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Showing results for tags 'tsuba'.
Found 202 results
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Hi Tosogu friends I recently purchased this tsuba signed 水府住 重親 彫之 - Mito school Shigechika. I do not find any shigechika in mito school from Haynes but one living in "Fujiwara" and web sources are scarce. Does someone know if there is a Fujuwara place in Mito ? Thank you
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Hi, A recent acquisition I believe to be Mito school, late Edo period. Dimensions: Height - 84mm Width - 79mm Mimi - 5mm Seppa dai - 4.8mm I like the nunome zogan on the clouds and dragon, and the small gold and silver zogan dots on the waves. The dragon has silver claws, a little worn, which is a nice feature. It's a little dirty in parts any advice on cleaning or who could offer this service, given it a little oil, a stiff brush and some ivory rubbing but there's too many intricate areas? I'm calling it a cloud dragon but seems to like the water as well! Have a good new year, hope 2021 is better than 2020!!
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Hi I have created my second tsuba for sale catalogue with a price listing The link below will enable you to see all the available tsuba https://www.dropbox.com/s/fakjukzmer8vmla/NMB%20listing.pdf?dl=0 Would you please read the first page before you raise any queries Nothing in the PDF is copyrighted so I’m happy for anyone to keep a copy or ideally pass a copy to any other interested friends or clubs Those that remember my 1st sale will see some changes. There are some of the original tsuba available but the price may be slightly reduced and there are quite a few new tsuba When I asked about a Tanaka or Inaba tsuba I was shocked at the prices but this sale will enable me to buy some of these higher end tsuba to improve my collection As usual there will be a donation to the NMB Grev UK
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Sometimes a picture online cannot truly explain a "feel" of a fitting. This is an example to me. Very pleased with the purchase and via DHL, 2 day delivery from Japan to Boston, MA. Tsuba attributed to Aizu Shoami. The inlay detail under study is very good to my eyes, and the gentle curve of the stream is calming and attractive. Really happy with this piece and welcome it to the collection.
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Giving away two nice tsuba-fk “sets” 1.1. Rat, fans and willow tree tsuba Very nice example, fine inlay work, minute work always attract attention. Mumei, after Okamoto Sadamasa work. Price: $450 1.2. Rat, fan and komebukuro/chairebukuro fuchi-kashira Nice work of the Tsuchiya Yasuchika school. Very accurate inlay work. Signed “Yasuchika”, very strong mei typical to first gens. Price: $350 2.1. Plovers and waves tsuba Chidori/plovers are a migratory bird in Japan. They are usually depicted flying over waves. Since they have to overcome high waves and strong winds, they are a symbol of strength and perseverance. Outstanding piece from Mito, fine finish, the birds are very well executed, emotional intensity is conveyed masterfully and very clearly. Mumei Mito, tokukicho paper of a similar tsuba attached for reference. Price: $500 2.2. Plovers and waves fuchi-kashira Very nice fk in the same strong nami chidori motif. Details are very well underlined. Mumei Nara. Price: $300 Donation to the board is included, everything else is negotiable) And Happy New Year! Cheers!
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Releasing some plates from my collection 1. Shishi and peony tsuba Very strong and beautiful shishi botan zu tsuba. Carving technique of the highest level, look at the fur’s circular “curls” and compare those to the one recently unsold in Lempertz auction. God's gift and scrambled eggs) Another example of a comparable quality by “Somin” went on yahoo a couple of weeks ago for around $3000. Silver nawame-fukurin, nice addition. Signed “Soyo Kao”, there were four guys in the Yokoya family line who signed “Soyo” (H08951-H08954) Price: $1500 2. Kuruma-waterwheel tsuba Wonderful iron piece, smooth sukashi-cuts, perfect chocolate brown patina, pure pleasure. The waterwheel serves as a common symbol in Buddhist culture, representing rapid spiritual change and the cycle of rebirth. Mumei Bushu NBTHK Hozon with translation Price: $1200 3. Rising sun and waves tsuba Small but amazing tsuba. Perfect ishime-ji, beautiful waves carving, gold and shakudo spray inlay, sukashi elements. High level of workmanship. Signed “Tou”, several gens of Tsuchiya Yasuchika signed their works like this. Price: $550 Donation to the board is included, everything else is negotiable) And Happy New Year!) Cheers!
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This post relates to - I have noticed an increase in these Tiger tanto guards recently, the latest I have seen has been a real disapointment. https://www.jauce.com/auction/e482832265 While most are no doubt cast and then reworked this example is not reworked and for what it is, is exhorbitantly priced. The first image shows the casting besides an example found in the Toledo Museum of Art [ old B&W photo from 1912 ] The second is a reworked piece from Worthpoint, and the last is a modern hobby piece. I have seen one in iron recently also poorly cast. They seem to follow the same manufacturing as the 'Rain Dragon' design.
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Hello Everyone, I am seeking some advice on how to measure for my sword fittings. I have a few blades in need of a new habaki, tsuba and tsuka. I was wondering if there was some golden rule measurement to make sure the fit for each item is correct and lines up with the mehugi-ana. And for the habaki, how to measure and ensure it fill fit snugly on the blade, and will also fit the tsuka and tsuba! I have been shopping for new koshirae on the Japanese auction sites, and it would help me to know what to look for, as most of them have measurements posted. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance, Gordon S
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This subject has been discussed previously as far back as 2011, but just a short update on the growing number of these "tsuba" to use a word very loosely. I have added an often neglected view showing the bottom edge where the giveaway casting marks are often found. Collectors should be made aware of these often high priced 'Paper weights'. I continue to collect images of these things as they continue to pop up, there are a few right now on auction sites so have a real close look when you buy.
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Purchased from N.M.B 'For Sale' section offered by Leporello earlier this year and very pleased to now own it. There are three blade cuts on the mimi and I am very aware that it can only be conjecture that they were received in a battle but I am happy to think so. Complements an old, early blade (?1400s) I have in shin gunto mounts with three or four battle scars also. I haven't come across commentary on such scars here before ? Maker is possibly Yamashiro Kaneie ? Roger j
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Hello fellow collectors and enthusiasts. I am happy to announce a new addition to my collection, and I would ask for your help in identifying this beautiful blade. The blade feels heavy in the hand, and could use a new polish. I have done some research, and to me it appears to be a WW2 blade, with older fittings. The blade itself is reminiscent of later works by Chounsai Emura, a famous prison warden turned bladesmith during WW2. The hamon style is choji-midare with mixed in gunome-midare, which fits his style. Haagari nakago also fits the style. Emura tended to sign his blades, and this one does not have a signature, so I do believe this to be the work of one of his convicts, but perhaps an expert here could tell a different story. The hamon is The kissaki is ko-kissaki, and sharpened in the traditional way. The blade feels heavy in the hand, and will most definitely survive a new polish, I am now trying to figure out if it is worth polishing or not. The blade dimensions are: Nagasa: 22.25 Inches Curvature: 0.5 Inches The fittings that came with the blade are mixed, sa-me has fake ray-skin with older looking bronze menuki, with matching futchi, with an older looking Goto school tsuba with shi shi and peonies inlaid in a silverish/gold inlay. Traditional nanako-ji (fish egg) background. The blade and the tsuba may not match in age, but habaki looks original. Please any further help with identifying this blade would go a long way. Thank you all in advance! Warm Regards, Gordon S
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Here is a tsuba purchased earlier this year from the NMB For Sale section off Tom (LEPORELLO). It is not big being only 64 x 60 x 4 and I would have liked a katana sized example but for all that think that this one is a great piece in showing the great skill of the brass wire inlay artisan. I am interested in the opinions of other members here about these thoughts which are about these great skills and the ability to chisel such fine, convoluted channels, twisting and turning to create this design and then to inlay the fine brass wire into such twisting channels. Pretty amazing work for mine ? And their regularity and evenness is impressive. The patience and skill producing well executed nanako is of course possibly the ultimate. There are so many ways to appreciate the artistry and history of tosogu. Roger j
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Hello friends, I recently acquired this Tsuba that is said to be from the Akita Shaomi school, but that is not 100%. Any guesses from those who have seen Tsuba similar to this? The signature was auto-translated to Eshu Hikone Ju Mogarashi Soten Se. Also, I have been reading alot of your great posts on cleaning, soap vs oil vs wax, what kind of brushes, soft metal vs iron, etc, and it is that later that I need some advice with. Is this "soft metal"? How would you best clean and preserve this? The antique dealer said to wipe the rust with a soft cloth, but not the black rust. You are a great group of people and I am happy to join the community! I am in Nagano. Tom
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Hi I thought I'd find this shape quit easily but I didn't I looked through my books on mon but found nothing I can describe it as a double diamond but I'd like to be more accurate Can anyone help? Grev
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Putting up for sale some nice and affordable items. 1. Monkey reaching for the reflection of the moon (Enko-hogetsu) tsuba Very nice composition. Chocolate brown plate with elements of the design inlaid in soft metals. Nawame-fukurin in gold, wearer was an important person) Signed “Tsuchiya Yagohachi Nyudo Tou Yasuchika, Shotoku 4 (1714) 56 years old” Size: 87.8 x 82.9 mm Price: USD 800 2. Horses under the willow tree tsuba Nice work, one of my first acquisitions, a good start if you plan your first item Signed “Naomichi in-mei”, and here is another tsuba with this design from the same guy published in TSUBA by Gunther Heckmann, 1995 Size: 72 x 68 mm Price: USD 450 3. Peony tsuba Very simple but beautiful botan-in-iron tsuba with details accentuated in gold Signed “Terutoshi” Size: 71 x 69 x 6 mm Price: USD 350 4. Shoki (Zhong Kui) tsuba Nice tsuba with Shoki, the famous Oni queller, depiction is very “informal”. Fine nanako on the rim. Signed “Tadayasu Kao” Size: 75 x 67 x 4 mm Price: USD 450 Feel free to ask or buy) Cheers!
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To (only) people who know what they're talking about: I am currently getting fittings together for my katana in shirasaya. I recently purchased a tsuba from the ebay seller Koushuya. This was after almost a year of searching for the tsuba that felt just right. I ended up going with this one, and I am very happy with the purchase. Apparently it's an antique from the Edo period. But I don't really care about that. I just really like how it looks.......makes me feel good. My first question: Should I leave this thing alone and fit it to my katana as is, or should I do something about the rust that looks like it might be eating away at the sukashi? My second question: If I should do something about the rust, what should I do/how should I do it? I don't want to damage/alter this thing (beyond necessarily removing rust) if I can help it. I really like it. Here are some pics:
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I am not sure if I am navigating this site correctly but I have a question. Does anyone know when the next Shinsa will be held in the New York metropolitan area? I have a small collection of Tsuba's that I have had for decades and I am considering submitting them to the Shinsa to possibly getting papered. Thank you.,
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Hi I'm struggling with the smiths name Choshu Hagi 長州i 萩 ju 住 Smith 中智光 Naka/U tomo mitsu Best I can do I can put an image on this post but I'm sure the kanji is correct
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Back before the world went Covid, in 2019 Leon Kr posted a thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/30455-help-needed-with-mei/ That he never really got a straight answer to. I believe because at the time it was dismissed as 'oh no not another cast copy'. Well having just stumbled upon it, I thought to clarify a rather muddy topic. I am normally on the look out for mass produced copies and have posted a few threads on this subject - however this time I would like to show a collection of mass individual pieces 'utsushi' I would guess. From my research there are quiet a range of metals used in their construction but they tend to have three distinct features either a full signature. A partial signature. Or are not signed. The design is always the same but I have yet to see any, that are an exact copy of another. The signatures according to the various owners or sellers usually state to be 'Toshimasa' - Then it gets mixed up - Kofu ju Toshimasa, Kofu jyu Toshimasa, Sumu Toshimasa and the book by the members of the 'Japanese sword society of New York' 1966 describe the maker as 'Mitsunobu (Bushu {Musashi} Province) yet apart from the last, the Kanji is all the same? Toshimasa had several designs, Leon Kr's 'Waves and Birds' also becomes 'Waves and Maple leaves'. Then there is the Dragon - Rain dragon, Smooth dragon, Serpentine dragon, Water dragon, Kissing dragon - no one knows and does it really matter! The point is they are not cast copies. ps. There were several 'Toshimasa' including a father and son - take your pick because your guess is as good as anyone elses!
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Here are four tanto tsuba - nothing exciting but for me, a representative few. They didn't cost much individually but my good friend who appears on this NMB and only bothers with very good quality Nihonto questions whether a good bottle of whisky mightn't be a better deal than one of these ? Obviously he has a point. I haven't included measurements but 6cm is the largest diameter amongst them. Roger j
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Hi, Recent new addition, possibly Kyo Shoami (style), fishing boat with nets and plant of some description (?) dimensions below: Height - 79mm Width - 77.5mm Mimi - 3.8mm Seppa Dai - 3.2mm What has me a little concerned about the tsuba is the off set position of the hitsu. I'm familiar with hitsu of different sizes, irregular shapes and some that look a little off centre as well but not as much as this one. Looks to have been mounted at some point. Appreciate your thoughts.
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Dear all, In order to fit a tsuba of my liking on one of my sword (and to replace the one on the picture), I am looking for a tsuba with the following features. I need an iron tsuba, tosho, ko-tosho, katchushi, ko-katchushi in good condition. The appearance needed must be austere. The shape needed is not an issue, rounded, squared..... The hitsu ana must be plugged or non existent. Please see the measurements needed below and on the picture joined. Thickness : 3.5mm, Weight : 165 gr. In order to avoid too much worries (for me), please try to be very close to the nakago measurements and also close to the thickness. The other measures can be more or less respected. If you have the needed gem, please feel free to contact me by pm. Thank you for your attention.
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A brass Nanban Tsuba with rich dark patina, likely originating in southeast Asia it was modified for purpose in Japan with the addition of Hitsu-ana and a roped Shakudo Fukurin. An iron plate, roughly 1mm thick has been inset into the Seppa-dai on the Omote. The motif is mixed, on the Omote symbols of the eight Taoist Immortals on the Ura phoenix in clouds. An opportunity for a serious Nanban collector to pick up a unique piece. Age: Momoyama-Early Edo Period Height: 7.8cm Width: 7.1cm Thinckness at Nakago-ana: 5mm Thickness at Mimi: 6mm Weight: 164.2g Nakago-ana height: 2.8cm Nakago-ana width bottom: 7mm Nakago-ana width top: 1.5mm $525 USD + Shipping
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So i saw this one and loved the whimsy. It reminds me a little of a drawing by Breugel. Anyway, i was curious so i researched the story behind this one. The story seems to go that Kinko (Qin Gao) was a Daoist sage (Sennin) who spent the first 200 years of his life painting fish. He had such respect for them that he would never harm or eat them. The Dragon lord of the river kingdom sent a giant fish to invite him to come and be his guest, so Kinko told his students he would return and rode the fish under the water into the river kingdom. He was a guest there for around a month and, upon returning meets the god(dess) Kannon, who gives him a scroll that teaches the Buddhist way of protecting all life. Anyone have any examples from this legend? I've only seen this one and it (and my wallet) is decidedly low-end.
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For you kind comments please.... I have a tsuba which shows at least two specific characteristics: 1- Original Histsu Ana have a very funny shape looking similar to a "chinese hat" (Kantei point ?) 2- Then, they have been plugged with a very high quality shakudo (strong bkack one) which should have been expensive 3- Finnaly, one of the hitsu ana as been cut to become a kogai ana As a natural conclusion this tsuba has been used in different koshirae styles but any other explanation are more than welcome.
