Bamen Tsuba maker(s)

[Anthony de Vos]

Hi!

 

I recently bought a Daisho tsuba set by Bamen Tsunemasa. https://www.ebay.com/itm/KOTOJI-Openwork-TSUBA-by-Armormaker-BAMEN-YOSHIMASA-of-KATANA-sword-EDO/353137755963?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The signature in the Ebay ad correspons to Tsunemasa and can also be read Yoshimasa, from what I understand. I am very happy with it.

 

From my studies of the work by the Bamen family, mostly armores but also 3 known yanone makers. Regarding tsuba I have only found one tsuba maker, the quite well known Bamen Tsunemasa.

I found this one on Ebay, since the seller often have a different version of mei, I don't know what to make of it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ARMOR-MAKER-TSUBA-of-KATANA-sword-BAMEN-HARUMA-EDO-3-1-2-8-0-1/293685698838?hash=item4461082116:g:mT4AAOSw2MxfMjgz

 

I have never heard of Bamen Haruma, if that is the right translation. The mei has the same to kanji for Bamen as kanji one and two. The third one is somewhat different than the third in tsunemasa'a mei. The fourth one actually looks the same as the first, in both mei. hard to see on the pictures but the kao looks similar to Tsunemasa's. 

I don't know what to make of it. has anyone of you more knowledgable in Tosogu heard of any other Bamen tsuba maker than Tsunemasa? I wonder if this is some kind of gimei going wrong....

 

Regards,

 

Anthony de Vos

[SteveM]

Wakayama lists tsuba-maker Haruma (春馬) as a relative of Tsunemasa (both of the Bamen family). 

 

I think the ebay seller is mistaken about the reading of the smith for the listing: I don't see how Yoshimasa could be possible for 序政. Wakayama only lists Tsunemasa as a possible reading, but Nobumasa could be another possibility, and indeed the Japanese reference page that the seller posted on the ebay listing says "Nobumasa". I tend to defer to Wakayama, so I'll stick with Tsunemasa. 

 

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

This may not be the subject of the topic.
The Japanese Sword Equipment Study Group's certificate is not issued by a corporation established with the approval of the Japanese Minister of Education. Therefore, the credibility of the certificate is considered limited.

 

http://www.musasiya.co.jp/token.htm

 

The price difference is 10 times that of the Japanese market, which is too large. That is it a price difference that should be accepted when exported overseas?

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p713444980

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/495470919

 

The seller says that this is Akasaka Tsuba, a design Bamen School was good at too.
Though it is a little inferior in iron quality, I thought it was good. If it is unnamed, it is 300USD in Japan.
 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k485244159

[Anthony de Vos]

Hi!

 

Thanks for your inputs! Very valuable.

 

Regarding the price of the Tsunemasa Daisho, I agree that the asking price was too high. Fortunately I paid less than half. I don't put to match attention to the papers since I don't doubt the origin. Also the Koto bridge (music instrument) theme is common by Tsunemasa.

 

Great information that Tsunemasa had a relative Haruma. It seems that I need some books if venturing into the subject of Bamen tsuba makers

 

Anthony

[lonely panet]

this link has many links. i asked a simular question many years ago. here is a old tsuba of mine