Soshin

Hi Henry, Thanks for the reply. I was posting this for discussion with the hopes to learn something as I not knowledgeable in koshirae styles. I was just thinking it was a Higo koshirae because the Higo tsuba has a kiri-mon design in ji-sukashi similar to the kojiri. The kiri-mon was during the late Edo Period a pro Emperor symbol used by samurai in Higo and other provinces supporting the overthrow of the Shogun. The handachi style I was assuming was just generally popular during the late Edo Period. The soft metal kodogu reminds me of Goto school work mostly because of the high quality nanako in a shakudo base and with solid gold highlights. The fact all of these matched fitting of good quality are still together is something I consider remarkable.

Hi Everyone, Here is a composite of photographs I did today of a Higo koshirae I purchased from Japan. The tsuka was damaged and the menuki, kozuka, and kogatana were lost at some point. What is there now I think was meant to keep the matching fuchi-gashira together. All other tosogu are present and in good condition. The lacquer work on the saya is ... All of the fitting with exception of the Iron Higo tsuba have a fine shakudo nanako base with solid gold highlights. The iron Higo tsuba I will post later as its own topic later this holiday weekend. The full length wooden tsunagi will also be its own topic as it has some very interesting things about it.

Hi Junichi, No rust can't get under the patina unless you are talking about sever damage such as rust pits to the surface caused by saltwater or acidic rain, which I don't see on your tsuba. It can get under lacquer and other surface treatments such a ibota wax. I have noticed that this will happen to modern fakes that that have been artificially aged but this is due to the fact that a correct patina was not applied to the surface of the tsuba in the first place. The second observation is very common and often seen on iron tsuba that have been mounted for long periods of time. Hope you find this information helpful.

Hi Brian R., Funny day with the typos. :lol: My wife found my pronunciation of that word even funnier being Japanese. I need to do some work on the tsuba as it has a minor rust issue over the long holiday weekend. I will also do some research in regards to the tsuba. I will take photos of the other fittings over the weekend and arrange a composite image. I will be sure to rename all parts with funny sounding names. :lol:

Hi Everyone, I was wondering about the best way to photograph a antique katana koshirea. Should I photograph each part or the whole thing at once? The koshirea is a matching, original, and almost complete so one photo together might be nice. Most of the koshirea is soft metal with the exception of the tsuba. Any advice, references, or examples would be helpful. I will have the koshirea on display at the upcoming Baltimore Japanese Sword and Cultural Show in late September at my display table. Thank you all for taking the time to reply. The photos will be used for my own reference and to facilitate online discussion on NMB.

Hi Chris, Point taken about the rim. I was also thinking it was a bit on the thin side as well. I should have looked at Grey's website longer and found the perfect example from the Holbrook collection. I think the link to the tsuba at the Silk Road website is a good example as well.

Hi Chris K., After reading your nice topic about Kishu Teimei tsuba I am wondering about this tsuba that was once in my collection. Here is the URL: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/holbrook-tsuba/h268-edo-tosho-tsuba. It was only signed with a single Kanji character sada (定). Very different then some of the examples you provide. The workmanship in terms of the openwork design, rim and overall size reminds me of Kishu Teimei school. I have better photos of the tsuba but wasn't going to post them as I no longer own the tsuba.

Hi Everyone, In my opinion the table prices are reasonable. On Friday I decided to purchase a table from Bill Green at the upcoming Baltimore Japanese Swords & Cultural Arts Show. I will have all the tsuba and other Japanese Art on my website (weblink below) at the show for September 20 and 21. I will also display something interesting recently purchased from Japan not listed on my website or NMB. I am very much looking forward to this show. Please feel free to contact if you have any questions. Thank you. :D

Hi Mrs. Paul, I love the thousand money design made popluar by many fine artist from Hizen Province. If you look closely you can see them doing the hear no, see no, say no evil design.

Hi Everyone, This is just a friendly notice about a labor day sale on my website that starts today August 25, 2013 runs until September 2, 2013. All items with prices are discounted by 20% (website list price times 0.20 to obtain discount) but for members of the NMB the discount is 25%. Here is the direct link to my website: http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-. Please feel free to reply, email me via my website, or send me a PM with any questions. Thank you. :D

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all of the helpful PMs. They were very helpful in making up my mind.

Hi Grev UK, Good luck with your project. Let me either via PM or through my website if I can be of any help.

Hi Junichi, I have purchased tsuba from the eBay seller and found him a very good in terms of the sale and communication. The specific tsuba I would date to the late Edo Period. The surface has a tsuchimei-ji appied very strongly which was common to Mito school work during the late Edo. The large overall size is also consistent with this time period. In terms of actively this cannot be completely judged because thier are no side views of the rim. I think this would have been a good tsuba if you like the kamon design.

Hi Pete, What is happening to the patina on the seppa-dai on the ura side? I can't see from your photo if there is something wrong with the tsuba or it is some type of artifact of the photography.

Hi Everyone, I was wanting some opinions about the following tsuba for sale on the internet: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/holbrook-tsuba/h295-higo-manichibo-tsuba. I haven't purchased it but I am considering it. If I do decided to purchase it then I would need to sell something from my current collection. Check my website in regards to my current collection. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to offer your honest opinion as I am not knowledgeable in regards to Higo tsuba, different schools, copies and modern reproductions. P.S. I have permission of the owner of the website and tsuba to post this question on NMB.

Hi Pete, I completely agree but it is best not to enrage the tsuba fashionistas... Just a joke guys just relax... I was meaning this to be a light hearted topic. Not rehash old debates about if these tsuba were made by armorsmiths, swordsmiths, or virgin shrine maidens. The last one is my current working theory. :lol: P.S. Here is a link on my website to a NBTHK papered Katchushi tsuba of mine that has a very similar rim http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#!Art-View/zoom/c211q/images6p. It also has signs of black lacquer as well along the plate.

Hi Everyone, Here is want I have for "gori no to" which is the design on the left. The above quote is a small part of a entry taken from Encyclopedia of Japanese Martial Arts by Dr. David A. Hall. P.S. John S. comment is true as similar style markers are often found in Japanese graveyards. Keeping in mind that cremation was often done and still done in Japan as part of a Buddhist funeral ritual so the term headstone would not be applicable in this case. P.S.S Barry T., yes I posted the ura and not the omote. I can post the omote later if necessary.

Hi Barrie B., I remember being told this was a important kantei point for Saotome tsuba. I think it was Jim Gilbert who told me two years ago at the Tampa Show. His website has some examples some papered: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm.

Hi Alex, Here is the English translation provided by the NBTHK on thier website [http://www.touken.or.jp/]. Hi Brian R., How do you think I purchased this unpapered Katchushi tsuba.

Hi Everyone, I just want to post a scan of a Juyo level Ko-Katchushi tsuba featured in the NBTHK monthly magazine issue #679. I would consider a tsuba like this my goal in collecting old iron tsuba. I have two Katchushi tsuba with a few similar features as this tsuba. Two with a lacquered surface and one which also has an identical style of rim that has a mid level paper by the NBTHK, but I would consider this example the complete package and an apex I haven't reached in my collecting of old iron tsuba. I just wanted to share a scan of this fine tsuba and hopefully spark a discussion among like minded collectors on NMB.

Hi Everyone, I have decided to return the tsuba that is the topic of discussion and trade it for a tsuba from the same collection on Grey's website. I had good and fair experience with the NTHK in the past accept thier judgment. I fully recommend Grey Doffin he is a wonderful and fair person to deal with many fine tsuba still unsold on his website.

Hi Chris B., I would need to agree with Josh. If NMB had a like button I would be liking this topic as well. Looking forward to bring a few tsuba and maybe a kogai for shinsa next year at the Tampa show. :D

Hi John and Junichi The Umetada school was based in Kyoto originally and was started by Umetada Myoju. It emerged from the Ko-Umetada school which developed from Muromachi Period Ko-Shoami group. The school latter had branchs in Choshu as well as other Provinces such as Musashi in the capital Edo. They often copied designs that were popular in the area using Umetada techniques. Umetada was never a formal branch of the Choshu school. The basis of my information is the NBTHK Tokenbijutsu monthly magazine which had four issues focus on the Umetada school. They had about ~15 issues focused on the Choshu school. I can lone them to you Junichi if you pay for postage both ways.

Hi Mike, What are the measurements of the tsuba? The type of brass inlay does look like Heianjo shinchu zogan tsuba style. Check out other peoples posts here and you would get the idea of the correct orientation the tsuba should be in photos. The third photo is correct the other two are incorrect unless you are posting a tachi tsuba. From what I see and can't see in your photos I would date your tsuba to the early Edo Period. This is just my educated opinion. P.S. I am currently researching a early Tenpo tsuba that has a Heianjo style inlays of brass with a very deep color of imported Chinese brass. The color of your brass inlays looks more like domestic Japanese brass of the Edo Period.

Hi Ford H., Yes I do I am looking at the pink color failure paper from the shinsa and was simply stating what was selected. Hi Chris B., Yes very good point.