Pete Klein

Ford -- now that we can see the whole tsuba I am wondering if the issue here is that it has been over-cleaned. The greenish haze in the sukashi leads me to this query along with the Sasano like reductions in the carving depths. I'm not 100% on the mei (kuni is a bit off) but the taganei mei looks good. Probably OK?

ROFLMAO!!!

Works fine for me. Must be a Canadian thing... (LOL)!!!

I wish my 'bilocation' was Kyoto and Napa, CA. LOL! PS: Nice tsuba, Florian - it's very 'Pure'! I forgot to mention it above all the off-tracks/hijacks.

Sort of interesting - Freud actually had to wear a slip as he was quite hirsute...

"the papers don't say anything like that. They say Kyō-Shōami" Guido Where on the NBTHK Hozon paper is 'Kyo-Shoami' written? The picture is posted above. I just want to know if I am missing something. 京正阿弥

Guido -- where is the 'Kyo'? I see the 'Shoami'.

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/holbrook-tsuba/h363-papered-yagyu-tsuba You can see the mentioned laminations in the picture set in the link above.

OMG! LOL -- I made the same mistake. I kept looking at the mune asking myself how the damn thing stayed together with huge chunks of the mune missing. ROFLMAO! I hope someone sent this thread to Fred to read as he'd be laughing his ass off!

I believe Michael is on the money with Tosa Myochin.

Not always but mostly pointed in the direction your wife sits...

Thomas - here is a link to the only shop I know of who does Shifuku: http://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_okatanafukuro.html I have never used them for this but I have ordered books and never had a problem. They are a bit expensive as they are very complex to make. Dirk - Yes, TBJ on the one. I wasn't sure about it but knew it was Juyo. Hanns has an extremely good eye and is also one of the nicest gentlemen I have met in this field.

If you haven't seen the Bonn thread here's a link to some exquisite items: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18678-n-b-t-h-k-e-b-bonn-30-01-2016/?do=findComment&comment=192417

This would have been well worth a plane trip to attend just for the Shimisu tsuba. I believe those are all Juyo.

Yeah - I'd like to know more on this also...

God spede.

Richard - If you have a picture of the ura would you be so kind as to post it? It say a lot about the piece (as you already know). Pete

Thank you both. Just what I required. Pete

OK -- here's a little something. I happen to really like Sanbaso theme so here are a pair of Sanbaso menuki: I love the paper - Goto. Really? No kidding. Anyway, I really don't know which generation but not one of the first five, at least not to my eye.

Awhile ago there was posted a charting of kogai with their associated Japanese terminology which I have been unable to find. If anyone can find this link it would be a kindness to me. Thanks in advance.

"Pete and I have side-bar chatted on this before". I had dirty vodka mar--tooni..s.....burp!

Well, I would offer that not only composition but also craftsmanship of the highest order were determining factors. Even the 'great names' produced pieces of different levels of craftsmanship (and by this I mean levels of high craftsmanship) but when they 'pounced' their work was breathtaking. Whatever the theme be it subtle or ostentatious it is the ability of the craftsman and when applicable his team to bring it forward.

Most of the Machibori craftsmen worked in varying motifs. Goto Ichijo was top rank in late Edo as were many of his students. One of his students, Araki Tomei, is known for and mostly used the millet theme but did other works such as these: http://www.nihonto.ca/araki-tomei/index.html

Paul - that's actually where I was going to. You said this at the introduction of the thread and I fully understand you as I do the same on occasion. As this is an educational forum it is important to be certain all levels of participant understand that, "the Fuchi kashira signed Ichi-Jo and papered by the NBTHK" required clarification due to the lack of credibility of many early papers along with the reality that papers can at times be incorrect in general and should be utilized as a learning tool and not dogma. For what it is worth here is an example of Ichijo F/K I ran across just this morning which I find interesting:

Well Guido, my intent was not to insult anyone but simply to verify my thought that this is most likely an older NBTHK paper as I have no confidence in the workmanship or mei being by Goto Ichijo. Instead of insult, I would offer, illumination...!