Bought at country auction!

[Dr Fox]

Hi all

 

Someone I know who haunts out of the way auctions, has approached me for an opinion on 4 tsuba's he bid for, and bought!

 

I have warned him he has made 2 mistakes.

1. Bidding on items for which he has no knowledge.

2. Asking me for an appraisal, when I know as much as he does .

 

1. 7.2x7.5x.4cm 2. 8.3x8.5x.4cm 3. 7.5x7.7x.4cm 4. 7.8x7.8x.5cm

 

 

 

 

from us both thanks.

[Dr Fox]

And

[kaigunair]

FWIW, since no one else has responded, all three look legit to me. not modern day repros. nakago ana punches seem real, iron too. not quality work, but not fake. I believe the eggplant and mice are good fortune symbols (could be raddish/daikon, maybe a new years theme?). Other two themes may be ginko leaves + dew drops (like musashino plains grass and dew drops), and ginko leaves/ferns/bamboo. some condition problems, but since its iron, some bone work and care could bring back a nicer patina.

 

no idea about prices, but hopefully your friend got them cheap.

 

look at me, talking about iron tsuba...

[Peter Bleed]

In the old days, when you went to a gun show you always carried a "drop tsuba" that you could use to replace a nice guard you might find on a plane-jane blade. Buy it here, replace the guard, sell it there. . . . Number 1 is a "drop tsuba". Number 3 is Kinai. The other two may be drop tsubas too.

Peter

[Dr Fox]

Junichi and Peter

 

Thanks for your response. Not having bought these as a job lot, but as separate bids with no competition. Each Tsuba owes him £80.00 at x4 = £320.00. Now not being a tsuba expert, I feel he has caught a cold, and his recoup on the kinai in its present state, will earn him what?

 

A nice guy, but now stands up as knowing what is real, and what is not. And this is from seeing some real items I have here, his shopping and then bringing to me to authenticate, will I fear become a little tiresome. But I can't seem to get through, just how specialised a subject he is stumbling around in.

 

So in plain terms was this expedition a non calculated loss?

[RobertM]

Hi, just my opinion but he could probably get around the £100 mark each for the first 3 on ebay.

[Dr Fox]

I will pass that on Robert cheers. Wish I had your confidence there is a worthwhile resale here, but thats just me doubting thomas