Tsuba for consideration

[CurtisR]

Greetings all,

I just found these 2 I'll be posting today...sadly I'm not (yet) the owner and am studying them, trying to learn. I know the single feather is probably a Mon, but it you look closely at each, you'll see very small "circles" dimpled into each - haven't seen this before (although I haven't seen many things before :D ). Thought you might enjoy it, and any thoughts are of course appreciated.

 

They don't appear to have been cleaned (especially the Sukashi Tsuba I'll post next) but IMHO, it is nice work on both. I have a third (from an unsigned Wakizashi), signed, and I believe made of Shakudo that I'll post tomorrow. Am attempting to translate the mei.

Regardless, enjoy~

 

Cheers,

 

Curtis

[Gunome]

Hello,

 

this is an heianjo tsuba with plum and leave patern.

I don't know what is the "circle" partern on plum.

 

hope this could help you

[John A Stuart]

I am not a botanist, but, clematis vine with the typical arrowhead leaves and feathers. Indeed heianjo agreed. John

[CurtisR]

Ahhhhh - clematis! Never occurred to me....thank you gentlemen! I'll research heianjo style as well. Although missing some of it's gold overlay, in the hand it's very nice....might try to get this one.

 

Best,

 

Curtis

[Gunome]

Although missing some of it's gold overlay

It is not gold but brass

[CurtisR]

Why do you think Brass, Sebastien? In-hand it seemed to be gold, but is there a trick to tell the difference? I see the small tarnished ends but thought they were perhaps the plating worn off of the wire...

The feathers seem to be gold leaf as well - if not, this would lead me to think it's either been cleaned or is Gendai/fake?

 

Curtis

[Jean]

Curtis,

 

Why don't you buy a book on tsuba school and try to learn a bit? Search Heianjo School and see what was their inlay technics. Search the dealers'website for Heianjo tsuba.

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/auction/en/aucti ... 1213703271

[CurtisR]

Because Jean, the damn book is $450.00 U.S. and though I might find some info. here among those who can *afford* them or have them already. I'm evaluating (with the genuine help of those here - both positive & negative ) what falls into my hands. I learn slowly - perhaps - but am certainly not out buying books at that cost for friends wishing to sell them with my only "end" being knowledge. I suppose eventually I'll make a 'finder's fee' but can't unless I can provide solid, **expert** advice on he items he has.

 

I didn't think my question to Sebastien was out-of-line, as he seemed to have a hint of why it was brass & not gold.

Oh, and P.S. Jean, My Grandfather is buried above Omaha Beach (Por Vous), so cut me a little slack, eh? Killed in Hour #1 of the invasion, 3rd wave. He was a Medic. Need I go on? Because in his memory, I would - and gladly.

(At least I'm not posting pics of sh@tty Chinese copies).

Regardless, I'm just trying to help a friend out. I WISH I owned the many that he does. Some will be for sale I suspect, soon on NMB.

 

Fine'

 

Curtis

[Jean]

Curtis,

 

WWII fortunatelly is long gone and so the American war of Independence and the late La Fayette and nevertheless irrelevant in such topic.

 

You will find a lot of books far under this price, I bought the Nihonto Koza, a bit expensive 150$ and another book for less than 50$ (an Aesthetic survey ...)

 

I told you to google Heianjo, should you have done it, you would have found this, on Dr Stein website (took me one minute). Is it so difficulult to do? When someone answers me it is "this" instead of "that", first thing I do, I search the "why", If you are waiting for people feeding you information without checking them, sooner or later, you'll get misled. I never take anything for granted, it is the best way to learn.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/heianjo.htm

 

You have your answer: Brass. Easy to make shiny with polish.

[Marius]

Oh, and P.S. Jean, My Grandfather is buried above Omaha Beach (Por Vous), so cut me a little slack, eh? Killed in Hour #1 of the invasion, 3rd wave. He was a Medic. Need I go on?

 

Curtis,

 

with all respect for the heroic death of your Grandfather... what does this have to do with Jean's advice to learn a bit?

 

And yes, we all know that nihonto and kodogu books are darn expensive. This hobby is expensive.

[Soshin]

And yes, we all know that nihonto and kodogu books are darn expensive. This hobby is expensive.

 

Hi Mariusz K.,

 

Some true words of wisdom.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Brian]

Cool it guys...back on topic.

 

Brian