Chishiki

Here is a picture of Colin himself, admiring what was his 1st display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, way back in 2001. The display was called 'Heroes and Villains from Japan's floating world. The display showed an array of ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) school, and the sword display. This was a great achievment here in Australia and for the sword world in general. This presentation of the Japanese Sword as Art, resulted in such popularity with all, that the display has been ongoing since about that time. Cudos to Colin and please forgive the clown in the background, yours truely. Mark

A few of the fittings that Colin will display in the Art Gallery soon. Picture quality is not great, sorry. Mark

At best estimation I think mine dates to mid edo period, no earlier. In terms of tsuba it is an oddity, and the only reason I bought this one, was to study the theme, which we thought was a water way, and to look at its style of manufacture. Not mainline anything, probably country make. Maybe a garden or temple people commuted to and the tsuba were purchased as a momemto. (that's speculating) I wouldn't rate them as art pieces either, but a tsuba which is trying to portray a place on an iron plate, that's why they are so busy looking. A quirky tsuba, an oddity since the day it was made. Peace! Mark

Hi Joe, your timing is perfect. I recently aquired this tsuba. Regrettably a lot of inlay is missing from mine. The fairly consistant subject matter makes me speculate that it may be an actual place where people travelled to, and perhaps the local makers produced these as a momento. Is the dome like structure under the tree a bridge in the distance or some kind of shrine? Having said all that, I really don't have a clue. Mark

Just wanted to share photos of the 'O-kozuka' ex Naunton Collection, item 3898. Look carefully and you can see subtle variations in the colour of the metal, for instance the night sky. Regards Mark

Hi all. Here are some fittings previously displayed. Regards Mark

Hi, there are no restrictions sending a sword from Australia to the US. Australia Post will handle it. Any customs fees etc are the problem for the receiver on the other end. Mark

Just a reminder. Colin will be attending the Art Gallery to clean the swords on display. NMB members are invited to attend for a close viewing. Where else will you be able to see a Juyo Token Kuniyasu close up? This is a published sword in Japan, a rare sword. Do yourself a favour and go look. Mark The silence is deafening.

Hi Jim, Most of these swords have previously been displayed at the Hamilton and Benalla Art Galleries in regional Victoria. You can see photos of them in this very thread. Of course a display in Melbourne is an objective but none of these things happen quickly and what we want has to fit with their direction. And presenting swords as Art is the only path to receiving recognition. I am a regular visitor to the Art Gallery here in Melbourne and their display of Egyption, chinese etc artifacts has been there a long time, without change. It is has therefore become somewhat bland to my eyes. This shows a particular reluctance on their part for change. Colin makes a regular trip to Sydney to change the display, so regular admirers/visitors get to see something new. I have sat and viewed the display at Sydney for long periods, and it is exceptionally popular. Colin has presented talks on 'why' the sword is viewed as Art. It is not an easy concept for some to get their mind around. It is about education. The art papers I refer to are indeed the NBTHK papers, Regards Mark

Hi George, Jim and all, The success of the display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is due to presenting swords as "Art", NOT weapons. Colin has been particularly adamant about this point and this is the recipe for success. The evolution of the sword and samurai is understood by most but what most people do not know is that the Japanese sword is now viewed as "Art". This not only applies to the sword and fittings, but also the artisans, swordsmith, shirasaya maker, polisher etc, some of whom are living National Treasures. 'Art level' certificates issued to swords, some ranging into the 100's of thousands of $$. This is what makes people listen and brings the sword into a different sphere. I don't want to debate these points in the interest of keeping the Art Gallery thread focused. But presenting the sword as 'Art' is paramount these days. Mark

Hi everyone. On the 18th of February, Colin will be attending at the Art Gallery to clean the swords. He is inviting NMB members to attend on the day and have a closeup study of the swords and fittings on display. This is a fantastic opportunity and well worth the effort. Please let me know if you want to take up the invitation and I'll pass your name on to Colin. Regards Mark

Why? It will die a natural death as most threads do. Ford. Just curious. When you submit a tsuba to NBTHK do you sign it? or submit it mumei? Do they know it is a non Japanese submitting the work for appraisal? Mark

Hi Lee. What do you have? Opinions will vary depending on peoples levels of knowledge and experience in collecting. When I first started collecting this is a sword I would have been excited about. It is a genuine old Japanese Samurai Sword. Probably dating to the late koto period, late 1500's but we have to allow some variation here as we are only going by photos The mounts are antique. The scabbard may be an old one covered with a protective leather sleeve for ww2 use, a combat cover You ask about the quality. Through my jaded critical eyes I zero in on the negatives, and I don't mean to put your sword down. As I said, I would have been excited to own it once and the blade itself may be interesting to study but cannot judge its quality simply by a few photos. It is signed and dated to Bizen Sukesada, Tensho period. Personally I have some doubts that the mei is correct. There are many many swords out there with this mei, but the mei on genuine ones I have seen either in hand or on the net are constructed better. The kanji in the mei on your sword seem to stray a bit particularly on the date side. If the sword is genuine I doubt it is one of the mainline Sukesada, and may be what we call a kazu uchi mono of the period, a mass produced sword of its time. I lean toward gimei/fake however it could be a sword from bizen province. The mounts are lower end as far as quality goes but the theme is always popular with collectors. Having said all that, it is the 'real deal' in terms of it being a antique sword with period mounts, not an easy find these days. And for someone who may just want to 'own' a samurai sword it is ok. I actually had a Bizen Sukesada found here, sent for polish and received Hozon Papers. It was also dated tensho period, a bit early than yours. Your sword does not compare in form and quality, based on the photos. But, I have a lot of humble pie in the fridge and will stuff myself if I am wrong. Just to add, I am by no means an expert. Regards Mark

Hi Jean. Have you considered looking toward Kashu Kagemitsu? Page 143 of Fujishiro. He did at times do bizen style. Also the ji and hamon would point more to this group. There were also others in the Kaga group with the same mei which would explain variations in documented examples at hand. Regards Mark

Oh dear!.......don't worry about pics of the blade.....I found it on ebay..........

Hi, any photos of the blade? Sometimes blades and sayagaki don't match. Regards Mark

Hi Jock. What is it that you love about this sword and what are your expectations? What do you think of the quality of the mounts and the blade? Regards Mark

Hi Jock. Can you post better pictures of both sides of the Nakago/tang so I can see the mei closer. Regards Mark

Hi Stephen. Not sure if you have been to see this display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales but I recommend it. Here is the thread link viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4666 It is really 1st class and within our own shores. Regards Mark

Hi, this is likely Lieut-General Sir H.C.H. ("Red Robbie") Robertson. I understand that he had numerous swords surrendered to him, and others 'obtained'. I owned one such sword years ago that was a katana by 1st generation (Saburo) Sukehiro, now back in Japan. I have letter from him somewhere talking about this sword. He said, "I made a Japanese officer go through the swords and select the better.......etc etc....something like that. I haven't read it for years. I'll try and find it and send a copy to you. Good luck with the research into the fittings. Mark

Brian, thanks for the forum and your detailed reply. It is appreciated. Nothing more to be said by me. Regards Mark

Thanks for the detailed response and I am sure Colin will take up the invite and sign up again. He was named and shamed, Judged, tried and sentenced without the right to reply or defend himself. You are a quick shooter... oh! How is this helpful to some poor soul looking to progress from a few gunto to something he thinks is genuine and worthwhile? The NMB is not accessed by everyone, in particular people whose 1st language is not english. Is the onus really on the collector to deduce that the blade is fake and the paper is suspect? To me that involves a considerable amount of experience. Don't agree with you at all on that point, especially since the seller is a specialist. Then why is he not upfront about it in his descriptions? He would know the swords are gimei but does not make that clear, why? And more importantly, why show a photo of a paper at all if he knows the sword is gimei and papers are not correct? It's not the serious collectors we are concerned for, it's the new and inexperienced guys. Which ones are fine blades Brian? Can I have some examples, even one example will do? Aside from that, yes, someone may enjoy the sword until they find they have been cherishing a gimei. Gosh, $3-$10,000 is a lot of money to me for a gimei sword. You seem very quick to leap to his defense and make excuses for him? Well, the presence of papers from the NBTHK may make a buyer think it is genuine, don't you think? Are they? hmmm, Colin suspects not! Anyway, I look forward to Colin signing up again. Mark

Personally I can wait but I think dealers and people who want to use the papers to assist in selling pieces may not be so happy. Of course 8 months is unacceptable. The delay may also make people reluctant to put things into the next shinsa which would be unfortunate. Mark

Hi John, reply from Colin. 'No John,not depressing just one of life's lessons,all things that glisten are not necessarily gold, and with maturity may come the ability to see through the papered web of allusion.' Unfortunate how he feels he has to use cryptic verse to make points about fake swords, fake papers and ebay sellers. He did once try to put his points across very strongly and forthrightly but because of his 'blunt' approach at the time he got 'evicted' from the message board immediately. BTW this is the same man responsible for the display of swords at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Not a novice or a stirrer, he simply sees a wrong that he feels should be addressed for the protection of new collectors. Mark

Bruno you well done! You got it. Colin McDonald composed the following poem regarding the selling of gimei swords with suspect papers. "the manifestly manipulative rock spiders shadowy web, only allows the unsuspecting young to be caught and then unscrupulously fed upon until they are sucked dry!." Mark