Cataloging of my tsuba collection

[Dan tsuba]

I would like to ask the opinion of members on this subject

If I have more than a decade left to live, I will consider myself lucky.

Hopefully, I am lucky!

Should I try to make a catalog of my meager (about) 200 tsuba collection?

As many members know, I collect what many would consider low end tsuba.

Is it worth my time to try to catalog my tsuba?

I mean who knows, after I pass, they will probably end up in a Goodwill

or Salvation Army store because my heirs really have no knowledge about tsuba

and won’t care about my collection.

Just asking for opinions.

 

 

e

 

[Scogg]

Hi Dan,

 

I think it’s a good idea. The collection of information is always a noble effort. 
 

Maybe such a catalog would help your heirs know what to do with them. It might even spark that interest in Japanese art for one of them in the future. 

 

I say, why not?

Sincerely,

-Sam 

[MauroP]

Go for it, Dan. Every collection will eventually be dismantled. Whether it’s sold at a Goodwill or at Sotheby’s doesn’t really matter from the point of view of the deceased collector...

[cluckdaddy76]

I also say catalog it as it does mean something to you. The rest of what I was going to say Sam said first. 

 

Jason

[Dan tsuba]

My good friends,

I know that we have been through some major conflicts on some other of my threads on this forum

(oh let’s think, like my "Tsuba casting molds?" thread!).

But when the end is in sight (come on God give me at least 10 to 15 years!), everything doesn’t matter anymore.

Maybe a little too much philosophy!

Oh well!

This is a great forum.

And I will continue to put forward my thoughts on subjects, no matter what kind of backlash I get.

Hey, that is just me!

Starting tomorrow, I will start taking digital pictures of my collection to start cataloging them!

Onward and with respect!

[Charlie C]

High or low quality, you should definitely do it if you find them interesting. Even a lowest-quality shattered tsuba can be very educational if someone identifies its style, era, etc. Most importantly, they are your collection and your heirs would supposedly at least want to know what you collected.

[Spartancrest]

[John C]

4 hours ago, Dan tsuba said:

I collect what many would consider low end tsuba.

Dan:

I too am cataloging my meager collections (yatate, ojime, and maekanagu) - and for the same reasons, I suppose. I also have what some would consider a low-end collection. But I'm doing the whole thing with photos, write-ups, history, etc. I figure there must be some information about the every day person who used this stuff and not just museum quality pieces found in most books. The premise is that any budget can have fun collecting these items if we make it interesting enough.

 

John C.

[kissakai]

I've always kept a record of my tsuba in a doc format as below

I also keep a spreadsheet so I can easily organise them in any order such as schools and dates

With the record you can add as much or as little as you like

This one of my earlier records from over ten years ago and nothing has really changed but now I remove the tsuba background to white

 

 

 

[Hector]

Hi Dan,

 

Whatever time you have left (and I sincerely hope you make it past 100), do it for your own pleasure and satisfaction - no one else's.

 

Collections can give us joy in different ways; finding each object, cherishing it, taking it out to study whenever the urge takes us - and cataloging it. Actually sitting down with something and trying to describe it in writing often deepens your appreciation of it (though sometimes the opposite occurs🙃) and provides yet another facet of collecting as a hobby.

 

I say go for it!

 

Best,

Hector

[MauroP]

Here's how I organized my collection records (now I need to improve the photographs)

 

[Dan tsuba]

Thanks my friends for your kind words and support about cataloging my tsuba.

So, here is something I was just thinking about (with my one brain cell!).

I have self-published two small books using Amazon KDP.

Not to sell them or make money, but just to have my research written down in a book type format.

Yes, I am old school and prefer reading a book to reading a computer screen.  Also, if my computer stops working or I lose my thumb drive, I still have something written down that anyone can access.

Now what is cool about Amazon KDP is you can order proof copies to check out your work, and you can always edit or add to your work at any time.

Also, Amazon KDP is a print-on-demand system.  No minimum number of copies have to be ordered.  Once someone orders a book, it is printed at the nearest Amazon KDP facility and sent out.  So no major expense has to be invested by me in my catalog of tsuba idea.

So, I think I will digitally photograph my collection and describe the tsuba or maybe just show pictures and the price that I think the tsuba are worth, so my heirs will have some clue as to what to sell them for.

Then I will send a copy of the book to all my kids (not really kids any more at 43, 49, and 51 - but middle-aged adults!).

Then when I pass, they will be coming over to the house with a copy of my book to pick out the tsuba that they want!

Maybe they will keep some or sell some (or all!).  Hey, but that won’t be up to me anymore!!

I think this tsuba catalog book thing is a good idea!

[John C]

Dan:

I'm doing basically the same thing with mine. I too have several books published (I use Ingramspark). My method for the book covers, and for one of the interior files that is picture heavy, is done using Adobe Indesign. It has a HUGE learning curve but is by far the easiest way to layout the book. You can "rent" the software for 35 dollars / month and cancel after that. I watched hours of YT videos on it, got a free 7 day trial to practice, then rented it for a month and was able to create, layout, and publish all of my covers at one time.

I also bought some "green screen" from Amazon to photograph the items, though you would have to use a photo editing program to get rid of the background before pasting it into the layout. Looks fairly professional.

 

John C.

[Dan tsuba]

My friend John C.

Making a catalog of our tsuba collection for our heirs is a great thing to do and maybe it will let them realize that we had a great, interesting, and educational hobby.

Or maybe they won’t care and just want to sell what we collected!

Anyway, it won’t be my problem!

But I will say that when I published my small books, Amazon KDP was great!

I watched some YouTube videos about it. 

And even as computer illiterate as I am (with my one brain cell!) I figured it out!

Amazon KDP doesn’t cost a thing!

You only pay (and it is not very much) when you order your proof copy.

I really enjoy that you can always edit and add new things to your book without much of a hassle.

Onward my friend, to me taking pictures of my tsuba collection!