Soshin

Not cast at all or a reproduction. Many of your guys grasping at straws. Thanks anyway but closing down and need to get back to work.

It is decorative art and looks nice as it is. These type of things were popular during the Meiji Period when the artists couldn't make a living making functional tsuba for koshirae. Mauro the Chinese influence is clear but I think it a bit to late to be the work of the many fine Hizen Province during the Edo Period.

Here is a quick preview of a fine copper tsuba that I am currently researching and will put up on my Tsuba Otaku website (www.tsubaotaku.com) homepage August 1st. It measures 8.0 cm wide by 8.0 cm high. It is 5.0 mm at the seppa-dai and thinner at 3.0 mm towards the rim. I will be sending photos of it to Bob Haynes tomorrow to get this feedback. The design is that of dragon and phoenix which commonly represent opposing forces a concept of dualism in ancient Chinese philosophy (yin and yang) importanted later into Japan. Everyone's polite comments and discussion are always welcome. Thank you.

It is a tsuba made by Morisane of the Iyo-Shoami School. I really like this school's work but never owned any example before. Nice find at the flea market!

Hi Grev, I once own that tsuba and sold it back in April 2014. It is a really nice tsuba. The iron is very nice. I have two Yamakichibei tsuba that failed at NBTHK shinsa in 2018 in my collection right now. I not planning to get rid of them anytime soon. I don't agree with the NBTHK and NTHK their assessments of Yamakichibei tsuba in general. I think Steve W. knows more about the specific subject of Yamakichibei then the major organizations in Japan.

Dear Chris K., I completely agree. The volume of the tsuba is just massive. The iron bones are really nicely as well, I will photograph the rim later but need to get back to work.

Was doing some photographs of a new tantō early this week that turned out nice. You can really see the actively call (imozuru 芋蔓) literally meaning 'potato vine' in and around the hamon as horizontal dark lines. This is a characteristic feature is seen in Shinto and Shinshinto works of Satsuma Province. Also attached is the overall view of the small tantō. I am getting Markus Sesko to help me with the signature which I have posted about earlier. Enjoy and politely discuss.

I picked up this Tokei tsuba at the Chicago show. It measure 6.8 cm wide by 7.0 cm high. It is 7.0 mm thick and the iron is just awesome! Don't have time now for more photos but just wanted to share feel free to politely discuss.

I think the application of kintsugi to the crack on the bowl would look very nice. Getting a professional to take a look at the bowl in that regard and narrowing down the style are good ideas.

Here is a photo of the base (foot) of the tea bowl. I hope this clear enough and shows all the necessary detail. There is no mark or signature. Looking at the tea bowl in hand again the crack is minor and not serious sorry Robin I disagree furthermore the crack doesn't stop the bowl from being functional.

Hello Malcom, Can’t photograph the foot as I haven’t yet located the leg of the tea bowl. Is the foot the base of the tea bowl?

Here is a new Japanese style tea bowl I picked up at the Chicago Area Japanese Collectables and Sword Show (http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/). It came without a wood box. It has a minor crack that doesn't prevent the bowl from being used for macha and adds to the organic wabi-sabi aesthetics of the bowl in my opinion. I don't think it is antique but is vintage as it has been in the same US collection for over the past 40+ years before I purchased in Chicago. Any ideas on its style? Other polite comments are also welcome.

Sorry Fred if you lack the intellectual context to understand a scientist... Pass a semester of graduate biochemistry course and you might begin to understand where I am coming from. Don't really have time to go into more detail too busy with other things this week. I do appreciate your passed business and really enjoy looking at and studying some of your fine treasures at Japanese sword shows in the USA. Hope to see you at Chicago show.

He told me he was going to be at the San Francisco show this year when I talked to him via telephone during the late winter (Jan.- Feb.) timeframe. I hope he feels up to it. I enjoy meeting him a few years back at the Tampa show. He signed my copy of Gai So Shi .

Knowledge collectors at some point after having seen many, many, and many, examples start to do a ranking in there own mind. The ladder created by the ranking is purely suggestive based upon their own experiences (likes and dislikes) and governed by artistic and esthetics principles not physical properties that are the result of empirical measurement.

Hello Grev, This topic reminded my to mail photos of my new tsuba to Bob Haynes. I enjoy talking to him about the new tsuba I have acquired. I am planning to talk to Bob in person at the San Francisco show later in the Summer.

Notice how highly regarded all Nanban tsuba are on Edo banzuke style ranking of tsuba makers. I noticed this the first time I read Markus blog post. The listing for them is on the upper left corner of the paper. In regard to Frank questions I thinking it is basically pointless and a bit counterproductive in my opinion. Note that this hasn't stop people from this doing as far back as the Edo Period for likely commercial purposes. My approach since 2001 has been to try and study as many things (authentic Japanese swords and sword fittings) and just collect what I like which may or may not be what's popular. Time to get back to job search and study the nice Hirata tsuba I purchased from Curran.

I finally was able to take better photos of my first tea bowl. I really love the color and complexe texture of the tea bowl. I not going to be drinking tea with it. My wife only drinks sen-cha and no ma-cha can be found in my home. I generally just drink what she has on-hand. I hope everyone enjoys my photos. I wrote about the bowl on my website briefly. Here is the URL: https://www.tsubaotaku.com/other-Japanese-art-gallery and enjoy.

Barry, Very nice complete matching set! Thanks for sharing.

Happy Year of the Boar from Rain Dragon Fine Art and Antiques! Picked these menuki up at the Tampa show at the beginning of the month. Please feel free to share you own favorite boar themed Japanese sword fittings. Polite discussion is also welcome.

A very nice sword. Thanks for sharing.

I would say Owari from just looking at the two photo. Would love to see the rim in more detail. Nice tsuba.

Hello Uwe G., I really like the set very charming in my opinion. Checking my references the mei looks fine to me for Hamano Naoyuki without his kao. He lived in Edo from 1754-1827. I am not saying it is authentic but if I had this fuchi-gashira I would go ahead and submit it to NBTHK or NTHK shinsa.

Hello Mark, The condition of the surface your tsuba doesn't look good at all or natural. It really makes me think it a reproduction or a real antique tsuba that has been heavily messed with an artificial patina applied. In either case I wouldn't bother wasting more time on it.

The collective's hand is up they like Nanban tsuba. Here is my most recent addition to my collection in this very broad category.