"Masamune store" in Paris

[PietroParis]

Hi All,

 

Today I stumbled on the website of a shop of martial arts equipment in Paris, where they also sell nihonto and tosogu. I suppose that the prices are a bit on the high side (e.g., more than 3000 EUR for unpapered wakizashi!), but the descriptions of the items on sale seem detailed and professional to a novice like me. Does any of the French (and in particular Parisian) members of the forum have any direct experience with this seller? And more generally, are you aware of any experienced nihonto dealers in Paris where one could just drop by and be shown the merchandise? I know of several Japanese Art galleries that also sell swords, but don't expect the owners to be real experts...

 

Thanks in advance for any input! Cheers, Pietro

 

 

[lonely panet]

Well 700Usd for a tempo is a bit high hahaha.

 

But if they can get it, good luck to them

[Ken-Hawaii]

Whew! Must cost a lot for rent, or something, because those prices are amazingly high.

[ChrisW]

Well... its a business in Paris, of course the rent is going to be stupidly high.

[16k]

I’ve bought a sageo from them. Nothing to complain about. They’re legit but expensive and limited choice.

[Jacques]

Avoid true Nihonto from this store, low knowledge but high prices.

[PietroParis]

Thanks to all for your feedback, at least my first impression about the high prices was not wrong. I am certainly not ready to buy my first sword, but I think I will never get there if I don't start viewing good stuff, with somebody knowledgeable telling me what to look at. So far I could only check out the swords on sale at local auction houses, but those are generally out of polish, and even when they are in good shape there is nobody around to ask for guidance. That's why I thought that a competent seller might be of help. Are you aware of any other shops in Paris where I could go and look at good nihonto "in the flesh"? Or maybe there is something like a "sword club"?

 

Cheers, Pietro

[Jean]

Google : espace 4 antiques

[PietroParis]

Thanks for the tip Jean! I have been a couple of times in Espace 4 to check out their tsuba and netsuke, but I was not aware that they are also Nihonto experts. I’ll visit them again, although I am afraid that their prices are well out of my range...

 

Cheers, Pietro

[SteveM]

There is a low-end Japanese antique store in Clignancourt. I forget the name. You won't find masterpieces there, but you may find something priced more reasonably than the other shop.

[PietroParis]

Thanks for your advice Steve! By "Clignancourt", do you mean the marché aux puces? The only Japanese antiques store I know there that might sell swords is Galerie Tora Tori. Pricewise, I would not call them "low end"...

But maybe you are thinking of a different store that I am not aware of?

 

Cheers, Pietro

[SteveM]

Hmm, that might be it. I could be wrong...my impression when I visited the shop was that it did not have very high-end pieces, but now I am not sure. I will have to go back to refresh my memory. 

 

So for now, allow me to retract my comment about it not being high end until I am more sure about the shop and location. The items on the website certainly look high quality. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

 

I am certainly not ready to buy my first sword, but I think I will never get there if I don't start viewing good stuff, with somebody knowledgeable telling me what to look at.

Have you invested $100 in a few good reference books? Yes, seeing blades will educate your eye, but you also need the basic information on what comprises a good sword in your brain, first. A quick NMB search will give you a list.

[PietroParis]

I have bought and read Yumoto’s book (too basic for even the casual NMB reader) and Nakahara’s “Facts and fundamentals” (a bit hard to retain all that information in one go, but I can use it as reference when needed). I also browsed through the “Connoisseur” book in a library, but I don’t think it be useful to me at this early stage. Besides, my interest in Japanese arts and crafts is still rather wide and unfocused, and I am not even that I would want to become a sword collector (as opposed to owning just one nice item).

 

Cheers, Pietro

[PietroParis]

Sorry, cellphone typing. Read “would be useful” and “not even sure”.

[16k]

There is a seller, Christian Magnier, I’ve never been there but he’s been selling since the 70s i think:

 

http://www.japonantique.com/

[PietroParis]

I know that shop, it’s not far from where I live (open only on Saturday and Sunday). I’ve been there a few times to check out the tsuba and the netsuke. Hoping that the owner is not yet fed up with me (I didn’t buy anything so far) I might ask him to show me a sword next time.

 

Cheers, Pietro

[PietroParis]

Hmm, that might be it. I could be wrong...my impression when I visited the shop was that it did not have very high-end pieces, but now I am not sure. I will have to go back to refresh my memory. 

So for now, allow me to retract my comment about it not being high end until I am more sure about the shop and location. The items on the website certainly look high quality. 

 

Hi Steve, I have just been reminded about another seller of Japanese art, in a different section of the Marché aux Puces, whose prices are certainly lower than those of Tora Tori. Might this be the one you were thinking of? I have been there a couple of times, but I was not aware that he sells also swords.

 

Cheers, Pietro

[SteveM]

That might be it. I will have to go back when I am there next (maybe next month). I haven't been to the Marche in a few years, and now I have a good excuse to go back.