Gunome

For sure, it is hard, or impossible, to compare and tell that van Gogh is better than Cezanne, or Picasso better than Vermeer, even only juging on technical skills. My great aunt was contemporary with van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and her hobby was paint. For sure she does not have same skill level and is totally unknow and not recognized as top level of 20th Century painters. Why do you quoted Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso Vermeer ... and not my great aunt ? Because are recognized as top level painters on their group/style/time period. I am not looking for a ranking: first, second, third, ... just want to know if there is a publication or a list, like the Fujishiro for sword, that identify the top level / recognized tsuba artists. Sorry if my English make missunderstanding in my request. However, interesting discussion.

Also to precise my initial question about the ranking. So, maybe "ranking" is not the good word. I would like to know if there a list of a group of artist recognized as top level ? when we said Nobuye, Kaneiye, Yasuchika, Goto ichijo, .... all are considered as top level, but is there other one ? Does someone make a ranking/group/list of such artists recognized as talentuous ?

Not totally subjective. In my mind, the technical level used could at least be taken into account as an objective criteria to assess the quality of the work. Also, on sword, the ranking is based, except if I am wrong, on (technical) ability of the Smith.

Thanks all for your reply. By chance do you know if there is a website with the list of tosogu artists by level ?

Hello Steve, Thanks for you reply, will read Markus' blog. I am still interested on other inputs regarding ranking, and also for kinko artists Thanks

Hello, I would like to know if there is a Tosogu artists rating that exist. I suppose, but I Wonder if there is several and which one is the more reliable/use ? what are the rank ? is it the same as for the sword (Jo saku, ...) ? Is there a web site where we can look for this rating ? Thanks Sébastien

Hello Barry, Thanks for sharing your meeting presentation practices. Looks great and very educative for club members !

Kanemori ? 兼守

Hello Hugues, Welcome on this board. New presentation is better than previous one, but if I remember well, there was more tsuba before ?! Sébastien

Same feeling as Brian, looks cast for me too.

Hello, It is signed Kaneshige 兼重

Hello Grant I am far to be knowledgeable on tsuba, however, search for "Omori Teruhide" on the board and you will see recent topics about it. Omori Teruhide is well know for waves. As far as I know he didn't produced nanako. With it shakudo nanako and gold parten, this tsuba remind me more a goto/mino goto school than an Omori one. But once, I am far to be knowledgeable on kinko tsuba and could be wrong.

Hello Grey, I assume you refere to the dark line in the nakago mune. For me it just a shadow of the spot when photo has been taken. Regards Sébastien

The first one look to be a Heianjo with later urushi partern adding. The sukashi tsuba is signed Omori teruhide. Not convince it is shoshin

Ford, Does this depend of the material (iron, shakudo, ...) and type of tosogu (fuchi, kozuka, tsuba ...) or is it possible on all kind of tosogu ? Thanks Sébastien

Hagire are perpendicular to the ha, this one is not.

Hello, I would go on shinto on this one, not on koto. Regarding the mei, I don't know enought this school to confirm or not if it could be genuine.

Hello, I am also on Yoshihira 美平 on the second mei

Hello, I do not expect top quality and low quality items decrease, but medium range has decrease and could continue in that trend However, it also depend of economical and political environment. I understand that president elected Trump would like to re-establish border barriers and set up tax to imports. If so and if nihonto would be concerned, that would make imports from Japan more expensive and influence the market trend on both US and Japan. Of course, also depending of the exchange rate Yen-dollars.

Hello, This one is genuine and looks like to be a shoami school. Mei is Masa something. second kanji looks to be "kuni" but not sure. The last one, no idea.

Hello, Don't see this blade as an Ishido work. With such sunagashi, nie, hada, ... Seki or Echizen school could be a good call. I already see utsuri on a shinto seki wakizashi.

Hello I would said Tadahiro 忠廣

Hello, This sword finished pretty high ! http://www.ebay.fr/itm/361777438084?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT In the 6th and 8th photo (near the ha machi and in the hamon) there is something looking to a ha ware, that follow the ayasugi hada. I am just curious to know if I was the only one to see that, and if it is the really a ha ware on your opinion. Please notes this is not my sword, I didn't bid on this auction. Thanks

Hello Maybe signed : Ushu ju ? Hiro / 羽州住? 廣

Hello Nice blade. I would go on mino den, look at the yasurime.