sabi

I was a little surprised to see it at 50k with a couple days left. Noticed there were a ton of watchers and just had to keep the tab open. These types of pieces usually fizzle out around there and I was absolutely stunned to refresh yesterday and see it go for well over two grand USD. It's not even a particularly good fake. Gaudily overdone surface treatment that you don't see in real work, the mei is a swing and a miss and the Higo-esque worm grooves thrown in there just 'cause?

Someone really bought into the story on this piece, hopefully it wasn't one of our members! https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/v1043655253 *Closed at 280k Y for when the link eventually doesn't work.

Thank you for posting that picture, Joel. I had always wondered what Darcy looked like, surely a much younger man than I had imagined behind all of the beautifully written and thoroughly immersive articles that he was so generous to give our community. I only exchanged a few emails with him, but they left a permanent impression. I had simply wanted to thank him for the eye candy that is Yuhindo, and part of his response was to ask where my interests lied. At the time I had recently made my first "major" acquisition, a great tsuba by a big name, and his insight on my personal milestone always stuck with me. It was to point out how truly lucky we are to be able to acquire such things in our hobby of choice. That if you were into paintings, sculpture etc. you'd need millions for a comparable piece. I had never thought of it that way, and it instantly gave me a greater appreciation for these items we look after. His last bit of advice to me was to only buy something if it was as good or better than everything else in my collection. As a young, inexperienced buyer who was prone to instant gratification, I took it to heart. Every tsuba that's proudly on display in my home, or chawan I sip tea from was acquired with his words weaving through my internal monologue. I'm sad that I'll never be able to tell him how formative they were for me. So sorry to those who knew and loved him. Legends never die, and I know everyone here will help keep his alive.

No worries Jamie! I'm still having issues PMing you, just says "Jamie cannot receive messages". All good, please email me at motorsport226@gmail.com and we'll get it squared away 👺🙏

Got this figured out, please close 🙏

This section never fails to amaze and I'm in need of some assistance. This is on the inside lid of the box and I'm lost when it comes to handwritten characters. I have another vessel by the same artist that doesn't have this addition (or his mountain stamp), and I'm wondering if it could possibly be a name that was given to the piece? This is usually where you find them, and the extra writing + kao leads me to believe he was particularly fond of this one. I could be wrong, but either way the usual basic info is on the outside of the lid and I'm curious as to what this extra bit is. Many thanks in advance from a humble gaijin 👺🙏

Thanks Brian! I saw he hadn't been on so it's all good, didn't know about the tag feature and appreciate the assist 🙏

Still haven't heard from the buyer, taking back ups in case it falls through.

Hey Jamie, I tried PM-ing you but am getting an error. Maybe your messages are full? The chawan is yours so just drop me a line when you get it sorted 👺🙏

That's where taste comes in. Old iron guards for example can seem basic compared to their kinko counterparts due to a lack of visual flashiness, but this difference in aesthetic is why they were made and it was/is just as valuable to someone who prefers that vibe.

Well of course they don't my friend! To me the eggs represent the hen, which is part of why I love them as a companion to the rooster fuchi 😉🥚🐓🥚

Love the kashira, such a charming compliment to the fuchi ☺️

Not a dew drop IMO, those are very distinctly rendered on the omote. Looks like it was a natural result of the seppa dai shaping on the original and has manifested in slightly varying forms on the cast copies.

Ok nearly so, but still in a way that suggests duplication to my eye and not workmanship similarities. Counterfeiters are getting pretty good, but I think some of the details here are very muddy compared to the original and that sure looks like a casting bubble at 2 o'clock near the mei. Also, in addition to the seppa dai "dent" at 5:30 on the ura, there's a mark at 11 of the same side that's on both as well. The overall form is the same (including the angle of the seppa dai), where the rim ebbs and flows is the same... Idk, looks like a copy to me

Bump, some tire kickers but it's still here. Also, no trades please 👺🙏

Not my area of interest by any means, however the mei on the auction example appears to be a bit ham fisted at first glance, and almost looks like it's stamped vs cut. There are a lot of intersections in that signature and areas that should show overlap from individual strokes appear to be one continuous line. Also, the whole tsuba is the same tone with minimal variation anywhere, wouldn't be surprised if it's a copy of the real one referenced. The design is identical but the depth, crispness etc is off IMO. Edit: yeah I think it's a copy, even the "dent" at the bottom of the seppa dai is carried over.

Thanks Jean! No disagreement from me 😉, its new guardian will be very pleased.

Ceramics seem to be selling better than tsuba lately, so here's another one for our members to snatch up. On offer today is a truly wonderful teabowl - Raku in general is flooded with mediocre pieces, and Aka-Raku in my opinion more so than its black counterparts. Many are a mess with off forms and muddled glazing that lacks the vision to create anything resembling a landscape. None of that here. This chawan measures 13.2 x 9.3cm, a full bloom size that honors its shape and the origins of the style, of whick Koetsu is the undisputed champion. The hand built form instantly melts into the hands and is one of my favorites to drink tea from. There's good reason for the saying "Ichi Raku", and it's an equal delight throughout the preparation stage. The low fired body characteristic of Raku produces a soft tone against the chasen while whisking, like a distant breeze in the pines. Of course it looks just as good on a shelf if that's your thing. The carburized areas have the depth of a galaxy and glow even in low light. The accent on the foot ring presents in a stunning, Enso like fashion on the interior which is a sublime touch. Condition is nearly perfect for its age, with only a couple small, shallow chips to note on the inside edge. Given Raku's fragile nature, these could have been there since the bowl was fired and they do not detract from the visual beauty or usability of the piece. Quite the opposite in my opinion. Its original signed box is also included and is in equally great shape. Price is $250 shipped Worldwide. And like the other ceramics I've listed here, I challenge you to find a comparable piece for anywhere close to that. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics. Thanks for looking! 👺🙏🍵

Later copy/utsushi IMO

It definitely has that vibe, someone on FB commented that it could also be the top of a stupa. I hadn't come across any with the same configuration until seeing their reference - one of the Hyakumantō (one million pagodas) commissioned by Empress Shōtoku in the 8th century. Any of these seem like a real possibility and it's been a joy to explore them so far. Rich T. said it perfectly years ago in one of his write ups - "The general graphic employed in Kanayama tsuba designs display I believe the rustic quirkiness common in the Momoyama period but having said that, I still feel there is an overall simpleness to these designs. It may just be that they are displayed with an artistic bent we are not exposed to on a daily basis in these modern times."

Thanks Florian! Researching gravestones was what led me to the Buddha idea and I still think it's a possibility. Just haven't found one convincing enough yet (most are a variation of the five tiered style) but I'm still looking! Really appreciate your contribution, it makes this one all the more fun to study.

I was fortunate to have this guard offered to me recently, and am supremely honored to be the next in a long line of caretakers. Its heavy rim encircles a typically abstract design, which is affectionately described as "Fumei" in the 2016 KTK catalog where it makes an appearance. I was enamored with the dynamic presentation of this unknown motif and excited to see if I could discover more about it. I'm never one to leave well enough alone, but hey that's part of the fun right?? Many Kanayama tsuba feature motifs derived from various religions - the iconic temple bell, daruma dolls, gourds... Even some of the not so obvious ones can be twisted in that direction. A gunbai design has been interpreted as the ears of the Buddha/Ebisu, and another well known piece has possible ties to the concept of "Mu" (emptiness) along with some serious Enso vibes. The circles on this guard are featured in the same manner on other Kanayama works, and are usually described as Sun and Moon (see also: Mind and Body, Heaven and Earth). The forms making up the hitsu ana are especially peculiar, the KTK write up notes them as possibly a "matsu pine bark kamon" or simply a "pleasant geometric abstraction" in addition to the fumei call. Whether I'm on to something or have just been starting at it for too long, I'd like to humbly suggest that they could be a depiction of a seated Buddha, and perhaps more specifically, him as an ascetic. The statue below is of this form, located at the Kita-in shrine in Saitama. If you squint just a little bit, there's a pretty striking resemblance - legs crossed, a prominent halo and the angular section emphasizing his emaciated state. While not necessarily to the Buddha's extreme (the ascetic lifestyle was abandoned in favor of the "Middle Way"), this discipline has a strong relationship with Zen, and I imagine a Bushi relating well to these teachings. The mid Momoyama period, which I believe this to be a product of, is also the source of many other similarly influenced works from Owari province in the form of ji sukashi, Yamakichibei, Hoan, and the famous inscribed tsuba of Nobuie. To those few that are still with me, it sounds crazy right? Yeah maybe a little 😅. But with the similar silhouette and circles tying into the theme, it's been a fun possibly to consider at the very least. I'd love to know if anyone has seen a design like this used on another occasion or anything juicy that might add to the speculation. I've had a blast with this piece so far and wanted to share my thoughts, and would happily open this up to any other similarly abstract guards out there that our members may have some ideas about. 👺🙏⛩️

Great stuff Rich! Just love that otafuku mukade guard. It was a busy year (for me) with three acquisitions - a ko-katchushi ish piece that shows some fine subtleties, a strong and dynamic Kanayama, and a serene Yamakichibei. 👺🙏