Bernard

Thank you very much, Jean and John, for your kind and informative replies ! I need your help on second chawan, which is a kind of an enigma for me. I know that it was purchased in 1956 from a French dealer of some repute (Le Véel in Paris). I found a small note written by my father with that information and the following succint description : "grès rakou, 18ème". At the end of the 1980s, I sent a photo of this bowl to an auctioneer (one of the two bigs) for a valuation. The photo was sent back with this statement : "Ne semble malheureusement pas ancien, donc de faible valeur" "Unfortunately doesn't look old, so valueless". Strange statement ! Now, what do you think, as far as you can judge from the pics : does it look like a genuine raku ware (it has no seal, nor signature),or like a modern fake, or something else ? Bernard D

Hello everybody, This is, I believe, a Japanese chawan (9.3 cm diameter). IMO it looks nice, with its glazed cover and stylized birds. Can you give me your expert opinion and informations on it (school, age,...) ? Regards. Bernard D

Hello everybody, Can this tsuba be assigned to a specific school ? Regards. Bernard D

Dear Ron and Piers, thank you very much for your comments and informations. Best greetings from Switzerland. Bernard D

Thank you so much for these very interesting informations, dear Ron. As you collect Japanese pipes, I join two pics of my second kiseru, a more ordinary one, but nevertheless good quality. Sorry for the poor quality of these pics (this one was specially difficult to photograph). Best regards. Bernard D

Hello everybody, As you know, I have had the privilege to make several posts on the tosogu topic, where I have received fast, kind and highly informative replies from NMB members. I have moved to the general Japanese discussion for the present post, as it has no direct link with tosogu. The pics are of a silver kiseru. It features vagues and it bears an inscription, probably a signature (mei ? gimei ?). Can you identify it ? What do you think of the craftmanship ? Regards Bernard D

Thank you very much, Pete. I found one example on Christie's site.http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/ ... 70316&sid= Bernard D

Guido, you found the maker and it confirms Tanaka school. Great ! Many thanks to you. Thanks also to Gunome and Thierry for their replies. Bernard D

Hello everybody, I wonder if this tsuba (6.9cm X6.3cm) can be assigned to the Tanaka school ? What is your expert opinion (hope you can read the mei, it is not clearly legible) ? Regards. Bernard D

Thank you very much for your replies ! Bernard D

Thank you very much, John ! Bernard D

Hello everybody. Some happy guys on this fuchi-kashira...I think they are musicians or comedians. The nanako looks medium quality, but I find the figures very pleasant. Can anyone help to identify the mei ? Best regards. Bernard D

Hello everybody, This tsuba (7.5cm X 7cm) is entirely covered by a kind of dark brown chocolate patina. At first, I thought that it had lost most of its gilding, but actually it was probably made puposely with only some spots of nunome-zogan. What do you think ? Can this tsuba be assigned to a specific school ? Regards. Bernard D

Dear Brian, Many thanks for your kind words. I have received a warm welcome on the Forum and I am very grateful to its members for the precious help they give me. It's a great pleasure to be in touch with real enthusiasts and connoisseurs and to have the opportunity to benefit of their knowledge. My father had a passion for the Japanese art and left me a small collection of various items (tosogu, netsukes, inros, tea ceremony items, etc...). I am now trying to learn more about them. I have still some tsubas and fuchi-kachiras to be investigated. I'll post them on the Forum over the next few days. All the best. Bernard D

Dear all, Many thanks for your replies. As nobody disagreed with John's post, I presume that it reflects the general opinion of the members' Forum. When I look at the MFA's brass kozuka, I think that I understand what you mean. As far as craftmanship is concerned, if I compare my kozuka to other "Omori vagues" in the same material, I don't think it is on the bad side. So, il looks like a fine quality item (you can feel the quality when you see it in person), but lacks of the aesthetic appeal typical of The Master himself. It seems to me that John expressed that well in his reply. Thanks again and best greetings from Switzerland. Bernard D

Hello everybody, "As always with this smith, gimei is assumed". What do you think of this kozuka (9.7 cm long)? Regards. Bernard D

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your replies. I forgot to indicate the measurements of my tsuba : 7.2cm X 6.3cm. Best regards. Bernard D

Thank you, Bazza, Jean and John! @Bazza:these are colour pics. @John:the tsuba is openwork. Bernard D

Hello everybody, I know that these namban tsubas are fairly common and not highly regarded. I tried to find a similar one on the Internet, but I did not succeed. My question is on the inscriptions inside the circles. What are they (family crests, chinese characters,...) ? Regards. Bernard D

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for all these interesting and informative comments ( Geraint, you were right for the cross hatched surface). Greetings from Switzerland. Bernard D

Hello everybody. I read that Tachi tsubas must be photographed that way (nagako-ana upside down). Can somebody explain me why ? On this one, the four "crosses" do not look as well preserved as the rest of the decoration. Any guess why ? Regards. Bernard D NB : the four "arrows"

Thank you very much ! Bernard D

Hello everybody, This rather large orphan fuchi reminds me of the python in The Jungle Book (Disney version). Hope you will like it. Can a forum's member identify its maker ? Regards. Bernard D

Thank you very much, John ! Bernard D

Thank you very much Stefan and Geraint for the kind comments. Glad to know you like my posts; I shall add more in the next days (these items were collected by my father in the years 1950-1980). The observations of the members' forum are very informative and precious for me. I appreciate. I add a pic to show the inlay. Best regards from Switzerland. Bernard D