Where and how to start

[Eric H]

Some of the previous seriously and well meant recommandations have been devalued...here is a site for the newbies where THEY can evaluate what is suitable for them. This books are available and there is „no smell

of something like sentimentality in the air“

 

http://www.satcho.com/Tosogu.htm

 

Eric

[Henry Wilson]

„no smell

of something like sentimentality in the air“

 

Sorry Eric did not mean to offend you.

 

My list for iron tsuba would be (in no special order):

 

Tsuba: An Aesthetic Study by Haynes / Torigoye

I like the intro "Intrinsic value of Tsuba". The AKASAKA School gets a bad review which is odd. Not very good pics but I think the text generally has it merits.

 

Nihonto Koza vol 6.

Apparently there are lots of mistakes (even I found one) but it tries to be thorough. The translation can be hard to read IMHO

 

Masterpeices from the Sasano collection. Vol 1.

Plenty of superd pictures of great stuff. The dating can give you a kick if you want your tsuba to be from the Kamakura period.

 

and by no means least I think Richard George has left out a very good reference for beginners. There is a nice easy to read survey on early iron tsuba and a articles on tensho koshirae as well as lots of picture examples and cross referencing to KTK catalogs. Nice work Richard:

 

KTK, 2005 International Convention and Exhibition Supplement

Richard George

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/kokusai-tosogu-kai-2005-international-convention-and-exhibition-supplement/1648110

 

Just my humble opinion.

[Jean]

I am interested in Kodogu and I am not satisfied by the afore mentionned books by George.

 

I have some books "an aesthetic.." the Baur collection", "the Naunton collection", AFU Nihonto Koza...

 

In fact the best I have found was printed in 1952 by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords : "Master pieces of Japanese Sword Guards", It gives an understandable idea of the development of Tsuba, not comprehensive but a general guideline/overview followed by B&W plates.

 

Then you can revert, with this book at your side, to Baur collection or other big encyclopedia and start looking at the work of schools.

 

Then the best is too find someone able to show you good Tsuba examples of different schools and explain you the characteristic otherwise there are no other ways than seeing hundreds tsuba to be able to kantei a school (or to say it is done in the style of ...). There are easy one to spot, Echizen Kinai withe their dragon. Other are difficult to spot, the theme having been worked out the same way by different schools ....

[Mark Green]

The one book that got me hooked on tsuba was ' Lethal Elegance' by Joe Earle

Wonderful full color pics, and in English.

This book is readily available, and a great starting point.

Then you can go on line, and look at thousands of tsuba, and fittings at the Boston museum. There are many great sites for beginners on line.

Mark G