Henry Wilson

The man　is　the　referee.　　The　more　I　think　about　it,　the　more　I　am　sure　that　the　gumpai　in　your　tsuba　represents a family kamon. There is an interesting　article　in　the　KTK　5th　catalog　called　"The　Mon　as　a　Design　Element　of　Tsuba"　　It　mostly focuses on natural Kamon, things like leaves and plants and how they are included into a tsuba design. It might be worth a read as it basically says that all images in tsuba have some sort of meaning, usually a family crest. http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/BOOK58.htm

I found this http://www.mmjp.or.jp/tajimamori/sub8.htm The google translation says: ”Features of this referee's fan, I say that the family crest Kodama monopoly. If you have a family crest of the referee's fan, and know that their ancestors may Raretara Kodama clan. The crest used in the referee's fan is said to be exclusively divine Possessed. Kamakura engaged in the battle of emergency, the referee's fan displayed a strong say in decision-making with our God, which made about a feeling of awe to the enemy. The crest is first seen as a document of this referee's fan said, "The Rise and Fall Tadashi Hazime recorded" Awazu Article of the "party Kodama, pointing to the fan flag" phrase. The Mori Tadashi, Tooru Mori, the last article, "sitting in the dedicate seven chasing points Party Kodama fan flag." And listed.”

Hi David The gumpai design could be reference to Hotei They are also found in sumo too I think we can safely say they represent authority, be it in battle or in everyday life. I would not be surprised if it was a family crest, but I can't find any references that support this. As for 定 the meaning "fixed" could have a Buddhist meaning. http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A Just some thoughts.

Personally I think, if the Tosho tsuba is what the sites describes it as, it is one of the best deals around...... Can anyone tell me what the motif is in Japanese? In English I would describe it as "Two heavenly bodies" or "Sun and Moon" or something like that.

Good question. This looks too good to be true at 725 USD.... http://www.silk-road.us/tosho1.html

I can remember how much fun I got from "Condell's Conundrums" when they were being run about 5 years ago under the leadership of Richard Turner. Many thanks Cary for all your hard work. I learnt lots.

beads on a thread

Whilst trying to get into work today, I had to take a number of detours. Looking out the window of bus I noticed the following:

Thank you all for the kind words. My family and I are fine. Still can't believe it.....

Bet you a they are Let's not get ugly considering what has just happened in Japan. I can still feel the after shocks...

The theme seems to be 猩猩 SHOJO. Have a look under Joly "Legends in Japanese Art" entry 863. http://ia600201.us.archive.org/14/items ... lyuoft.pdf

That is a strange theme for a tsuba. The motifs look more like 4 inari zushi to me Are you sure they are not rice bales?

Hi George Yes, there is no mention of Musashino. The theme of skull and bones is found on one Kaneie and a few Nobuie tsuba and scholars believe the motifs are contempory and that they hint at the Buddhist notion of the superficial nature of life, meaning that when we die we are nothing but bones regardless of what we have achieved in our life. For Kaneie it is an unusual motif but none the less very powerful. It was not intended to divert the discussion from Musashino, but to stop it nose diving :D A very nice tsuba don't you think?!!!

Below is a Kaneie tsuba, taken from the IKEDA book titled KANEIE. I typed out the description once. It might shine some light the skull and bones theme. 野晒図 生きとし生けるものの、すべての過去洗い流した感じを受ける。 何らの不潔さも不気味さをも感じさせない、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。（三五頁拡大図十参照） 同時代の信家に「切りむすぶ太刀の下こそ地獄なれ、進めや進めや先は極楽」と歌を切り村けた鍔と好一対といえる。（五五頁上段図） 生きて戦う時は信家のおこく、そして死んで後は｢焼けは灰、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と痛切にこの歌が思い出されるのたる。

I think bamboo shoots are straight, and don't have a metal handle or a metal tip, which I think is what is seen on the menuki. Indeed, which is what the initial post was fishing for: I think the fittings Bakumatsu to Meiji and the koshirae was constructed in the Showa period. Is actually what I find unappealing about the koshirae and think there are probably better examples to be found. Just my two yen

The menuki are canes I think which suggest the Meiji period. Sorry to be so blunt but personally I think it is ugly and it looks cheap and flashy. The copper fittings are nothing to write home about and the saya pattern is a bit over the top. The leather binding is nice though.

That is a nice mirror, but it is clearly a mirror and to me doesn't look much like a tsuba, especially the style of the chasing, so I personally don't think we can be compare your lovely example with a tsuba, only because they are so different. Your mirror is clearly of a higher level of craftsmanship, but I have not seen a Kagamishi tsuba that looks like it and my previous observations are mainly based on the pics Mariuszk posted. Saying that, I don't know very much about this topic and would love to see some Kagamishi tsuba examples to compare if possible. By the way what is being depicted on the mirror?

I personally believe that mirror makers and kagamishi tsuba makers worked separately. There probably was an overlap in training at one point because there seems to be similarities in work techniques but the work of the tsuba smiths is usually of a higher level suggesting a split some where. I see the Kagamishi label a bit like the Tosho tsuba or the Katchushi tsuba labels. Also concerning the Kagamishi book by Sasano, I don't have the translation but from what I can gather from the Japanese, Sasano does not say very much over and above a description of the piece and how nice it is. There is a point or two on the colours of the tsuba but as far as I can understand, there are no great revelations in it. Just my two yen

Thank you so much Eric.

Tried to join the Chinese forum but can't for some reason. Anyone have anything on old Chinese mirrors...

Speaking of Pete Klein, did anyone attend his seminar on Nobuie? If so can anyone report on it....

Many thanks Eric I have had a look but I think I need to join because I can't access anything. If anyone has other alternatives..... Thanks again Eric

Can anyone direct me to a source of Chinese mirrors especially early ones from around the Sung Dynasty? I have done the standard Google search but want to find items that are possibly part of a museum collection or something like that. Cheers

Hi Ford There is a description in Kagamishi Tsuba by Sasano where he says something like, the metal of this tsuba is a reddish colour which indicates a high amount of copper. Would this kind of guess work (which to me is easily understood) be an assumption too far by Sasano? Cheers

This is turning into a wonderful thread. The book UCHIGATANA GOSHIRAE published by the National Museum has quite a few koshirae with leather wrapped tsuka. I also have one wrapped with deer hide.