Fuuten

I got the paywall but vpn + private window and some fiddling, I got around it. For ease of access see attached🙏 Japanese armour gifted to royalty survives for 400 years - thank.pdf

Definitely Kyoto and Tokyo national museum!

Wow, the title is absolutely spot on! Lovely items and especially the mitokoromono seems like a great deal (read: airborne tart)! Good luck with your sale though I'm sure you won't need it. Great post.

Different blade but somewhat of the same category. This is what I thought of reading op. Falling Snow

Epic sugata, and I would think - still in an appreciable polish (unless it's actively rusting). Why do anything? 👌

Interesting and informational. Very cool mekugi-nuki tool too, at first I though that was literally part of the tang which would be neat too but less structurally sound I suppose. Thanks for the link.

I used to have a very nice tsuba in the same design that was covered by the remains black lacquer. I hope this is a different one

Good evening, From an auction with pottery to Japanese whiskies I was lead to the following announcement. I mainly wanted to share because of a huge nagamaki by Hirokane (5th or 6th from the top), with juyo kashirae. A terrifying weapon for sure. In the simplest terms (and most convenient definitions😂). It sort of looks like a tachi atop a naginata atop a top a handle https://www.christies.com/en/auction/Japanese-and-korean-art-20991-nyr/Viewing room

I see. Thank you for clarifying. It is a satisfying thought to think that. Dreams sometimes come true (like that lost Norishige - total fairy-tale)

The video has been changed to private, sadly as I'm late to the party Was it worth seeing?

Very cool, a steal really!

For what it's worth, see if it floats or sinks. My guess would be bone or born as ivory has that characteristic pattern that should be fairly clear.

Regardless of the material it turns out to be, that stack of monkeys is quite something! 👏 Thank you for sharing.

Regarding the first video, though I agree with some of the statements above, I think the (main), giveaway is that Japanese tempering seems to be more subdued and natural. Depending heavily on the angle of which it is observed. The video focusses heavily on the (overly), hard lines. What would be hadori work? I don't know. As stated videos and photos aren't the best but far from 'inadequate' in terms of being useful learning tools on the subject. A single 10 second shot in a video or one photo will always give a warped presentation. Even more so when what is being shows is something as unique, complicated and illusive as a mirage. For instance on Aoi, the fact they give you the static sugata, shots under lighting and nearly always of 1, at times 2 sided oshigata - that is quite valuable and a good way to understand what it is we're trying to correctly observe and/or assess. So mostly yes, best would be living in TNM😃 but falling short of that possibility, what is already available to online is IMO pretty good as a start 👍

For OP to add a little on the why. In regards to length. The longer a work the more difficult it is for the smith to control forging conditions and thus be able to make flawless blades. On ubu nagako, part of the reason is that many swords have had their form changed in order to meet changing fighting conditions. Mainly for swords forged after the start of the Edo period, this practice of shortening swords happens less frequently but besides having say an original painting or a restored cutout of a famous painting, one would rather see it as intended by the painter (or smith in this case). One of the things I always have a hard time with is to imagine/ reconstruct what a suriage sword would've looked like when made, regardless of whether or not the current shape is pleasing.

What about assassination? Weren't those type of sneak attacks the reason for that squeaking floor to be devised? (iirc; nightingale floor). And only lightly related but yesterday or the day before, 8 happened to glance the latest members area and saw that a new member joined the board under the tagname ninja. I thought that was surprising as I would've guessed (after 6000+ registrations), I would've bet on it being amongst the first to be used/claimed. 🌃🌌 🏃💨

Dear Piers, Apologies for the delayed response! Looks like a nice vase, I like the decorations of insects. The snail is doomed!😂 The bands on the top and bottom are quite elaborately painted as well. My guess would be either from Kyoto and surrounding lands or Kutani ware. I actually went through my reference archive for the signature but no obvious match. If I find out I'll add it later. Regarding repair, as it is a vase and not something you put your lips to, I'd go with doing it yourself. Also on the rim is easily accessed so you can always try again should it not work out. Doesn't necessarily have to be done in conjunction with lacquer ware either, though generally that is what people prefer as it is the way it's been done since the invention of kintsugi. Though in tensile strength and finish, one could accomplish the same with a two component glue. Let me know what comes of it!

Dear Piers, I'm ecstatic that the calligraphy of the box seems to match this kogo! Your vase sounds worth a look too, any chance you can post a photo? Regarding the stamp on this incense case. The following is the references I have for the first generation Rokubei. I think it matches, though on this kogo the bottom of the hexagon seems to be not fully impressed.

Dear Morita-san, Thank you very much for your reply. Much appreciated 👍

Dear Piers, No, just the locust praying on the poor person's gourd. It has a potters stamp on the bottom that matches the first generation. I'll add better pictures in an hour or two. Only now do I realize how bad the photos are

Sadly thats something I not care for haha but good alternative. I think there are more nihonto in Russia's treasury though 😁

Hi all, I wanted to share a little gem that arrived yesterday. From the mark I'm somewhat sure the maker is the first generation Kiyomizu Rokubei, but I could be wrong. In any case I think this is one of those peculiar and typically Japanese works that gives me that special tingle. In the shape of a gourd or hyotan with decoration of a grasshopper or locust. There's a kintsugi repair on the rim of the the inside of the lower half of the case. Hopefully members find it worth checking out. I posted a topic regarding the calligraphy that's on the (extremely worn), storage box lid which accompanied the incense case. Incase you feel like giving it a try 😃

Apologies. The photos are big and I don't know how to resize them properly on phone. Backside of lid (inside).

Hello all, After having tried a couple of other places regarding the translation of some kanji on the box lid, I hope it is ok to try it here. The box itself is absolutely falling apart and appears to be quite old, like the kogo itself. I posted the kogo to the 'other' section of the board - here. I think the potter's mark leads to the first generation Rokubei which would fit with the age of the storage box. Actually I was surprised to find it in a box because I don't think it was shown in the auction photos so that was a plus. It would be great if the calligraphy would match the kogo and if it is some old notition by the potter it would be a great reference as well. Thank you in advance for any help!

I knew of a Muramasa gifted to Russia a long time ago. I'm not sure if that was the one and only time that happened. I had intented to, if I ever were to meet Putin, ask him to show it to me but I guess now I'll have to find a different conversation starter Great to see it returned though, that's one amazing sword from what I remember about it.