Soshin

Hi Henry W., Again very nice tsuba. To me this tsuba was likely used on a Tachi and not a Uchigatana. This explains who purchased the tsuba from the Yamabushi website. One minor point with your write up the shape of the tsuba is maru-gata not goishi-gata. To see a good example of the goishi-gata shape please refer to my Daruma tsuba I posted with NTHK kanteisho. It says goishi-gata on the paper. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Matt L., Nice job. Keep up the good work. I normally only work on plain iron as anything will inlays like that is really hard to work with. Post more photos of your future work. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Colin, I like your tsuba better then the tsuba in the book. The expression on the Catfish face is much better in my opinion. In the Japanese text of the book the size is not listed for the tsuba. Your tsuba wound be a nice addition to anyones' collection. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Jean C., I used the incorrect term in my original post that you quoted. I was meaning lamination fold caused by the tsubako using three layers of two different types of iron. These lamination folds should not be confusioned with a casting seam and are a important kantei point for Yagyu tsuba. These lamination folds are not related to tekkotsu but Yagyu tsuba often also them as well. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Curran, Thanks for the reply and good summary. I think Jean C. means well but is mistaken in this regard lamination folds along the rim as a sign of cast iron production. I think this tsuba in question would fit into the other but likely Owari category. I already have one tsuba in my collection that I think is Ko-dai, Yagyu with a nice Sai-Hai theme. At some point in the future I will like to submit it for shinsa. In regards to the 1st era Yagyu tsuba from the early Edo Period you are completely correct. They are extremely rare and would be nice to see in hand at some point in the future but is not my cup of tea in terms of actually having them in my collection. Take care and I hope all goes well. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Ed, Thanks for the wonderful examples of Yagyu tsuba. I might want to change my background in my photots. No offense is taken I purchased the tsuba at a low price because I like the design of the shrine gate and it matched my vacation photo from Japan. It maybe late Ono but not Yagyu or Futago-Yama school. As I once had a papered tsuba from that school. The design is well done and forge of the plate is good I might submit it to a shinsa at some point to learn more. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Kevin, Nice to hear from you. Here are the photos I did with my Olympus DSLR camera. The rim is also characteristically rounded-square shaped often found in Owari tsuba. You can get an idea of the forge seams exposed along the rim. They are also present along the inside surfaces of the sukashi as well but are difficult to photograph. Sasano in his first book had a Ono tsuba dated to the late Edo Period. I wonder if my tsuba can also be classified as such. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Christian and Mariusz K., Thanks for the information. Found a few Yagyu and Ono tsuba with similar but often more abstract designs the texture of course as Christian pointed out doesn't match what you would see in typical Yagyu tsuba. The forge seams along rim as well as the sukashi are very apparent something you do see in some Yagyu tsuba. Mariusz also pointed out an important point that tekkotsu are few along the rim and the tsuba has none on the surface of the plate. The ones that are there appear to have been hammer down strangely by the tsubako and are lenticular in shaped. I have seen this before in another Ono tsuba from the same old collection now owned by Henry W. I am thinking now that is this likely a late Ono school tsuba or a work of the Futago Yama school lead by Norisuke located in Owari. Here is a photo of the tsuba taken with my Iphone under natural sunlight without flash. P.S. One thing I like about the tsuba is that it matched well with one of my vacation photos in Japan. Check it out here: http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#!about_me/c1va9. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to post some additional photos of tekkotsu (iron bones) and observable seams all along the rim. The more I look at this tsuba iron and patina color makes me think Owari. I have not found a Ono tsuba with a design as naturalistic as this tsuba but have found very similar Yagyu tsuba. Most of the Yagyu tsuba incorporated a shrine gate with ocean waves. Comments, objections, and questions welcome. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Grev UK, Lorenzo makes a very good point. Please upgrade your collection if your want to turn this into a serious hobby. There are many fine tsuba listed on NMB and from dealer links at the top of the screen. The best approach I found is to study some books and go to some Japanese sword shows and develop your knowledge and figure out what you want to collect in terms of tosogu. Use the NMB to ask specific questions. I also used eBay to sell off all of the poor quality tosogu when I first started to collect. Then purchase what you want on the NMB, from dealers list at the top of the page, or at Japanese sword shows. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, Thank you so much for the wonderful write up about another one of your fine tsuba. Pieces in your collection never fail to amaze me. :D Keep in mind that with both NTHK and NBTHK use the Japanese term Ko-Tosho only for Tosho tsuba that they date from middle Muromachi Period and earlier. This is a little bit different then how Sasano and Dr. Torigoye use the term in their books. In regards to your current tsuba if they would paper it to Tosho or Ko-Tosho would depend on what part of the Muromachi they think the tsuba dates from. Just some food for thought. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Mike Y., I have the flu and I am home form work likely for the remainder of the week at I work in a Hospital. Maybe it is a good thing I am not getting in a airplane this year to visit the SF show getting everyone on the airplane as well as the show sick. Thanks for posting the great photos of the wonderful tosogu you will be having at the show for those that can't make it. The Octopus menkuki are really fine. I would say Goto or if unsigned Ko-Goto or possiblely a superior Waki-Goto work of art. Looking at how wonderful they were finish on the ura side is testament to the fine quality and superior craftsmanship. Take care and have a safe trip. See you in Tampa next year. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Pete, Thanks for the correction. I did not check the NBTHK website before posting to the tread. I hope in the not too distant fulture to be submitting something to the Juyo shinsa. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, This is the only tsuba in my collection right now that has ever received the label of Katchushi tsuba. The color of my tsuba is very different. Yours have more of a brownish-black color while mine has more of a plain dark black color. I think the plate was cleaned of all rust by the previous owner above what I would have done but I still like the design and feel of the iron. I would also like to echo Christian and Pete's call that your "katchushi" tsuba in question would be a good candidate for shinsa specifically NBTHK shinsa as you live in Tokyo and would be very easy to submit. There is a shinsa coming up in August that has a tsuba of mine with the same kamon design as your tsuba. I think my tsuba will paper hozon to Edo Period, Owari Sukashi. This is just my opinion. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, Here is the tsuba. I was able to take some good photos before getting sick this past weekend. The measurements for my unknown but old tsuba are 7.2 cm X 7.0 cm, 2.8 mm seppa-dai, 2.0 mm at rim. I think it is old based upon how the design is done, thinness of the plate, and shape of the kozuka hitsu-ana. Below is a write up I did about the design of the tsuba. Here are my comments about the iron: Enjoy. Comments and questions welcome. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, That is a really nice tsuba you have. :D It like another tsuba in collection has many indications that it is old (pre Edo Period) but does not fit well into any category. Would it be alright to post it on this topic as a former owner was thinking it was a early Katchushi tsuba circa the Muromachi Period? Another well respected collector was thinking it is a Ko-Shoami tsuba. It might take me a few days to post it as I am fighting off a bad cold right now. Take care. P.S. There is the scan of page 31 from the book Pete K. referenced in his post. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Jean C., I think what your were shown is the visible wear caused by the placement of the thumb on the edge of the rim of the tsuba. I have never seen results of knuckles rubbing on the sukashi of a tsuba. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Everyone, I updated the topic with the transliteration I did of the tsuba examination paper. Here is a short summary of the papers translation read from right to left top to bottom. Front Cover: 1. Name of paper and level of worthiness: Kanteisho, This is awarded to fittings that are worthy of preservation and are of good quality. 2. The item: Tsuba (鍔) 3. Attribution: Saga Tsubako Saku (佐賀鍔工) - Made by a Tsuba craftsman in Saga. 4. This item is: Shoshin (正真) - Genuine 5. The date: Heisei Ni Ju Yo Nen Ni Gatsu Ju Toka - 10th of February, 2012 6. Signed and sealed: Nihon Token Hozon Kai (日本刀剣保存会) Inside: 7: The licence number: 5881 8: Signature: Meibun Mumei (銘文 無銘) Without Signature 9. Work Style: Goishi gata (碁石形) - Go game piece shape, Kata hitsuana (片櫃孔) - a Hitsu ana on one side, Kakumimi Koniku (角耳小肉) - a squared rim that is slightly rounded, Shitaji (下地) - ground material tetsu (鉄) - Iron, tsuchime-ji (槌目地) - hammer marks on surface. 10. Zugara (図柄) - motif Daruma (達磨) - Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. Hori (彫瘢雹り) - carving style - Sukidashibori (鋤だし彫リ) - craving style, kinzogon (金象嵌) - gold inlay. 11. Other remarks: Biko (備考) - remarks : Edo koki (江戸後期) - late Edo period. Thanks for reading. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Everyone, Here are the scans of the NTHK shinsa origami I recivied in the mail on Friday. The tsuba attribution is to a tsuba maker in the city of Saga, Hizen Province located on the southern island of Kyushu. I am still in the process of translating everything. I will post what I come up with in a few days. Enjoy and thanks for viewing. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Mariusz K., I think Pete is correct on this point about the tapering being not a mandatory kantei point for Ko-Tosho tsuba. Have and had some Ko-Tosho with the tapering toward the rim, no tapering, and some times tapering towards the seppa-dai. Often you do see tapering towards the rim in later Tosho tsuba fairly consistently. This just my opinion form observing a fair number of Tosho tsuba in hand. Hi Henry W., I love your last photograph of your kantei tsuba. What a wonderful tsuba box. I have only see a few really nice boxes like this before. Are they easier to find in Japan? Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Christian, The nade-mokko gata shape reminds me of many O-Shodai works as well as the abstract sukashi design. As I have never seen a O-Shodai work in hand or have detail photos of it is hard to compare the finer details of the iron. With this said the tsuba is likely a nice Ko-dai Yamakichibei work by someone during or after the time of Yondai Yamakichibei. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Mike Y., I really enjoyed the display at the Tampa show this year. Unfortunatly I will be unable to make it to SF show this year. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Everyone, I am currently in the process of working on a write up about a new tsuba I have added to my collection with a unknown ko-sukashi design. I would like to hear other peoples opinions on the design. I think it could be a stylized wheel (kuruma) design or a cross (ju-ji) but I am not sure. To me design looks very bold with added strength of the iron texture caused by the hammer marks (tsuchimei-ji) and heat treatment (yakite shitate). The patina in a wonderful purplish black color. Notice what I think is a very old repair on the ura side at 3:00. Thanks in advance for viewing my topic and offering your opinion or general comments. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, I think it is a early Tosho tsuba example circa late Muromachi Period or Momoyama Period using the NBTHK terminology for what is or isn't a Ko-Tosho tsuba. Thanks again for starting this topic. Yours truly, David Stiles

Hi Henry, Thank you for the information. I find this most interesting. I will need to do some research and reply a little latter. Yours truly, David Stiles