Henry Wilson

Thanks John for the reply. Can I ask what C19 work is?

Hi John It appears to me you have pulled this out of book by a man named Robinson. What book are you you refering to? Also, is there anything about the tsuba itself that makes you think it is Akao? I know next to nothing about the Akao (and Choshu as well) and would benefit from learning about key points that are characteristic of them.

Can anyone comment if the tsuba in question is Choshu or Shoami (or neither)? I did some reading on Choshu last night and looked at some pictures of signed pieces. From what I gather Eric's tsuba is not detailed enough for Choshu and Shoami would better a good call.

David This tsuba out of my area of collecting interest so I can not answer your question clearly. I did a quick search on the Net and the images I was getting for the mei would make me think Shoami but that is just a guess and more a thought rather than an answer. Also the different mei I found were very different to the mei on the tsuba above, as Ludolf has pointed out. Again the gut talking I think the tsuba and mei above might have been done by a lesser known 江府の辰 壽 (how do we pronounce the kani???) and not a gimei. Just some thoughts on this sultry May afternoon.

I think it might be this: 江府住 辰 壽 If you run an internet search, such a person seems to have existed.

If you translate the signature, you might find out more about the tsuba.

Is this not a CD version of the Haynes book in question? http://www.nihonto.com/5.7.09.html

A flier for the event. Samurai,_KTK_flier(1).pdf and a new website link; http://www.fraziermuseum.org/exhibition ... 2/samurai/

Frankly I am offended. I don't see why you posted your post other than to poke me in the eye. You could have taken the time instead to answer my questions. Thank you Toryu for answering my questions and not insulting me.

I am starting to think long and hard before I post now as I feel we are going down a slippery slope and no one will want to talk to me any more or they will start to get nasty. Thank you John for the answer. Respectfully, so has Clint Eastwood but but he is not being suggested as the final word on Tosogu. I don't hope so as what has your post got to do with the questions I asked? Respectfully, is the old-school closing ranks??? Please note that this post is not intended to upset anyone and bash any egos in any sort of way. I honestly want to find out more so I can stop being a nuisance. Also if this post (and any others I have written) are better off deleted or moved, please feel free to do so.

Maybe there are gaps in knowledge which is why this thread is flying off course. Can I ask some rather simple questions: 1. Who is Jim Gilbert? All I know is he has a great website and I have owned a tsuba that belonged to him once. What has he got to do with being asked about a slot in a tsuba?2. What has Mr Gilbert written about slots in tsuba?3. Who is this person and what has he written? Please note that these questions are not meant to upset anyone and bash any egos in any sort of way. I honestly want to find out more so I can stop being a nuisance. Also if this post (and any others I have written) are better of deleted or moved, please feel free to do so.

Sorry Pete, I really did think you were joking or being ironic. I did not mean to upset or insult you.... (Or is the Simpson attachment meant to insult me?) Also, I didn't mean to suggest you don't know what Occam's razor is, I was just speaking-up.

Sorry Pete but can't resist, as that is so funny. I say when in doubt, apply Occam's razor. Maybe it was done to make it lighter....

For what it is worth, and if it has not been noted before, the Japanese script on the stamps seem to read 一つ which can translate as 'one / only' 　　 太 which can translate as 'fat / thick and roundish'

They seem to depict Hotei, his large sack and a group of excited children.... http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/hotei.shtml

If it is a tsuba, how can it be a pot? Is this turning into a p#ssing contest????

Hi Mariusz Below is some evidence to support my claim that Peter's tsuba could be from Momoyama period. Actually, I might be incorrect by saying that the teapot is Chinese influenced. These are photos of a screen painting from this book. http://www.joanseeuw.com/blog/2010/6/2/ ... es-er.html It is listed in the catalog as: The Arrival of the Namban "Southern Barbarians" pair of six fold screen colours and ink on gilt paper Momoyama - Edo period 17th century Private collection Important cultural property They depict foreigners arriving with items from their native land and meeting Japanese. Next is a tsuba, from "Tsuba no bi" listed as Ko Shoami, dated to Early Edo. The commentary says it is influenced by Portuguese taste from the Momoyama period. What such a shaped teapot was used for is another matter, but I feel confident assuming that such things have been in Japan since the end of the 1500s.

I recently bought this tsuba from Grey Doffin and I have been researching it ever since. Measurements are 7.7 x 7.5 x 0.65 cm. The front and back are slightly concave. The most striking thing (apart from its massiveness) is the motif. It seems to be either double fish scales... (Note the negative and positive arrangement). or a double three pointed spool. (Note the rounded ends and the curves). Intuitively I would go for the itomaki kamon, but there is a chance it is a combination of the two kamon illustrated above. If we look at the metal, the patina is a very silky black and is very dense and of good quality. The following pictures give a good indication of what I mean. The hammer work is very fine and there is evidence (but not much) of tekkotsu and folding. I also think there is a chance that some of the tekkotsu on the rim has been hammered down and that some folds have been hammered closed. Comparing it with published tsuba, the one below is from Sasano "Early Japanese Sword Guards. Sukashi Tsuba", the kind of surface work and black metal is similar to tsuba from Owari province. The boldness of the design, the shape of the hitsuana and the massive feeling is what these days regarded as work of the Ono school. The iron does not seem to be that old and the tekkotsu is sparse so it would be appropriate to place it in the middle of the Edo period. Any comments greatly appreciated and thanks for reading.

From one Belfast boy to another ........ The metal looks nice and the carving is well done in a maru bori style. I would say that the tusba is possibly from the Momoyama period as the teapot seems to have Chinese and western styles combined and this fusion is apparently a Momoyama fad. Compare it with this: http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/TSUBA94.htm The petals on the top and bottom of the teapot are probably lotus leaves. The blackness and luster of the metal makes me think Owari province too. Just some thoughts. By the way, did you buy it in Belfast?

Yasutoku　靖徳 made kijimomogata nakago at one point in his career. I　think maybe to distinguish his work from his nephew Yasunori 靖憲. I think the pheasant thigh shape is considered to be the true nakago form of a tachi, which is what Yasukuni swords replicate. I have an oshigata of a Yasutoku sword with pheasant thigh nakago somewhere that I owned once.

Hi David They are nice pictures. The effort you are making is paying off. Well done!! :D Here is a gimei Yamakichibei. http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/BM%20Y ... 0Tsuba.htm What makes you think your tsuba is gimei? I would say it is koba saku(工場作).

While it seems to tick all the Owari sukashi boxes, should the iron not be darker and have a richer patina? Just some thoughts

I think it is Soten school. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa ... mAWkzpG5Bg Quite popular because they are easy to enjoy in my opinion. A lot of tsuba have abstract designs, where Soten school specializes in carvings of people and events that casual observes like.

The shape looks like what some people might call "Osaka-gata". I am probably completely wrong though.

Hi Edward I think basically we can say: - Onin have brass dots - Yoshiro have family mon - Heianjo have relatively simple inlay designs compared to Yoshiro. The arabesque floral pattern is an old classic and seem to pop up in alot of metal work, including old saddles and stirups. I have a very nice katchushi tsuba that has this pattern inlayed in the rim in brass and silver. Regards