Pete Klein

Yup -- very nice modern tsuba.

Peter -- I believe it was Avery Brundage. His California home burned down.

ROFLMAO...!

Me too... !

Axel - all the papers are pre-printed and the salient information then filled in, even on old papers like this one. It would be a wasted effort to hand write each paper again and again where the basic information is always the same. BTW - Showa 37 is quite old and there might be some pigment loss due to age.

An often found motif in Satsuma work is the bean pod with it's vines and leaves which is why I mentioned it as a 'possibility'. The Satsuma tsuba shi were of all different levels of accomplishment. Satsuma and Echizen are two distinct areas of Japan on two different islands so are not directly related. Satsuma and Choshu workmanship is sometimes overlapped stylistically which may be due to the Boshin War period but this is conjecture on my part.

It would not surprise me if this was a Satsuma tsuba.

Thanks!

These are what are used for the coal: They are long metal hashi. I am not aware of the Japanese term.

Here is the real sale page: http://www.seiyudo.com/tu-030515.htm

As John mentioned, modern version by Georg Jensen:

I am wondering what about it placed it at Tokubetsu Juyo? That's a pretty rarefied group.

George M. -- It would be helpful to see the ura of your menuki also as much can be observed about your explanations from them.

"But even with the pros, responsibility begins and ends with the buyer". Yup. Absolutely true and to the point. I'm very glad you wrote this.

One thing I can offer here as for fittings is that if you do not know or lack experience then only buy items with NBTHK Hozon, Tokubetsu Hozon or higher paper (no old papers). This way you at least have a bit of an insurance policy that what you are getting the real deal.

Chris - from my experience you need to save the link to the item's bidding page prior to expiration or you won't be able to find it.

The decorative O-seppa are not original to the tsuba but were most likely added at the time of the koshirae fabrication. The tsuba has filled hitsuana which are covered by the large seppa. It would not make any sense to have a seppa covering the hitsuana if they were functional therefore the seppa are not original to the tsuba. It's an interesting aesthetic step to transform a katana tsuba into a tsuba for use on a tachi.

"Hopeless and helpless I am... As are we all - if we are truly serious in our endeavors...!!!

One of the best books in this field is by Fukushi sensei, 'The Art Appreciation of Japanese Sword Fittings' : http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b632-art-appreciation-Japanese-sword-fittings-fukushi It gives hundreds of motifs with the origin, history and explanation. It adds so much to be able to understand what these fittings were saying to their owners as Steven stated above. Well worth seeking out. Steven - I know we both have had such interesting journeys and hope we have many more! BTW: don't get Steve started on Chawan! LOL I happen to have a 'thing' for chaire but I have resolved not to go there. One bad habit is quite enough!

I believe it might be Tadatsuna - Fujishiro Shinto Hen, pg. 128/9 - none have 'saku' but the atari are similar. I'm not a sword guy so just my two cents.

Wayne -- good to read your thoughts. I couldn't agree more! For anyone who is interested in the background to the theme of these menuki here is a link to the Okina/Sanbaso Noh ritual: This is a very sacred 'play' which is actually the progenitor to Noh. It is performed at the New Year celebrations and other significant occasions.

I had a chuckle with Jim Gilbert at the Chicago show last month while reminding him of the ten tsuba I sent him when I was starting out and thanking him for his patience in explaining them to me as the reality was they were absolute junk! ROFLMAO!!! We almost all start there but it's where we go from there which makes the difference. This is why I am always advising people to go to where they can see up close what they want to study as books and images simply do not replace in hand learning. I know sometimes this can be difficult to impossible but it is always worth the effort.

Jean -- thank you so much but trust me, I've had my share of 'stinkers' as well! LOL It goes with the game I suppose.

BTW: the school is referred to as, 'Toryusai'.