terminus Posted April 27, 2019 Report Posted April 27, 2019 Looking to buy a high-end tsuba, must have a signature/mei, preferably katana size. There's countless variety of themes and motifs and aesthetic styles I'm interested in, so instead of listing everything here are some example tsubas I absolutely love:https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-carp-leaping-up-a-waterfall-11675https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-elephant-and-flying-tengu-9931https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-kinko-riding-on-a-carp-11664https://art.thewalters.org/detail/1731/tsuba-with-yoshitsune-learning-to-fence-from-the-king-of-the-tengu/https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-in-the-form-of-an-octopus-12123https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-bishamon-and-centipede-10031https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-shoki-on-horseback-with-an-oni-attendant-11604I should mention I'm very partial to tsubas with a carp, octopus, raijin, or tengu motiff...so if you have one, pm me! 1 Quote
Frank B Posted April 27, 2019 Report Posted April 27, 2019 What's the pressing need for a signature? Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted April 28, 2019 Report Posted April 28, 2019 You just missed the Omori Eiman carp tsuba Darcy had up, if you have the means, it was a real stunner: https://yuhindo.com/omori-eiman-tsuba/ Quote
DRDave Posted April 28, 2019 Report Posted April 28, 2019 Have you considered commissioning an artist make one? https://youtu.be/pM0VnL30rDc?t=649 1 Quote
terminus Posted April 28, 2019 Author Report Posted April 28, 2019 Have you considered commissioning an artist make one? https://youtu.be/pM0VnL30rDc?t=649 I have actually. The problem is a lot of the more famous modern smiths have work booked till the fall or next year. Also interestingly enough sometimes the complexity of the work in tsubas I'm looking for can cost more now in the present day than buying an antique one. Quote
terminus Posted April 28, 2019 Author Report Posted April 28, 2019 What's the pressing need for a signature? For me, it's not just the extra authenticity, but also some signatures add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the tsuba. Ex. Sekibun or Natsuo or Ford Hallam's sig's look beautiful on a tsuba. 1 Quote
Brian Posted April 28, 2019 Report Posted April 28, 2019 Agree with you Tony. Have often told Ford his signature is art in itself. Takes skill to move metal and make it looks fluid.Good point indeed. In fact, I think a thread on this is warranted. Quote
terminus Posted May 2, 2019 Author Report Posted May 2, 2019 Agree with you Tony. Have often told Ford his signature is art in itself. Takes skill to move metal and make it looks fluid. Good point indeed. In fact, I think a thread on this is warranted. I should also mention high-end tsuba also includes modern tsubas as well. I would definitely love to buy one of Ford's top works. Still looking for an amazing tsuba! (also can be under 5k usd of course) Also wanted to add, I'm also partial to high quality dragon motiffs. Quote
Katsujinken Posted June 8, 2019 Report Posted June 8, 2019 https://yuhindo.com/yoshioka-inabanosuke-tsuba/ 1 Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted June 8, 2019 Report Posted June 8, 2019 Tony, I applaud your desire to acquire something wonderful. Although "5K" is not a small sum, I fear your anticipations may exceed your stated purse. I suggest you take some time to familiarize yourself with the market, don't act in haste, meanwhile you'll be able to add to you "purchase fund". Best of luck....happy hunting! -S- 1 Quote
Brian Posted June 8, 2019 Report Posted June 8, 2019 Steve,His budget is $5K up to $15K, and that is a perfectly realistic budget for something high end.We are too quick to discuss people's expectations instead of just finding them stuff.Let's debate less on commercial listings, and just find what they want. Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted June 8, 2019 Report Posted June 8, 2019 Oops, missed the extra 10K...........I must make it a habit to read the heading, carry on. -S- Quote
terminus Posted June 8, 2019 Author Report Posted June 8, 2019 https://yuhindo.com/yoshioka-inabanosuke-tsuba/ I did see this one, it’s incredible but not to my aesthetic tastes. Now the Omori tsuba with the Carp that Darcy sold on the same site some months ago I would have bought in a heartbeat. 1 Quote
Gakusee Posted June 8, 2019 Report Posted June 8, 2019 Well, you could still make an offer to the current owner via Darcy. Quote
Hoshi Posted June 9, 2019 Report Posted June 9, 2019 My suggestion is for you to get in contact with Darcy, he has access to a lot of stuff which isn't currently on his website. Many of his things sell before he gets the public listing up. Quote
Gakusee Posted June 11, 2019 Report Posted June 11, 2019 By the way, one site that often slips the searches is Japaneseart.eu Check it out. Quote
DRDave Posted June 11, 2019 Report Posted June 11, 2019 Also wanted to add, I'm also partial to high quality dragon motiffs. How about turtles? This one on Tetsugendo appears to have some dragon ancestry. By the way, one site that often slips the searches is Japaneseart.eu Check it out. The Yoshioka school piece is very attractive Quote
Gakusee Posted June 11, 2019 Report Posted June 11, 2019 Yes, that Yoshioka is my favourite. The way Fujiyama is rendered is subtle but elegant. Quote
terminus Posted June 12, 2019 Author Report Posted June 12, 2019 How about turtles? This one on Tetsugendo appears to have some dragon ancestry. The Yoshioka school piece is very attractive I saw that one on Tetsugendo! I quite like it and contacted the email but he never responded back to my email. I saw that Yoshioka tsuba as well. It's very nice but not exactly what I'm looking for. I check japaneseart.eu quite often. I really wanted to buy the Goto tsuba they had on there months ago but it was out of my price range. Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted June 12, 2019 Report Posted June 12, 2019 Well Tony Y, it's a waiting game. Nihonto is a SLOW pursuit, until it gets crazy for a month or so, then slow again. Hope you find what you seek. 1 Quote
terminus Posted June 12, 2019 Author Report Posted June 12, 2019 Well Tony Y, it's a waiting game. Nihonto is a SLOW pursuit, until it gets crazy for a month or so, then slow again. Hope you find what you seek. For sure. I'm constantly checking sellers and it also seems some of the best come from Bonhams and Christie auctions. Waiting on the next auction too whenever that is. Quote
Gakusee Posted June 12, 2019 Report Posted June 12, 2019 Tony/Terminus Please be very careful with Bonhams and Christie’s auctions for high-end items. Time and again high-end items are gimei but purport to have big makers’ names on them. Do your homework extensively and carefully examine the mei, the workmanship, etc. Of course, one does come across the genuine artefacts occasionally but these tend to be papered or come with some hakogaki or sayagaki etc 3 Quote
terminus Posted June 12, 2019 Author Report Posted June 12, 2019 Tony/Terminus Please be very careful with Bonhams and Christie’s auctions for high-end items. Time and again high-end items are gimei but purport to have big makers’ names on them. Do your homework extensively and carefully examine the mei, the workmanship, etc. Of course, one does come across the genuine artefacts occasionally but these tend to be papered or come with some hakogaki or sayagaki etc Thank you. Yes I definitely realize a lot on there can be gimei. I’ve definitely seen some very high work even for gimei tsubas these days. Collecting tsubas is one difficult hobby. Quote
Curran Posted June 12, 2019 Report Posted June 12, 2019 Tony/Terminus Please be very careful with Bonhams and Christie’s auctions for high-end items. Time and again high-end items are gimei but purport to have big makers’ names on them. Do your homework extensively and carefully examine the mei, the workmanship, etc. Of course, one does come across the genuine artefacts occasionally but these tend to be papered or come with some hakogaki or sayagaki etc I believe Bob Haynes plucked a very nice Yasuchika tsuba out of Bonhams auction. It is somewhere on the website he has with Elliott Long. Jeff Olson and the NY team of Bonhams seem to make effort to vet a lot of items to a respectable degree.I find Christies a bit more of a coin toss, though they were the ones to handle the Fittings Museum back when Jeff was with them. Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted June 12, 2019 Report Posted June 12, 2019 Tony, You can buy with confidence from the major auction houses. Be thorough in reading and understanding the catalogue listings and you should be fine. The language used to describe articles is precise and particular, once you are familiar with the format there should be no confusion. Also, items sold as BY a certain maker Do have a warranty and CAN be returned if not as represented. If you are uncertain about a particular piece inquire. -S- 1 Quote
terminus Posted July 13, 2019 Author Report Posted July 13, 2019 Just wanted to say I’m still looking and will be at the SF Token Kai show next month! If you might have something that fits my criteria please pm me and we can meet up at the show. Quote
Fred Geyer Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 tony privite me what you are looking for can bring it and keep it in my carry bag for you to look at Fred Quote
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