Bernard

I like this summary ! Thank you, John C. Bernard D

A very impressive and beautiful tsuba ! Thank you Fred. Bernard D

Thank you, Stefan and Fred. @Fred : yes these pieces were all my father's collection. Best regards. Bernard D PS : in case you didn't see it, I posted one more tsuba today in the topic "Translation assistance" (reply to svarsh).

Thanks Brian, I like it too... Bernard D

Thank you so much, John ! Best regards. Bernard D

Thank you Chris ! (I feel like it's time for me to stop posting new items... :D I have three or four more and it shall be the end). Bernard D

This tsuba (7.1cm X 6.7cm), too, seems to be signed Masamitsu, but some of the kanjis are not the same. Can yo identify it ? Regards. Bernard D

John, Thank you so much ! Do you think the same for this one ? Bernard D

Good suggestion, Mr. K Morita. I'll try. Thank you for the link ! Bernard D

Thank you David, I am, too, very impressed by the knowledge and the friendliness of John L. He is frequently the first to answer my posts and his replies are always precise and highly informative. Really great !!! Bernard D

Thank you Brian, I have edited my post (sorry David !). Bernard D

Dear David, I am very grateful for your guidance and for taking the trouble to explane your own approach ! Thanks to your sensible advice, I know how to proceed to improve my knowledge on Japanese art and civilisation (a huge task !). Thanks again. Best regards. Bernard D

I confirm John's observation. Bernard D

Many thanks for your very informative replies, gentlemen. @Piers: apart from posting pics, I have no mean to show (or to know) if it looks old or not. If there is something else I can do to answer this question, please let me know. Bernard D

Sorry for the signature upside down. Here is a new pic. Bernard D

Hello everybody, This netsuke, 11.5 cm long, fetures two dessicated fishes. Umimatsu is very nice, but difficult to photograph.What do you think of the quality of this item ? Can anyone translate the signature and give me some informations on the maker ? Regards. Bernard D

Hello everybody, Here is my shakudo nanako tsuba (8.2cm X 7.5 cm). I thought it was fine, until I found the photo of a Goto's tsuba that you already know. In the present case, the old adage "comparison is not reason" doesn't work, I'm afraid. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant tsuba. Regards. Bernard D

@ Henk-Jan : OK KM, thanks ! @ Brian : you are right, here is a pic of the mimi. Bernard D

Thank you John ! Bernard D

Dear David and Henk-Jan, First of all, let me to apologise to Henk-Jan for having inadvertently adressed him as KM in my precedent post. Now, David, to answer your first question : yes these tsubas are all from my father's collection and I have yet to buy my first one. We arrive to your second question : I think that I am not yet enough educated to eventually consider purchasing tosogu. I have to learn more about it, to see objects and try to understand what I see, and to determine what I like best. For example, before coming on the forum, I knew nothing about old iron tsubas. I am very grateful for your compliments to my late father, I had not imagined that his small collection would be so well received on the forum. All the best. Bernard D

Thank you very much KM ! I am so pleased to have the opportunity, thanks to this forum, to share these objects with educated people able to appreciate them and who accept to share with me a part of their knowledge ! Bernard D

Hello everybody, No need of glasses or magnifying glass to enjoy these two bold tsubas (7.8cm/8.2cm)... Regards. Bernard D

Many thanks to the two Brians, for their kind replies ! Best regards. Bernard D

Beautiful ! Bernard D

Many thanks for all these informations, gentlemen. I really appreciate your help. @ Jean : you are right, I shouldn't have used the term "fake". If a dealer sells an aliud for a genuine item, it is not correct to blame the item (I'm happy that it was not the case for this chawan). I tried your method with the magnifying glass, but it was not so easy to spot scratches representing specific signs of use. I also made the test with the other chawan and some genuine old chaire, with the same difficulties. Thanks again and best greetings. Bernard D