Steve Waszak

Next to be offered here is what I believe to be a (Ko-) Shoami tsuba of nade-mokkogata form. The iron of this sword guard presents with a clear, lustrous patina (no oils, waxes, lacquer here) and a deep color. The surface is finished in a fine tsuchime, with the plate set off by a finely-formed raised rim. The seppa-dai also is "dedicated" in this way, with a definite separation from the plate. The nade-mokkogata shape is a highlight, I think, as relatively few tsuba were made in this form. The motif is a collection of three different kamon flowing around the perimeter of the plate. The shape of the hitsu-ana points to a relatively early period of production, but the dedicated nature of the edging around the hitsu-ana and that of the seppa-dai points away from this, so, it's hard to say. Dimensions are 7.65 cm x 7.2 cm x 3mm at the rim (the plate is thinner). $225.00, plus shipping (PayPal Friends and Family preferred).

Tsuba pair #2 is SOLD.

A few more from my friend's collection. I am presenting these as two pairs of tsuba. Pair 1: The first tsuba here features a triple tomoe motif, and measures 7.9cm x 7.7cm x 3mm. The second piece has a motif of what looks to be kiri with blossoms, together with a lattice design. 7.5cm x 5mm. Pair 2: The first tsuba in this pair presents with a large "dancing-kiri"-with-blossoms motif. Shakudo inserts. 7.8 x 7.7 x 5mm. The second tsuba also features a kiri motif with a strongly rounded rim. 7.2cm x 4mm. Each pair is $240.00. For all four tsuba, $400.00, plus shipping.

The third group (three iron sukashi tsuba, no inlay) has SOLD. Additionally, the first two groups of three tsuba are reduced to $185.00 plus shipping, each.

Okay, guys, up for today are three groups of sword guards from my friend's collection. These are meant to move quickly, and so are listed with asking prices that are quite low. In each group, there are three tsuba, so, a total of nine in all. I am not providing details regarding dimensions, motif features, possible "schools" or traditions with each of them, but if anyone has a question about such information about a specific piece, please reach out to me and I'll try to provide an answer. The prices for these will work like this: each group of three tsuba is $285; six together (two groups) would be discounted to $540; and all nine would be $765. All excluding shipping, of course.

The Shoami ji-sukashi tsuba has SOLD.

Next up from my friend's collection are two iron tsuba, one a papered Shoami ji-sukashi guard, the other an ita-plate octoganally-shaped work with a signature reading "Yamashiro no kuni Fushimi no ju Kaneie." First, the ji-sukashi Shoami: This tsuba measures 7.7cm x 5.5mm, and features a variety of motif elements at the cardinal points. The condition of this piece is a bit down, with evidence of old rust pitting present, especially along the rim. As mentioned, this tsuba is papered to Shoami, with the paper dating to 2015. $145.00, plus shipping. The second tsuba is on the smaller side, measuring 6.9cm x 6.7cm x 5.5mm. This guard presents with a classical Kaneie-type landscape, highlighted here and there with bits of gold inlay. The octoganal shape is not all that commonly encountered, and this shape is emphasized further by the raised rim rising over the plate. The plate is finished it tsuchime, and presents an overall tasteful "Kyoto" feeling. The tsuba is signed "Yamashiro no kuni Fushimi no ju Kaneie," and is, I suspect, a product of the Saga or Tetsunin Kaneie atelier of the Edo Period. This piece is not to be confused with the late-Momoyama early Kaneie smiths who it is believed lived in the Fushimi area of Kyoto in the late-16th and early-17 centuries, which is why there aren't extra zeroes on the asking price here. $285.00 plus shipping. Discount for the two tsuba together: $400.00, plus shipping.

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