Matsunoki

Probably but strange thing is it only happens in this thread. Bizarre. Dont get me started on our ***😡*** govt (politics is banned in here anyway🙂)

Brian, when I try to view the images I get this message…..AI in action?

Excellent idea. These fakes are just a waste of your money? Well, assuming you are going to collect wooden netsuke then you can buy something “basic”, maybe something more “folk art” than “high art” for around $200-400 but beware, there are thousands, probably millions, of fake wooden pieces. The worldwide marketplace is overflowing with them. Just look on eBay! Keep training your eye until you can spot the fake immediately and be patient. Spend a lot of time looking at this link…… https://www.bonhams.com/search/?chronology=past&query=Netsuke

I agree Piers…..and if ivory they are a contributing factor to the modern mass slaughter of elephants in Africa which in turn has led to ivory bans on the sale of wonderful older works of art which hasn’t saved a single elephant. ☹️

Sorry, still the same conclusion. All fake. Not sure extra images will tell us anything else.

Sorry to say that from these images they all look like modern fakes. None exhibit the skill and subtlety of Japanese carving. Some may be ivory which just makes it worse. Personally I would rather own one genuine piece than a multitude of these.

Captures the chaos of the battle. I love the huge war club!

? Shill bidding? haven’t heard it called shipping! The perils of auctions. Very dishonourable if suspicions are accurate…..but not surprising.

Do anything you can to avoid auctioneers. With their massive buyers premium and sellers commission they will keep between 40-50% of what someone pays and you will probably have to do all the descriptions anyway or risk their lack of expertise ruining results. The advice above re trying to work with a trusted dealer is good advice. You might even find one to buy the whole collection but choose carefully.

Maybe Lewis is referring to the yawning gap that appears to exist below the shikoro to the back and sides where tare and nodawa offer no extra protection? Lewis …..anything else you can tell us? Location, age etc? Looks in near perfect condition

Indeed depending on your local laws. Illegal to sell in UK.

Hi Mal Agree with Piers…..elephant ivory and fairly “modern”. As for function….most likely (imo) a tourist souvenir of modest quality. Is there a small hole going into the mouth in which case could be pendant or a key ring having lost its loop.

Possibly……you ask em? I’ve never had dealings there……🙂…..bit too posh for me…

Is that really the reverse Piers?….seems strange if it isn’t seen…..but I know nothing about this type of netsuke

And…….?🙂

B4me🙂

Sometimes, searching and then finding “stuff” like this is far more enjoyable than shelling out big bucks for something that was sitting highly visible in the spotlight. Wish I woz there🙂

I give up.

Well maybe you have now? Please read what I have said. I have never said that these tsuba were made in Ryukyu. I agree with you that they were not…..but they were made elsewhere using Ryukyu techniques and borrowing Ryukyu subject matter (these geometric Shippo designs) and this tsuba viewed against the other images I show are pretty solid evidence of that (imo) I agree…..it is best to be accurate when discussing such things.

In the light of the images above do you still stand by that statement?

No, most of them refer to Ryukyu lacquer, not “style” OK…compare the tsuba (shown first) to the other images of items described as Ryukyu lacquer. How on Earth can you say there is no match in style? The use of the small geometric inlays is a major characteristic of Ryukyu lacquer and I simply said ………

I’d have bought it. Love these wild looking hirazukuri wakizashi, something rather “lethal and menacing” about them.

Have a peruse of these links….if the phrase is happily used by the worlds major auction houses then it’s good enough for me. Anyway, my main objective was to point out that the tsuba in question was lacquer, not to have some stupid argument over semantics or to try and look smarter than the average bear. https://www.bonhams.com/search/?chronology=past&query=Ryukyu+lacquer https://www.christies.com/en/search?entry=Ryukyu lacquer&page=1&sortby=relevance&tab=sold_lots