Matsunoki

The body looks like stoneware (a very tough hard wearing ceramic) which is commonly used for these bottles. Satsuma is a far softer earthenware body that will not withstand the rough handling that these often encounter! Date is difficult…..possibly Taisho …..but still made today.

Yes, Chinese.

What a strange design combination. The enamel is fairly coarse and with brass wires it is most likely early Meiji. Never seen similar. At first you only see two tsuba?

Whatever works for each of us. No rules. Life is short…..cram as much in as possible🙂🙂….literally🙂?

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31888/fine-Japanese-and-korean-art/?page=5

Hi Russ For me the enjoyment comes from searching for and finding nice things that I like. The thrill of the chase! The challenge of putting a deal together. Buying something that “isn’t for sale”! Actually owning things forever does not really have the same effect. This is my second sword collection that I’ve just finished selling. The first collection was many many years ago. I don’t really miss any of them. Well maybe just one sword. The swords in this thread I bought purely to keep doing the Arms Fair. (Plus they are actually some pretty decent pieces) Whilst swords and good fittings are my “first love” I’ve done the same with antique guns, medals, netsuke, Bowie knives etc and a far wider range of Japanese art….mostly Meiji , which is what we used to deal in. I’ve sold (nearly) all of that as well. I also think it’s all the like-minded people you meet on the journey from all walks of life in all sorts of circumstances. That probably doesn’t make sense to many on here.…..not sure it even makes sense to me ……but I sure don’t do it for money!

Hi Russ Working from just the images, this looks like a modern (fired in electric kiln) but very high quality piece of Kakiemon porcelain. Obviously not a traditional Kakiemon pattern but possibly a one-off commission for a tsuba enthusiast. I haven’t seen anything similar. The panels are Chinese inspired (not unusual in Japanese ceramics) but the rest is 100% Japanese….a strange combination perhaps? Stupidly cheap for the quality and talent involved but then Japanese “chargers” are simply out of fashion nowadays. Many days work and probably multiple firings. Who hangs plates on their walls anymore☹️?

A recent discussion with someone far more knowledgeable than me and with greater research ability has prompted me to re-describe one of the above swords (the Nozarashi katana). One main point was discovering the remains of a date as well as a mei. Neither are really legible sadly but an interesting challenge given the strong Bizen steer. Herewith….

That looks much more like damage than a wear pattern. Or manufacturing flaw? The rim is deformed, maybe it has been dropped. Or maybe someone decided to try and lever it upwards for unknown reasons. The more I look (closely) the more doubtful I become. Edo tsuba artists working in shakudo and gold/gilt/foil worked accurately and crisply. This tsuba has a lot of what I would call “sloppy” work. Again, apologies for negativity, just calling it how I see it. ….as in San-mei construction (which I only encountered about a year ago)…..no evidence in the ana which is where it usually shows?

The file marks in the nakago ana and the kozuka ana look exactly the same and rather rough and unfinished. Agreed there seems to be some slight wear inside the nakago ana but to my eyes this still looks doubtful. The light reflection makes it look like iron is showing through the patina in nakago ana but I know that it cannot be. Thank you for the images Bruno. I am sorry to be sceptical.

I’m veering in that direction also……but I hope someone can answer my questions above. Also, can you Bruno get a clear shot of the inside of the nakago ana…..looking for signs of wear from mounting?

?newer tehen and newer maebizashi fitted to an older Hoshi? The bowl looks convincingly old to my newbie eyes….the way some suji are a bit crumpled/bent and from inside the individual plates look roughly cut/forged rather than cut with snips. I might be making a fool of myself though🙂

No-one is trying to freak anyone out but with this type of kinko tsuba it is now worth looking twice. Also images can mislead in both directions. Using modern materials it is now possible to make a virtually perfect cast of any tsuba, no matter how detailed or fine the nanako or inlay is. Silicone moulding is now being used by some very clever and talented people (see the thread I linked to). That can include Sekigane and Tagane-ato reproduced exactly together with just about any other feature including scratches or other imperfections. Patination can be used to make sekigane look correctly inlaid in copper and usually needing a mag glass to detect. Also now it is possible to create a patina that scarily mimics shakudo but on plain copper or cheaper copper alloys and modern gold plating fluids create the impression of rich gilding when used with masking fluids that are able to work to minuscule tolerances depending on the skill of the “artist”. The things that made me hesitant (but I am pleased to be wrong) ….some of you mention/talk about wear pattern. I cannot see a wear pattern. Wear occurs on the high points. Not on small features hidden deep in the design. I see no wear to the high points. ….the plate itself is rippled …..the patina looks the same inside the Tagane-ato …..for a tsuba apparently mounted (more than once?) there is little wear to the seppa-dai or the rim ….some of the gilding looks flat and dull Having said all that I am very happy to accept that my doubts were unfounded and I bow to the more knowledgeable tsuba guys on here but can you please enlarge on…. 1. How is the plate made given there is no inlay? Simply cast as a thicker plate with the detail then carved down into it or a rough cast including the raised detail and then hand finished? 2. What type of “gilding” are we looking at given that it’s not inlay and it’s not foil? (And it doesn’t look mercurial) 3. why is the plate rippled? (To my eyes anyway)

Ps, I hope I am wrong

Have a look at the image below and the link to another topic. I don’t think the tsuba in question is a Nagoya-mono, I think it most likely brand new. It is really amazing the level of detail and the colouration that can be achieved now with silicone moulding etc. Perfect nanako isn’t a problem for these guys!

Agree with Calabrese, this is not inlay work. I’m not totally certain that it is old. Apologies and I’m most likely wrong but I have seen modern pieces that are rather scary upon first glance. Also the nakago ana is similar to some “milk bottle” shapes found on modern items. I hope I’m wrong. No malicious intent.

Looks orrible imo🙂 Spoils it visually. Not necessary.

Thanks Alex, much appreciated. Can’t have fun when we’re dead can we?…..and I hit 70 a few weeks ago. Can’t make up my mind if that’s good news or bad news. Actually it’s more of a miracle🙂

Having recently completed the sale of my own sword collection I discovered that life without swords isn’t so much fun especially as I really enjoy doing the above show. Such a great crowd of genuine people. Fortuitously I was unexpectedly given the opportunity to buy some lovely swords from two private collections in an interesting series of deals. Included were some really excellent Gendai-to in superb koshirae that are pretty scarce in the UK and I will be taking some of these plus a few other swords from the same collection to the Fair on 20th Sept. They say a picture speaks 1000 words, well I’m coming at it the other way to save me taking lots of poor images. Below you can see some of the description cards that I’ve prepared. I have not exaggerated anything but if you spot an innocent error please let me know via PM. I will only sell swords face to face to avoid misunderstandings so if something grabs you then let me know. I will happily meet somewhere for serious enquiries. If you already know me then give me a ring! I am not selling them here on the NMB but will make a donation(s) on all sales to “pay for this advert”🙂 Hope to see some of you as usual at the Fair. Best.C.

Another insult as expected. Keep them coming Jacques….they say more about you than me. Why don’t you just answer my reasonable question? For once you have said something that just about everyone on this Forum would be interested in…….why do you think collecting is a bit silly?

Phew, I thought someone had rumbled that I really am an idiot. My secret is safe.

Guess that was aimed at me. Oh well.

Why? Knowledge per se is pretty useless unless you do something with it.

Been unable to log in all day. Just back at 18.30 UK. Everyone else?

Piers, you’ve confused me (easily done!) Both tanto that I posted above are by Seki Watanabe Kanenaga and mine (dar images) is signed Seki ju ninWatanabe Kanenaga