lotus Posted January 27, 2013 Report Posted January 27, 2013 Just wondered if this piece is a Higo or just a reproduction/copy? Dimensions are round (82x82) and 4.5-5.0 thickness (translated description shows both so perhpas the mimi is thicker or narrower than the seppa dai_ Thanks! Quote
Marius Posted January 27, 2013 Report Posted January 27, 2013 May I ask you why you think this is a Higo tsuba? Is it because of the pine trees sukashi? Quote
Pete Klein Posted January 27, 2013 Report Posted January 27, 2013 http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e131118934 It's been stepped on. Quote
lotus Posted January 27, 2013 Author Report Posted January 27, 2013 Mariusz - Yes, seems a common motif among the Higo group and the seller made reference to Nishigaki in the description. Though translated Japanese is hard to understand. Pete - Do you mean it's literally been stepped on? Quote
Pete Klein Posted January 27, 2013 Report Posted January 27, 2013 LOL -- sorry -- '80's terminology -- think 'Scarface' -- what I meant was that it's been worked on in some way. Look at the glossy patina -- it just looks off. This 京正阿弥 is Kyo Shoami, for what it is worth. Maybe Curran can chime in on this one? He knows this stuff like the back of his hand! PS: Tampa! One Month!!! Quote
Curran Posted January 28, 2013 Report Posted January 28, 2013 No need to tease me Pete. There is no risk of me being a shinsa judge any time soon. On the other hand, the NTHK might recruit you if Jim Gilbert decides to pitch in and pursue bird photography full time. Before Storm Sandy, he announced he was giving up the NY club presidency for at least a year. I would have voted for making Chuck the official Emperor of the club, though Chuck probably is too smart to take the job. As to the tsuba and the seller- there is something funny about a lot of his pieces. I don't know what he does, but he does (mystery XYZ) to many of them. They look lightly sandblasted and greyed somehow, then possibly given a light wax coat applied. While some people, including shinsa judges, advocate use of light wax coating- I hate the stuff and will try to gently remove it if it won't damage the tsuba in any way. Tsuba isn't Higo. I'd be inclined to pin it to a specific Shoami school. Pete said Kyo Shoami, so it works for me. Quote
lotus Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Posted January 28, 2013 Kyo shoami certainly fits based on what I read. Here is another one from same seller and a Higo from the boston mfa site (better version). Would we think this is kyo shoami as well? Quote
Curran Posted January 28, 2013 Report Posted January 28, 2013 Higo? Possibly Nishigaki? Good match up with the design of the one in the Boston MFA. Major museum attributions are usually decent, but not infallible. Looks right, but then again we have the problem of weird pitting in places and the applied grey w/ wax coat? This guy's stuff is either real or would fool a lot of us who have been collecting a while, but the condition is something to ponder. Tsuba might be fine underneath whatever was applied, or might not. Quote
lotus Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Posted January 28, 2013 Yeah, the condition and surface treatment was a bit iffy. The 1st one sold for the buyout price and the 2nd one sold for less. I passed as I have my eye on a papered Akasaka at the moment. Quote
MauroP Posted January 29, 2013 Report Posted January 29, 2013 Hi everybody, I am really a newcomer, but this tsuba looks suspicious to me regarding its authenticity. Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 29, 2013 Report Posted January 29, 2013 Yes, does cause wonder. The seams can be checked with a probe to see if they are adhesions [crud] or excess metal. It can be hard to tell pitting from casting flaws without a physical exam. John Quote
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