Henry Wilson

If we are talking about the nick and the effect it has, I wonder if the kogai really is wabi? Such kind of imperfections that are associated with wabi are usually due to wear and tear over time. I know it is splitting hairs as one man's this is another man's that, but maybe the word is being used a bit lose here. From our old friend Wiki: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi A quick search on wabi reveals these images https://www.google.co.jp/search?client= ... YFo&q=wabi Pete's kogai (lovely as it is) evokes different sentiments compared with the images google provide in my opinion. Just some thoughts.

Only a joke! Everyone has become so serious. See you at the DTI.

If it were me, I would get that nick fixed. Ford might be the man to ask.

Here is an interesting blog post on inscriptions on Nobuie tsuba: http://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... uie-tsuba/

Thank you Guido for the compliment. I once brought it to the DTI to show you because you mentioned you were looking for one but on that day unfortunately you were nowhere to be found....

I found a nice picture of a Momoyama period Ki Seto chawan. The finish in general and especially the blossom and vine motif remind me of the Nobuie homage tsuba by Ford discussed in this thread. I cannot find a colour version but I imagine the bowl is a soft yellow colour with green highlights. For more info on Ki Seto, check out this link: http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/ki-seto.html

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in koshirae. http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/k ... 66848.html

Hi David From your description, it would seem that the tsuba is a mismatch to the koshirae. A picture of it would be helpful thought to be sure. Try searching "handachi koshirae". You will find images of similar kogiri and kashira as well as other kodogu that are very similar to the ones on your koshirae.

Hi David Are you sure that your koshirae would be classed as Higo? Below is a koshirae from my collection that is classic Higo style and is an Edo period reprodcuction of the Kasen koshirae owned by the Hosokawa Sansai: The article below is worth checking out. I have quoted a section that defines Higo. http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/ja ... rticle.htm Based on your pictures, I think that your koshirae might be classed as Handachi.

I second what Brian has written. Interesting read. Thank you for taking the time Chris. .

Interesting points everyone has made. It no one minds, I will post this link to the comments section the article has so others can read and learn.

Some reading for Sunday morning. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/0 ... hkws6YazCQ

To all you lonely hearts out there..... http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rkelly/n ... elove.html

It could be a tsuba by the Ito school from the Owari area, if not a late Tosho tsuba. What is the patina like? In the pics it looks black and a bit dry. You seem happy with it. Congratulations on your new buy Junichi.

Thanks Chris. The zodiac dates threw me a bit and I was going to open a few books to check further. You beat me to it.

The Japanese seems to be dates beside the diagrams. The bottom line seems to be the name of the university and the department that produced the diagrams.

Below are tsuba by Kaneie and Nobuie with the motif of skulls. They are from the Ikeda books and I have done a translation of any text. (Sorry about the bad pictures and the bad translation). I wonderf if Kaneie was the first to use this motif? 野晒 図 Field Bleach Motif 生きとし生けるものの、すべての過去を流す,流した感じを受ける。何らの不潔さも不気味さをも感じをせない、静かに澄 んだ図である。鉄色、彫 、施 された金銀象嵌 など、何れも至って見事である。 同時代の信家に「切りむすぶ太刀の下こそ地獄 なれ、進めやー先は極 楽」と古歌を切り付 けた鍔と好一対 といえる。 This tsuba gives a sense of time passing of all living things. There is nothing unclean or weird about the motif, it is peacefully clear. The beautiful iron, the carving and the applied gold and silver inlay are all extremely pleasant. It is from the same period as this Nobuie, that has a well matched old poem carved on it "To be cut under the long sword is hell, to advance forward is paradise" 生きて戦う時は信家のごとく、そして死んで後「焼けば灰、埋めは土となるものを、なにがのこりて罪となるらん」とも歌われているが、金家のこの鍔に 接すること痛切にこの歌が思い出されるのである。 Nobuie's tsuba gives a feeling to live through battle and then to die later, "To burn to ash, to become earth, what remains becomes guilt". Kaneie's tusba touches on this feeling. 一、信家古歌鍔　　1. Nobuie old poem tsuba 二、野晒 図拡大 2. Field bleach magnified image 三、後籐光乗作野晒図。 比較すると金家作に一段と枯れた感じがある。3. Goto Kojo Bleached Field work. Compared to Kaneie work, it is much more developed. Below is a Nobuie with the similar theme. There are no notes with this picture.

The use of the past tense suggests that Ron is not with us anymore Pete. :D

Thank you alll to those who have commented so far. Below is a picture from Nobuie Tanshu by Nakamura Kakudayu for reference. The colour is best illustrated in this picture. Please feel free to comment and please don't be shy.

Below is another tsuba that I think is worthy of discussion. It is quite big at about 9 cm x 9 cm and about 0.28 cm at the nakago ana and 0.5 cm at the rim. It is signed but the signature has been covered up so please have a go at guessing who made it. Also if possible please state your reasons for a particular kantei call. Enjoy!

Have a read of this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13495 Sorry about the shameless self plug but it might be of interest.

I would like to say thank you very much Ford for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your insights certainly give us plenty to think about. I believe you have managed to keep a balance and counteract the well intentioned bashing the tsuba received. From your posts I sense you quite like my little tsuba. Yes, thanks again to Steve. You, as always, have contributed greatly in your usual friendly manner. I love the Nobunaga theory. Your willingness to share your knowledge and ideas is always very generous. Hi Junichi I am glad you enjoy reading. As for resubmitting the tsuba for papers. I might leave that for another day (or another collector). Hi Chris. I thought I had. The NTHK (NPO)..... Which is a Nobuie that one of the three main sword societies say is "genuine", and feel confident enough to endorse their opinion with documentation. Let's not forget that everyone :D . I was expecting some kind of debate about the signature, but wanted people to see what is going on these days. The papers attribute the tsuba to Nobuie only (no extra notes such as a generation or time period are stated) so I wonder if the shinsa team would champion Ford's theories. I posted this tsuba because I was curious to learn what others thought. One thing that I have learnt is that regardless of what people say, in collector's opinions NBTHK papers rule supreme. If the tsuba was papered by them (which people think would not happen) it seems minds would be less closed on what the tsuba is, which to me is a representive example of the Nobuie group. Well, enough from me. I hope this discussion can continue. I love a nice bit of tea ware.....

Steve Thank you very much again. What you say is very interesting. Best regards, and taking the time to explain your thoughts is very much appreciated. PS. You really should get that lovely water-wheel Nobuie fitted in a costumized box

Thank you very much Steve Sorry to keep pushing, but what about this? The sample I am using is an oshigata, however the quality seems to be quite good. There seems to be a few strokes missing from the 信 part of the mei, there is a < shape that is larger than in other Nobuie mei in the 家　kanji, overall the mei seems to be quite long and the 家　kanji of both tsuba have a striking resemblance. It could be me but it seems that because the NBTHK probably would not paper this tsuba, then the issue is closed.

Hi David Yes, I am very happy with it and thank you to all the people who have contacted me privately with their opinions. All sword organisations are very reluctant to paper big names so I am sure the shinsa team did not take the decision lightly. For what it is worth and honestly, no disrespect is intended, I think the opinion of the NTHK (NPO), who examined the tsuba in hand, is of more value than the opinions of experienced collectors who are members here. This is not shooting the messenger or anything like that, just an opinion other readers probably have too. Some interesting points that have been raised. To me, it seems that variations in a mei is over riding what the workmanship says. What ever happened to the workmanship should verify the mei? (see post at the end of page 2) I would be very interested to hear opinions on the issues raised.