The Tosogu of Mr Aotu Yasutoshi

[Rich T]

The Sukagawa City Museum in Fukushima has online, the collection of the tosogu of Mr Aotu Yasutoshi. Mr. Aotu was born in Sukagawa in 1893. He collected Tosogu while running a ceramics shop in Sukagawa. He continued collecting for 70 years and donated most of the collection to Sukagawain in 1981. Mr Aotu passed away in 1984.

 

The Aotu collection contains over 420 tsuba from most of the major tsuba schools from the Kamakura era to the Edo era with the main interest being in Iron tsuba. There is also a healthy selection of Fuchigashira, Kozuka and some Menuki. In addition, the curators believe the quality of this collection is to be judged as high. The museum say they were both surprised and pleased that he handed over so splendid a collection to the city. Sukagawa City Museum also note that they take great care of this precious document and work hard to preserve it for future generations.

 

The museum exhibits a part of this collection once in several years. They say is difficult to exhibit it all at one time. Sukagawa City Museum are going to exhibit the Tosogu of Mr Aotu (about 100 pieces) this year from July to August.

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/html/00003.html

 

When visiting the site, use the left and right arrows at the top right to navigate.

 

A catalogue is available in limited numbers of this collection, if you are interested, email me and I will help you facilitate it. All monies go to the Museum.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

 

[Rich S]

Rich -

 

Are the quality of the photos in the catalog any better than those

online? Maybe my computer, but I can't see much detail in the

online pictures.

 

How much is the catalog with shipping to US?

THanks

Rich S

[Rich T]

Hi Rich, they are better, I would scan one but I don't like scannng my books. But I find the same thing, the images online are quite dark on my PC but look a lot better on my laptop.

 

I forgot to add, you can click on the online images and they take you to larger versions.

 

The book is about 50 - 60 dollars with shipping to the US but I would bneed to re check that.

 

Rich

[Rich S]

Rich -

 

Just FYI, I've changed the NMB on my website to Brian.

Didn't change the URL since it will be the same shortly (just

being lazy).

Added both your Nihontokanji pages (kanji and fakes) and added the

Tosogu blog to the tsuba sites page.

 

Rich S

[Rich T]

much obliged. I am getting some request for those books, if you are interested, I am thinking of picking a few up when I visit in October. That may save a few dollars.

 

Rich

[Bungo]

I am thinking of picking a few up when I visit in October. That may save a few dollars.

 

 

put me down for one copy......danke

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/index.html

 

 

milt o

[Bungo]

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/html/00129.html

 

fuchi/kashira........ design mis-id as shishi...........

looks like dragon to me ( item 505 ),

also item 504 looks like dragon but id as Chinese " grass " design ?

 

Rich, does the book shows the mei on the koz and f/k ?

 

 

Milt O

[Nobody]

As for item 505, the photo seems to be misplaced. The photo looks same as item 504. You can see the correct image on PDF version.

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/pdf/00129.pdf

 

As for item 504, I agree with you. It does not look like "grass" but dragon.

[Rich T]

Rich, does the book shows the mei on the koz and f/k ?

 

 

Hi mate, no, they are just the same images, only a little clearer. I will point out is is a pretty cheap book, only about US$60 or so, for over 400 tsuba plus the other items. The Museum also does not specialise in Nihonto, and this is their only collection in this regard.

 

Rich

[Rich T]

I am thinking of picking a few up when I visit in October. That may save a few dollars.

 

 

put me down for one copy......danke

 

http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/txt/20011.002/index.html

 

 

milt o

 

Will do.