is gone but the categories are still there -t

Jeremiah Youre not an outlier. I like the new look and I'm looking forward to some new merch and new articles. -t