Steve Waszak

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.

Just subscribed.

Up next is what I believe to be an early (ko?) Akasaka tsuba. I base this both on the very small kogai-ana (something I believe the earliest Akasaka smith[s] employed) and on the less-than-usually-rounded rim. The rim has rounding to it, but not in full maru form. The boldness of the guard also is in keeping with Akasaka sensibilities: the powerful rendering of the sukashi (nothing filigree here!) is reminiscent of Owari sukashi aesthetics, which, again, is something we see in early-Akasaka work. The motif here is challenging to decipher. At first, I thought the tsuba might be depicting a group of gourds, but I am far from confident in that interpretation. In any event, the sheer strength of the tsuba in its forms and construction is impressive. The seppa-dai is very well formed, too. Note that at about 2:00 on the omote, there appears to be a kirikomi/delamination; this does not continue all the way through the rim. The tsuba is in excellent condition overall, and comes in a custom fitted box. It measures 7.7cm x 4mm. $950.00, plus shipping.

Tsuba #1 has been SOLD.

Glad it arrived safely, Dieter.

Hard to pick an absolute favorite, but this is on the short list -- a low-crossbar Yamakichibei work from late-Momoyama.

Tsuba #2 has been SOLD.

The second tsuba is not papered, but I believe this, too, is Shoami. Ko-Shoami? I can't be certain. It's primary feature is the pleasing crispness with which it has been carved. This effect is aided by its dimensions: while only 7 cm x 6.8 cm in size, it is also 5 mm thick, allowing a discernible depth to be achieved. This tsuba's motif is a collection of mon, sequenced among carved bamboo shoots at the cardinal positions. The condition is excellent, the iron punctuated by light tekkotsu scattered along the rim. A very elegant piece. Comes in a custom, fitted box. $375.00 plus shipping.

Up next from my friend's collection are two iron ji-sukashi pieces. The first is papered to "Myochin," though I suspect ko-Shoami might be the better attribution. This is a pretty dynamic sword guard. It measures 8 cm x 7.9 cm x 4 mm, and features a particularly expressive triple-tomoe motif. The iron is very good, presenting with a soft, natural patina and fine color. The lone hitsu-ana is very well formed, as is the massive seppa-dai. There are a few small tekkotsu in the rim, along with one very large one. These latter details combine to have me leaning more toward ko-Shoami than toward Myochin, though the fact that the shinsa team assigned a Myochin attribution to this tsuba may indicate something about its powerful presence. $400.00 plus shipping (PayPal friends and family preferred).

I'll be posting more this weekend, if not sooner!

Right there with you, Curran. This Juyo Rabbits tsuba has long been one of my absolute favorites, by any smith, and may be my #1 Hoan work (which is saying something). Hoan is not often mentioned in the same breath as Nobuiye, Kaneie, Myoju, and Matashichi, but certainly should be in my view, along with Yamakichibei, of course.

Up next from my friend's collection is an NBTHK-papered Heianjo-zogan iron tsuba. It features high-relief brass inlay depicting an active landscape scene, with dragons as a chief component. A lot going on in this composition. The hitsu-ana are irregularly shaped, and are plugged with what looks to be textured shakudo. The tsuba is in very good condition, and measures 7.6cm x 7.8cm x 4mm. $185.00 plus shipping.