Tsuba on Ebay

[KORSH]

Hey everyone.

 

I have just found this Tsuba: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tsuba-Squirrel- ... 3a79a06384

 

Dont know much about tsuba, but I find it looks very interesting. Any ideas on this?

[Marius]

Late Edo kinko

 

I am afraid that you find its looks interesting precisely because you don't know much about tsuba

[Thierry BERNARD]

I find it interesting too, but I'm not sure it's worth the price!

[KORSH]

Hey Mariusz,

 

Please give me some info. I am here to discuss things. Saying "you find its looks interesting precisely because you don't know much about tsuba" makes you look good, but does not help me to learn things. So please let me take part in your wisdom

 

Alex

[Brian]

I think what Mariusz is saying (but could phrase a little more delicately and subtly) is that this is one of those tsuba that is made to look flashy and appealing at first glance. Like a lot of the Meiji export type pieces. But when you look closer, and with eyes used to seeing tsuba, you start to see that the definition and high class carving is lacking. The lines are a little rough, and there is no masterpiece workmanship. It a glance, pretty. But doesn't stand up to closer examination.

Looking at a lot of good tsuba will make these readily apparent, whereas novices are easily attracted to them on first glance.

I know one eBay seller that does most of his sales this way, to the Western market. Most of it goes down quite a few notches on closer examination.

Mind you...this isn't a bad tsuba to my eyes. Very interesting and a cut above a lot of the dross out there imho. But the comments above are general interpretations of what I think he means...not directed at this tsuba particularly.

 

Brian

[Marius]

@Brian.

 

Thanks Brian, you hit the nail on head, that is exactly what I wanted to say. Sorry, I am in bed today, can hardly move (a painful case of discopathy) and this has temporarily thwarted any attempts to be civil and forced me to show my true nature

 

@ Alex

 

no offense intended, please accept my apologies. You are right, this was cheap, sorry

 

I would gladly introduce you to the principles of Japanese aesthetics, but this would probably take up too much space, so I will let the participants of a discussion here on the NMB speak:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7308

 

Also this thread is great and on page 7 you will find some book recommendations:

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6795

 

Hope that helps

[Pete Klein]

My hunch is that this was not carved but made by lost wax casting of brass metal, then patinated. It looks to have been mounted but lack of seppa zuri (wear to the seppa dai from mounting) I have my doubts as to it's functional use.

[KORSH]

Great, thank you for that info. Very interesting to see more and more. Hope to see it someday before some one points it to me. :D

 

@ mariuszk: nothing to apologies for. It was a fair statement of yours. I just wanted to know more about the reasons.