Soshin

George M., The Youtube video is very nice thank you. Sorry StevenK I have tea cups for hot tea. This tea bowl is way too nice for the crappy green tea I drink.

Hello Dwain H., You are welcome and thank you for visiting my website. It is always a work in progress and a labor of love.

My wife helped retie the box after looking at the tea bowl a taking a few photos of it with my iPhone. Here is photos of tea bowl inside and outside of the wooden storage box as well as the signature under the tea bowl. The texture and feel of the tea bowl is very nice.

I did another photo of this mumei tantō attributed to Echizen Rai Munemitsu today using my new lighting setup. I wanted to show the full extent of the tantō that was shorted with its very nice two piece copper habaki. I find the ji-hada on this tanto very interesting and dynamic to look at. The second photo does that nicely in my opinion. One of my Japanese sword sensei did confirm its age of the Ōei Era after looked at it in hand late last year at a club meeting. Here is a link to my write up about this tantō on my hobby website: https://www.tsubaotaku.com/nihonto-gallery. It is the second tantō on the website.

Here is a photo of my first Japanese tea bowl (well sort off). It is a modern tea bowl in Shino-yaki style. I don't want to open the box because I am sure I can't retie the nice cord this well. Maybe I should just wait for my Japanese wife to get home from work. Any information and good references online or offline about Japanese tea bowls would be welcome. I have already read the Wikipedia entry on the subject which I found very helpful and informative.

I am going to the show and will be participating in the shinsa.

Three-weeks until the Southeast Japanese Sword Show & Auction in Tampa, FL. Here is a graphic advising the details of the show. I will have a table at the show with an assortment of Japanese sword fittings and netsuke. If there is something on Tsuba Otaku website (www.tsubaotaku.com) that you want me to bring just let me know in advance and I will be sure to bring it to show. Check out more details about the show on its website at https://www.southeastshowsauctions.com/tampa-2019.html.

I just purchased a tsuba and a book from Grey earlier this week. Always great to work with I fully recommed him and his business.

Hello Stephen, I took another look at your two tsuba. I would still say late Edo Period to early Meiji Period before 1875 CE. (Edit admin)

Dear Eric, I don’t think it is out right fake but does looks to be late work of very poor quality therefore not very collectible or interesting to serious collectors. (Edit Admin - excess self promotion removed)

Nice photos Kirill R.

Made some progress with a new lighting and setup. Here are some maco views of the kissaki (boshi) and ji-hada for your enjoyment. The NTHK paper describes the ji-hada as itame mixed with masame and the boshi as sugu with a ko-maru kaeri.

Hello Brian, Thank you the links were very helpful.

Hello Stephen K., Both tsuba appear from the photos provided to be made during the late Edo Period (~1770 to 1868 CE) to around early Meiji Period (~1868-1875 CE). A more exact date isn't possible as they are both unsigned and therefore my age assessment is based upon the style and workmanship. I hope you find this information helpful. Check out my website Tsuba Otaku (www.tsubaotaku.com) to learn many more about the wonderful world of tsuba and their artistry. Thank you.

Hello Everyone, Here is a quick preview photo I did of a new NTHK papered tanto I picked out late last year on a trade with a local friend. It is unsigned suriage nakago but attributed to be the work of Uda Kunimune circa the late Muromachi Period (sue-koto) by the NTHK. While the tanto is in a art polish it was still very difficult to photograph and I now currently in the process of redoing my whole lighting setup that I will use just for Nihonto. My goal is to produce photos 1/4 as good as Darcy's. Here is his website (https://yuhindo.com/) for reference of what level I am talking about. This will likely result in multiple orders from BH Photo (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/) and me paying with the new lights and my DSL camera tripod. Enjoy and feel free to comment about the sword or how to produce better photos but keep the discussion civil and polite like a Japanese sword club meeting.

Dear Richard, Thank you for the interesting tsuba, great photography, and educational discussion. I will send you a PM shortly to discuss more about a Katsuchushi tsuba I have in my collection and also discuss the topic of old lacquer.

Have seen a nice set gold menuki made into a set of pins before. It was very sad.

Richard, My not so secret Santa. That is a really nice tsuba. Thanks for sharing.

Hello David, The holes on the the first item pictured which is a functional tsuba is just part of the decoration they don't serve any function like udenuki-ana. The second item is not a tsuba. I not sure what it is likely a modern reproduction of something trying to be sold as a tsuba. This tsuba has classic udenuki-ana. Please see attached tsuba for reference.

Hi Ken the Matis Dude, I would need to agree with Grey and others. The photos look very strange and it really hard to tell anything from them directly. I would stay away even if considering a restoration project.

Ben, This is problem trying to judge something on only one photo as I noted in my first post. From seeing the additional photos it is a modern (Meiji Period and later) Japanese tsuba likely casted in brass and then later hand detailed and was never intended to be mounted on a sword. By the time this tsuba was made it was only at best decorative art. I never been really interested in these type of tsuba.

Dear Ben, Congratulations! Tosogu collecting is a really fun hobby! I recommed you do more research before you purchase more as there are many fakes and reproductions out in the market. The tsuba you purchased looks to be a cast reproduction unfortunately from the one photo you provided. Check out my website (www.tsubaotaku.com) it has a lot of free reference and study material. For example I have wrote over six articles about Tosogu over the course of 17 years of collecting and have made many field trips to Japan to continue my study. I also have a business website (www.raindragonfinearts.com) that provides authentic Japanese fine art and antique pieces at affordable prices. I will be getting in a whole lot of new tsuba up on the website and eBay store next week. So bookmark please my website and sign up for email and/or Facebook updates. Thank you and Happy Holidays. Yours truly,

I would agree with Steven it is likely a Sagurigane and not a menuki. The workmanship does looks like Jakushi School who did make all types of Kodogu.

Last year I wished a happy birthday on Facebook. Someone was nice enough to let me know of his passing. Very sad to read this thread. He will be missed.

Hi Luca, I have download and skimmed you document. I will take a more detailed look later if I have time and provide feedback as requested. I have been very busy as of late with starting my own Japanese fine art and antiques business. Here is a NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon example of a Kaga Zōgan tsuba made for a tantō that was once in the personal collection that I later sold about a year ago. The based metal of the tsuba is a dark shibuichi which contrast nicely with the gold inlays. I estimate its age to be from the middle to late Edo Period. I obtained it awhile ago from Curran. I have more information that you might think is helpful on my websites. The web links are listed below in my signature.