Soshin

Hi Ford, You didn't pick up on the fact that the Muromachi Period the Shogun was in the eyes of Chinese Empire the trade repersentative for Japan. All things officially traded between China and Japan were recorded. This was discussed recently in Markus S. blog dealing primarily with swords exported by Japan. Researching the same Chinese and Japanese documents for tsuba references would be interesting. Here is a link blog: http://markussesko.wordpress.com. During Azuchi-Momoyama Period trade had mostly shifted to European powers.

Hi Kevin, Maybe "personal attack" was a bit too strong of wording on my part. Sorry about it lets just drop it and move on to discuss the topic with mutual respect. Hi Lance, You did a good of summarizing my obervations about the first tsuba. Dale's photos are a bit over exposed and the color balance is poor so it isn't clear but the quaility of the gold and silver inlay is very good and condition is remarkable for its age. Hi Ford, The Chinese and to a less degree the Japanese had trade records during the Muromachi Period. I agree with you in terms of the subject of imported Nanban tsuba into Japan. This statement doesn't apply to the Nanban tsuba that started out as a Dutch coin or watchcase that were imported into Japan and turned into a tsuba.

Hi Tim, Thanks for uploading your data archive. From a quick review of the signature examples provided my Nobiue tsuba is not a wide signature example. I had some positive feedback via PM from other people about this tsuba not sure if I should share since it came from PMs and emails. I mailed photos of it and few others to Bob Haynes on Saturday. I will post a reply if I get one. Here is another online reference for a Nobuie tsuba. http://www.iidakoendo.com/info/item/b109.htm

Hi Kevin Adams, While some design elements are similar the technique and style of the two tsuba are very different making comparisons difficult and your judgement subjective. I like both tsuba and I learned that the design motif isn't that rare on Namban tsuba. I really don't get your point with the personal attack which I responded to in kind and should have ignored. If I did something to offend your honor please send me a PM and let's work it out outside of the topic.

Hi Gethin, Here is what I found. It is the only thing close that is done in iron by Hirata Hikozo in Ito's book page 82.

Out of curiosity, what do you find impressive about this piece? I personally find the execution of it to be a bit crude - the horizontal markings on the ura seppa-dai are a bit strange, the gilding (if it is indeed gilded) seems so thick as to lack refinement, and rendering of the figure is very stiff. I agree with John's assessment of the facial features and coloration. Hi Kevin, Please read my quote more carefully I was referring to the design. I have never seen one like it before. But from looking at others replies the design had been used before on Nanban tsuba.

Hi Gethin, I don't have any Satsuma references. I have Mr. Ito book on the Hirata and Jingo schools. I will check after work and post if I find something or not.

Hi Thierry, Ok, half brothers they had different mothers. :lol:

I watched it this morning at 8:00 AM eastern US time. What a wonderful show. I completely agree with Brian and Chris about the evils of amateur polishing of real Japanese swords. I also feel it is important to support the traditional trained polishers like the teacher, the newly independent polisher, and the two students profiled in the show.

Hi [ADD NAME HERE], Are you planning to sell it soon? Do you work for a commercial company? If you work for a company I would approach a professional dealer and ask privately for an appraisal and retail value. Your photos are not the best and so a in person examination of the tsuba might be necessary. It might cost you a small fee and travel time but you would have a retail value. Most professional auction houses will also do this for free and provide a auction value for the item.

Hi Dale G., I remember seeing this tsuba in person. It is very impressive Nanban tsuba. I am sure there were namban style presentation tsuba made. This one is of a very interesting design. I was thinking the Spanish and Portuguese might have been using Filipino servant/slaves in place of Africans in the far east but I am not sure. The Africans might have been used mostly in the new world. Looking at some Azuchi-Momoyama Period or Edo Period art of foreigners might be helpful for comparison purposes.

Hi Stephen C., I have a big brother version of this tsuba mounted on my martial arts training sword. The measurements are 8.0 cm wide by 8.8 cm high. Here is a iPhone photo of it mounted on my katana. The Kanji stamped into the hammered surface is kaze (風). This matches your tsuba Stephen and is fairly common to Tempo tsuba. Not sure what the ko-sukashi design is on my tsuba. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Hi Keith G., I would agree both examples provided by Grev UK are late cast pieces. Just wanted to point out that they are not representative of antique naban tsuba that has some age to them. Mauro also helped with his fine set of examples.

Hi Keith G., I don't think this is completely true. While there are many cast reproductions and later works of namban tsuba the original ones circa Azuchi-Momoyama to early Edo Period the designs are not cast but carved. Here is an example of one on my website. The NBTHK paper even says the design is carved in a three dimensional method (nikubori ji-sukashi 肉彫地透). http://www.tsubaotaku.com/#!Nanban-Sukashi-Tsuba-/zoom/c5om/image2px

Hi Jean, Thanks for the information. I am sure you know this but I am repeating this for the person starting this topic. Shinsa is just a very educated opinion not an exact science... Friends have told me stories where it was the other way around between the NTHK and the NBTHK. :lol:

Hi Everyone, Thank you I will check it out tomorrow morning. Looks like a very interesting show. :D

Hi Everyone, Need I say more: http://www.aoijapan.com/img/fittings/2014/F14457.jpg... P.S. Here is a another one for fun. The best I have seen ever for sale. http://www.nihonto.us/SOTEN%20KINKO%20TSUBA.htm

Hi Grev, I once had a Yagyu tsuba that was fire damaged and the inner surfaces of the openwork had a thick layer of fire scale unlike the surface and rim which was cleaned of fire scale by someone after the fact. This made the tsuba look case when viewed straight on very similar to your first tsuba. Thanks for sharing these photos.

Hi Paul, Sorry about the typo. Hope you have a quick and full recovery.

Hi Mark P., I see what you mean the kozuka does look a bit out of place. It reminds me of shiremono work circa the Meiji Period. I noticed the kogatana is signed so be careful as many kogatana are signed with gimei which may or may not be a problem. I think if the kozuka and kogatana was left out they would still paper the koshirae but I don't know for sure. Trying to find a quality replacement might be a good idea. I would personally find this type of search kind of fun. I did that with a koshirae in terms of its tsuba and was successful until some purchased the complete koshirae out from under men at at a Japanese sword show. It was the first sale of the show for me. :lol: P.S. The tsuba looks like a good mid to late generation Akasaka school piece.

Hi Guido S., Thanks for the information. Learn something new every day. Been pondering over the auction of a set of gimei menuki on ePrey. Love the design and workmanship is good. The only problem the signature is all wrong. The NBTHK would paper the menuki if they were in a tsuka as the back plates would not be visible and the NBTHK will not take apart a tsuka to tell.

Hi Mark P., In what way do feel that the kozuka does not fit the koshirae? Can we have some photos? Is the kozuka signed? If so can you guarantee the signature is authentic? All fittings in a koshirae with a signature must be authentic or be unsigned for koshirae to pass. If the submission is to the NTHK they also need to be antique. If the submission is to the NBTHK the fittings must be made by artists no longer living.

Hi Bob, Left field!? I don't think you're even in the right solar system. :lol: How many Hirata Hikozo examples are display on the Shibuiswords website? Can you make any type of a serious judgment without seeing photographic examples of want is discussed in the text. Taking the text from Shibuiswords and having Ito sensei book or a medium size collection of Hirata Hikozo examples to examine in hand might be a way to go. I know from personal experience that any serious judgment and leaning is only done with the pieces in your hand. The second best way is to have books with extremely good color photographs. The Ito sensei book on the Higo schools is a good example as well as the many KTK catalogs, and a few other publications. To put this in sword terms it would be like examining just a written list of the characteristics of a Masamune Nihonto and thinking the Gendaito you have was a undiscovered masterpiece of Masamune. Hirata Hikozo is at the level of Masamune when it comes to tosogu.

Hi Chriso, Saw your post and was expecting the worst as before but very nice choice. I would go for it the design is really nice! I am fairly confident that the signature is authentic.

Hi Bob, For your first tsuba I would go with Nara school and drop this "Ko" business. :lol: I will let someone else one NMB handle your second tsuba.