Henry Wilson

Pete and Fred Thank you both very much for your input. I have learnt something.

Hi Fred To me the nunome and the overall look would probably put this in the Shoami group mainly because it is a bit of an oddball tsuba. The larger ko sukashi could represent the moon and the smaller could represent an eosetric Buddhist symbol which I have seen on tsuba but can't find an example of now. Here is a version of it used by a popular Japanese political party. It could also represent dango which was a banner of Nobunaga, but this symbol usually has three parts. The floral pattern that I can see reminds me of carving seen on some Nobuie tsuba. Kind of. Just some thoughts and hope they help.

I don't think it could be a Katchushi because it does not have a raised rim for a start. The plate looks more Tosho, especially the type of metal I think I see and of course the lack of rim. The cut-outs, I would call ko-sukashi and not hitsu-ana because they are not functional for regular Japanese swords of any era. These type of cut-outs are seen on Tosho tsuba but are usually in different places on the plate. To me, the zogan looks like lead, as silver usually patinates to a black. Also to me, the Namban call is unusual too because it looks nothing like what I have come to know as Namban. In my opinion it would seem that Kamakura-bori tsuba would also be Namban if the convention that has labeled this tsuba was applied to that group, that is Chinese derived motifs (which I can't really make out on the tsuba) found on a Japanese iron plate hand guard. All in all a mystery and hope someone with more knowledge can set us all straight.

For what it is worth, I am with Mr Bowen on this one.

Ahh, the memories. The above pic made me chuckle once again :D I hope the young man is doing well. Congratulations Robert! Would love to see pictures if you can post some.

Here is a related thread on arrow heads: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15805&p=139148&hilit=arrow+heads#p139148

Yes, that is exactly the intention Pete. More here: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/201 ... pPXXyd41hI

Hi KM In the display, not all cups are matched with a daimyo but some are. The catalogue will probably have such information. If it does, it is in the Japanese text which I have yet to look at properly. The discouraging thing is that they have not included furigana to help reading the kanji which I find quite off putting. The only thing that struck me as odd in the display was the way the bowls are secured to stop them from toppling. Two pieces of fish line across the top of the bowl are used to fasten it to the display surface. The lines cast a fine shadow which initially looks like big long cracks cutting he bowl in 4. You get used to it, but I found this quite distracting.

I can relate to that experience entirely. The same sort of thing happened to me when I first stayed in a ryokan with my wife to be. The washitsu just blew my mind as did the whole inn, the food, onsen and it's location. It was the middle of autumn and the koyo (autumn colours) were at its best. For me, the whole experience was quite sublime and is one of my best memories, and my first real taste of traditional Japan. Anyway went to the Nezu museum and saw the exhibition. There was about 75 bowls on display and covered O Ido, Ko Ido and Ao Ido. The Kizaemon was amazing as was the Shibata bowl which were the highlights for me. The Nezu garden behind the museum is always lovely but was extra beautiful and in the middle if koyo. Nezu is by far my favourite museum.

Lol. Very funny Jean. My wife calls me C- 3PO. I have no idea why.

At a cultural event near you. My wife and I were in an antique shop in Nara recently and a group of such leopard skin pattern clad ladies who were browsing accused the owner of stealing all the stuff in the shop and told him he should give them a better discount because of that!!! There some weird logic going on which was very funny.

I so have to go to this.... http://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/en/exhibitions/index.html

If I recall correctly, there are examples in the book Uchigatana Goshirae. It is worth owning a copy if you are anyway interested in Uchigatana mountings. A quick search on my iPhone pulls up this pic. I am quite sure the koshirae on the right has a soft metal tsuba.

I have asked pretty much all shops I have visited in Japan when I pass by and they never have Yasukuni swords. I have seen some made after they left the shrine post war but none made during the war. In my early days of collecting I went to posh Japan Sword and asked and they seemed a bit bemused by my request. I also sent emails and got no reply. I get the impression they are not that sought after over here. I was lucky enough to get mine through a friend of a friend so it passed hands privately.

I had a nice Kajiyama sword a while back and it was classic example of what Chris said above. I can't remember the date but I think it was 1941 ish when it was made. It was far from flashy, with an unpretentious ko choji hamon and could have been called boring. I sold it about 5 years to Aoi Art who jumped on it after quibbling over the price. I have fond memories of it and would probably appreciate it more these days since I have grown, matured and mellowed in my old age Attached is a picture I stumbled across of the nakago ana, and I throw out to the dogs to rip apart.... or alternatively for future research purposes. Incidentally, if anyone has it in their possession, I would love to hear from them.

I wonder if there is similar style tsuba made from Chinese, Korean or Japanese coins?

Thanks David I think I should get a +* because I answered with speed. :lol:

People have hit on an interesting point. The DTI is an expensive place to shop.

A nice spread of pictures. Thanks for sharing. Is that happoshu on the table at the Kurokawa get together???? I would love to see a picture of the ex-interior minister swallowing one of those Nodogoshi bad boyz!! http://www.japantoday.com/category/food ... s-happoshu

I was there on Saturday: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17223 All the koshirae caught my attention and gave the swords a quick look. The small display was very impressive indeed. Well worth the 400 yen.

The Shosoin display. http://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/exhib ... oin_e.html Kasuga Shrine Sword and Armour display. Amongst the goodies on display I saw The makie lozenge koshirae, which is picture 1 in the Uchigatana Goshirae book, is also on display.

Many thanks Ed for your thoughts and thanks again Curran for elaborating on the sun technique.