watsonmil

John, According to Pietro in France ... I " clearly do not know what I'm talking about ", so do not rely on the information I provided. There used to be respect on the NMB. It is unfortunate that the NMB has deteriorated to the point I no longer care to post. I can find better things to do than share my "clearly flawed knowledge ". Kind regards, ... Ron

Dear John, I have owned only a couple of Chinese Toggles, therefore I am far from being an expert. Having provide that caveat, I. Generally Toggles are noticeably smaller than Netsuke. 2. The hole, if there is one is much smaller and goes clean through the body of the toggle. 3. Quite often Toggles use a central area of the body as one would expect to see on a clothing button. Toggles were made of a huge variety of materials from wood to elaborately carved Jade depending upon the status of the wearer. 4. Toggles are generally quite boring to look at. Unlike the majority of Netsuke, they do not tell a story. 5. They never appear ready to walk or fly off your palm. 6. You rarely if ever find humor displayed in a Chinese Toggle. John, I am sure there are other clues to Toggle verses Netsuke that a more learned person could describe, but if you keep these 6, actually 7 points in mind, you are highly unlikely to make an error. Through my years of studying both Japanese and Chinese Art, I much prefer the Japanese Netsuke. I once thought I'd like to collect Chinese Jades, but given the fact that I personally found Chinese Art to be rather boring and AGAIN the fact that so many FAKES are being produced even going so far as for the Chinese to import British Columbia, CANADA Jade as our Jade is a more even and vibrant green and the Chinese love the color green. I hope my answer is satisfactory. Thank you, ... Ron

Dear John, I have owned only a couple of Chinese Toggles, therefore I am far from being an expert. Having provide that caveat, I. Generally Toggles are noticeably smaller than Netsuke. 2. The hole, if there is one is much smaller and goes clean through the body of the toggle. 3. Quite often Toggles use a central area of the body as one would expect to see on a clothing button. Toggles were made of a huge variety of materials from wood to elaborately carved Jade depending upon the status of the wearer. 4. Toggles are generally quite boring to look at. Unlike the majority of Netsuke, they do not tell a story. 5. They never appear ready to walk or fly off your palm. 6. You rarely if ever find humor displayed in a Chinese Toggle. John, I am sure there are other clues to Toggle verses Netsuke that a more learned person could describe, but if you keep these 6, actually 7 points in mind, you are highly unlikely to make an error. Through my years of studying both Japanese and Chinese Art, I much prefer the Japanese Netsuke. I once thought I'd like to collect Chinese Jades, but given the fact that I personally found Chinese Art to be rather boring and AGAIN the fact that so many FAKES are being produced even going so far as for the Chinese to import British Columbia, CANADA Jade as our Jade is a more even and vibrant green and the Chinese love the color green. I hope my answer is satisfactory. Thank you, ... Ron

Colin, Yes indeed I am. We could go on with this tit for tat all day, week, month, year. You have your opinion and I have mine. Now why don't we leave it at that ! I have been fortunate to visit shows / dealers in the USA, Europe, the UK. Gray's in London, Camden Passage, Bermondsey, and I was always treated with respect and my opinion / opinions accepted. Yet here on the NMB, I find my opinion not debated but viciously attacked by one individual who does not even know me. Discuss, criticize all you want, but I will no longer feed your hatred by debating this post with you. Have a nice day.

Well Colin, then stay " pissed off ", I could care less. I stand by what I wrote in my post. It is an OPINION, nothing more. You have your opinions and I have mine. To back up my statement of SNOBBERY, I point to : The International Netsuke Collectors Society. Membership fees are $ 125.00 US per year. In the copy of their magazine which I have : Volume 11, No. 4 dated March 1984 pictured on page 24 : An Exhibition of THE NETSUKE HALL OF FAME'S RECORD BREAKERS annual meeting with photographs of attendees all quite obviously very very wealthy people. A Suit and Tie affair drinking Champagne, the festivities taking place at the " elegant new Mauna Lani Bay Hotel on the big island of Hawaii ". Just to rub their wealth in a little they included a photograph of a much poorer couple dressed in not a gown, but a plain dress, the gentleman with a String Tie and white shirt with the caption, " enjoying a reprieve from their home in the ARTIC REGION ". I looked up membership in this exclusive club and the total number of members worldwide is just over 600 members. I suggest that the average Netsuke Collector today is hard pressed to find the $ 125.00 US for membership, considering membership in The Nihonto Message Board is FREE !

Colin, You don't know me very well Sir. The " sour grapes " comment actually made me smile. I began collecting Netsuke in the late 1970's when there were few collectors, Virtually all of us corresponded by postal mail rather than via email. I and most of the the others I knew were struggling to raise families and to simply put food on the table. I've seen a huge difference in the way collecting has gone from pure joy of being able to acquire genuine pieces to the trepidation of the average enthusiast being able to acquire even modest works due to the FEAR of being sold FAKES. Your second criticism of me being " A SHOW OFF " because I stated, " I ONLY collect Edo Period Netsuke and only from Internationally respected dealers " simply shows my PREFERENCE for historically used items from their country of origin ... Japan. When I see the market filled with resin copies or wooden copies ( most often made in China and artificially aged to fool the novice or even average collector, I think it only WISE to buy from REPUTABLE DEALERS ! I see NO " Show Off in my character only CAUTION. I saw nothing in my post to draw the ire of any reader, ... but as I somehow pissed you off, I would apologize if I thought any of my statements in that post were offensive or untrue, but I was simply voicing my opinion. ... Ron

I still have a few favorite Netsuke which I simply cannot part with. One is the Rat Catcher. These were quite often for lack of a better term IDIOTS, often hunch back. The one I have in Ivory is quite humorous in that he forgot to completely fasten his loin cloth and consequently his testicles are hanging out. Another is Ebisu, the Japanese God of fishermen. He too is in Ivory with so much detail that even his feet leave the correct anatomical footprints when pushed into plasticine. The carver was so talented he even undercut the eyelids. People used to ask me, How do you tell a Netsuke is of good quality and I used to say if he looks ready to get up and walk from the palm of your hand he is most certainly genuine. If a Netsuke of a Crane appears to be ready to spring from the water and fly away, ... it is genuine. One other point I should like to make is that on older genuine netsuke one of the cord holes is often much larger in order to conceal the cord knot. On a genuine netsuke are no sharp edges to catch on the silk kimono.

I should have added that I have owned a couple of Chinese Toggles over the years. I found them very utilitarian with little for me at least to call ART. There is an excellent book on the subject for those interested : SUBSTANCE AND SYMBOL IN CHINESE TOGGLES by Schuyler Cammann published by The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Library of Congress Catalog Number 62-7202

I have owned many Netsuke over the years, mostly in Ivory but now with the ban on Ivory of any kind and due to the fact I am getting too old to collect anything but my old age pension, I have bowed out. I hesitate to add that the Ban on Ivory came about because of people in China like Mr. Zhangshilong who carve what can only be called pseudo netsuke. The Chinese have been carving TOGGLES since at least 1280 AD long before the appearance in Japan of Netsuke. The Japanese needed some way to fasten their Tobacco Pouches to their body and since the Kimono has no pockets, the only logical choice was to fasten it to the Kimono Belt ( Obi ) by passing a cord from the tobacco pouch with some object fastened to the cord to have enough mass and weight to hold the tobacco pouch securely in place. The first Netsuke were no doubt small sticks, which later were carved to give the stick some artistic merit which was pleasing to the eye. This object we call a netsuke derived as a direct consequence of the introduction of tobacco into Japanese Society. Later Scholars fastened their ink and brushes to the Obi and the Ink container became the Netsuke and the Writing Brush became the tobacco pouch so to speak. The reason collectors shy away from buying Netsuke is that the Chinese began flooding the market due to there being many fine Carvers of wood and IVORY in China and wages in China lagged behind the rest of the World. When the wealthy SNOBBISH American and equally snobbish Europeans found a new trinket to add to their collecting ADDICTION and when one sees that Sotheby's or Christies Auction Houses but to name only a couple often sell Netsuke that fetch bids in the thousands of dollars and I've seen a couple of Netsuke sell for over $ 100,000.00. This is a one up man ship that only multi millionaires can indulge in. Don't tell me this is for the love of ART, ... this is pure showoff ! I collect ONLY Edo Period Netsuke and only from Internationally respected dealers. It matters little that my preference is IVORY, as there are equally fine carvings in Wood and other materials. I simply enjoy the medium ( material ). There are many very talented modern carvers, but they do not fit the criteria of having been used for the purpose they were designed for and I therefore correctly call them pseudo netsuke.

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Sorry Brian, ... Price is $ 150.00 ... Ron

I have for sale a WWII Army Saya for sale : Length 30.5 inches, Width 1.875 inches, Sori .5 inches. For photographs, or if interested Email me your Personal email address. Mine is : 766watson@gmail.com Thanks, ... Ron Watson

Peter, If I'm not mistaken, the powder flasks ( leather ) are Arabic in origin. Certainly not Japanese.

Do any of the members know of someone capable of retying a Sword Handle with Silk Wrapping LIVING IN CANADA ?? If so, please provide contact information. Thank you, ... Ron Watson 766watson@gmail.com

NOT TO WORRY : Sunny, PietroParis, I'll soon have Brian END my sales on the 17th of November. I shall then like I did previously on January 29, 2015 disappear from the NMB. No more teaching, no more commenting, no more sales. I need no slack cut, and my word is as good as it always was. My fists are somewhat crippled with arthritis, but I never did nor will ever will back away from a fight. After the 17th of November, ... anyone wishing to buy ( if item still available ) will have to contact me at my email address : 766watson@gmail.com as I will no longer be monitoring the NMB after that date. I promise !

Mr. Farr, ... that is your prerogative. I can see by your profile you are a novice or as I prefer to call them, " a wanna be ". Until you win the Lotto 649. whereupon you will have money to spend on QUALITY and indulge your self in serious study of a worthwhile blade, ... please accept a few words of wisdom from an old timer, .... " BUY BOOKS and STUDY, and then study some more ". On one of your threads you mention eBay. This IS NOT a good place to begin collecting as this venue is well know as the home of fraudsters and / or poor quality items. I wish you good luck.

Peter, How much bloody Vigor or was that VINIGOR can a 74 year old bring to the community ??

Ah, Ken, ... alas I have no daughters and if I did they would be approaching 50 years of age ( once a female is past 20 years of age, ... I consider them " over the hill " ). ... Anonymouse

Dear Old Friend, Stephen, ... UPS is VERY expensive in Canada. Hell EVERYTHING is expensive in Canada. Our Postal System is on the rocks, our Medical System is on the rocks, our Transportation System is on the rocks, our Governments ( Federal, Provincial, and Municipal ) are on the rocks ( and have been for years ), our IMMIGRATION System is on the rocks, our Education System is on the rocks ( although still better than American ), our Currency is on the rocks, our Climate is on the rocks, my Sex Life is ( almost on the rocks ... I am 74, so I have an excuse ). Our Judicial System is on the rocks. One can trace ALL this trouble back to one common denominator ( BUREAUCRATS .. paper pushers who produce nothing, and whose sole purpose in life is to make someone else's life DIFFICULT !

Hugh, Ah, Hugh .... a feeling of calmness will descend upon me, ... WHEN OTHERS TREAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS IN A TIMELY FASHION. What did I say to deter potential " buyers " ?? I give damn good service, my items are honestly described and carefully packed and expeditiously shipped. I, if asked will give a detailed description of how the item was made, acquired and an honest evaluation. I answer ALL emails quickly and politely. If more people were like me, ... then perhaps the world would not be in the mess we find today !

Dear Grev, We all forget things now and then, ... but there is a difference between saying " I'll pay in a few minutes ", and then NOTHING for hours sometimes days ! I am not quite as mean as I used to be unless someone really pisses me off, ... then I turn meaner than a Tom Cat with his balls cut off ! ... Ron

Dear Mark, Yes, I know all about IVORY. At one time, I owned and operated one of the first and largest HIGH QUALITY FINE ART & ANTIQUE BUSINESSES in the WORLD. My customers ranged from those on a fixed budget ( pay so much a month customers ) to the South Korean Secret Service, The Swiss Secret Service, The US Whitehouse, every major Movie Studio in the World, to virtually every MAJOR MUSEUM in the world. Movie Stars by the truck load. I sold WWII ENGIMA ( army, navy, luftwaffen ). I sold 15th Century Crossbows, Elephant Rifles, Dueling Pistols, Holland & Holland Shotguns, Purdy Shotguns, rare Colts, SOE / OSS / French WWII Resistance Items including Clandestine Radios, War of 1812 Peace Medals, Brownbess Muskets, Indian Trade Muskets. IVORY ESKIMO Artifacts such as dozens of ancient Harpoon Heads, Snow Goggles, HBC Capotes & Blankets, NWC Fur Trade Items from the 1790's, Several fine Ivory Netsuke ( although I rarely sold Japanese Art ( I collected this material for myself ). The ban on IVORY is BULLSHIT, as both China & Japan ignore the ban and buy all they can get. My business came to an abrupt end after 9/11, as it became impossible to ship a lot of what I dealt in INTERNATIONALLY. THERE WERE NO ARAB HIJACKERS by the way. No, ... Mark you can never irritate me so long as you keep your word. I am proud that I gave one Federal Government INSPECTOR a Heart Attack so bad that he never worked again. He had it coming. I am also proud that I never told a lie in my life and I have never cast a vote in my life. The Party System of Government is Corrupt, wastefull, and filled with liars. In my notation on the LISTINGS, .. I state that IVORY will not be sold outside of Canada. Kind regards, ... Ron Watson

I am not a patient man, ... as those few who know me and are left on this FORUM will already know ( most who knew me are now dead ). I had several " BUYERS " in response to the listings I posted yesterday and the day before yesterday. I spent from 8:30 AM this morning until 8:30 PM ( this evening ), ... answering Emails, getting shipping quotes, answering emails ( no, I'm not being redundant ), wrapping parcels, filling out CUSTOMS PAPERS for no less than three bloody countries, checking my Email, checking the NMB ( some people cannot read the " contact " information posted with each listing ), checking PayPal ( after a certain time these bastards do not notify one ... when money has been sent ). I can understand customers being a " little slow paying ", ... but when they write and say that PayPal or Wire Transfer will be sent in a few minutes, and I HAVE OTHERS WHO ARE LINED UP TO BUY THE SAME LISTED ITEM, ... THEN PAY ALREADY ! I expect Governments to be lazy, inconsiderate, but as some will KNOW, ... I HATE GOVERNMENTS. The next customer who pisses me off, ... and bingo, the item will go to the next in line or if no one buys, ... then to my son or grandson ! There, ... I'm sure others who are using the NMB to sell items feel the same way as I do, ... however they are too kind to put it into words !