TETSUGENDO

Very fine work Artur, well done! -S-

IF the Prince Asaka Yasuhiko piece was ever engaged in battle it's condition is miraculous. The owner most likely saw the battle, he didn't participate. -S-

Chris, What I see look's very fine, it's an excellent project. You always work things out, relax. -S-

Absolutely Piers, That's what I get for multitasking, one site at a time is a better idea! As for translation, is no one local available? Also, do try our ceramics group. Cheers, -S-

Piers, You were expecting horrible,lol? Why not post the back in translations, thats what you need, it may speed a response. Also, 'other Japanese Arts' may be a good place for opinions, that's where our ceramics aficionados reside. Cheers, -S-

Thanks for the update John, glad that it worked out positively for you. An outlier explains the odd bits of execution, love the appellation "hobbiest Samurai"! This is a great lesson to all, judgment based on a photograph is only an indicator and can be wrong. Some unconventional techniques and a bit of gold paint led many of us astray, myself included. The only truly reliable appraisal is an in hand one. Best of luck with it. -S-

I bullied you? Reread your posts, you are the one who initiated and continued this incident. You and I know that THIS has nothing to do with your claim of plagiarism. I will not stoop to your snide insults, but will offer my sincerest sympathy instead. Your accusations of my need for dominance, are concerns that fill your mind, not mine. I have no desire to conquer or dominate here, my only want is to share in this fine community, unmolested. I've included the above quote to remind you of my attempt to quell this nonsense, since my comment was repackaged and used by another....should I exclaim plagiarism? Absurd, that is not the spirit of this place. Out of respect for Brian and this place, I will not respond to you again, enjoy this last petty victory. I have no interest in you, or what you have to say. Since self control is impossible your campaign must continue without me, best of luck with your ongoing smoke and mirrors act. -S- p.s.-If you were entirely free of plagiarism here, by your singularly liberal definition, which you are not..... I would take things to heart.

Henry, In reference to your charming little love note, we must stop meeting like this. I'm well aware of the number of times I used 'like' and of my emphasis on "feelings", both were intentional, think of them as your Wagnerian leitmotifs. These themes were interjected into a post to fuel your totally spurious argument, making the post all about YOU, if it is so important your welcome to it. Whatever this curious obsession of yours is, I suggest you drop it, your calling negative attention to yourself. Since you seem incapable of controlling yourself allow me to help you, respond in anyway you like to my future posts, but do not attempt to engage me... I will not respond. Continue trying to sell your 'joke' story', I know exactly what you are. -S-

Henry, Your post is one of the strangest I have ever read, why you would choose to post it, is beyond me....perhaps compulsion is the answer. Respectfully: I do not respond to commands, when I see some equitable distribution of future 'likes' on your part, I may throw some your way, if you'll check you will see I gave you many in the past, but under the circumstances I will decline. They apparently hold some exaggerated meaning for you. My post has nothing to do with feelings, though I strongly suspect yours does. I posted my opinions, sorry they don't align with yours, but I welcome and defend everyones right to share them, including yours. You don't have to see the point of my opinions, nor I yours....unless I'm missing something. I didn't realize MNB, was a contest, thank you for enlightening me. I'll skip returning the bazaar psychobabble even though it's tempting. Pity, another thread, needlessly interrupted by petty grievances, this time could have been put to much better use.

Thanks Robert, there are some similarities, but yours takes everything to the extreme, as I mentioned, a work of art. Very much like the difference between a subcompact and a Bentley. Cheers, -S-

Robert, personally I see no meaningful correlation between T/T/T/T and your tsuba, the manner and execution, from forming to decoration, come from very different aesthetic influences. Ditto on Saotome. Stamped decoration is common to, more or less, all tsuba production, whether unnoticed or overt. There are some similarities to Saga, and other late Kaneiye work, but again your pieces plastic qualities are more fully explored and the decoration is much more subtle. My feelings are that it is later Myochin or a product of one of the later Shoami, I too feel it was " Born this Way"...it is very much an 'art piece'. The possibility of later decoration is always there, but I feel it is unlikely. If anyone can present a convincing exemplar of any of the aforementioned possible attributions, I would love to see it, I was unable to find any, and have no past recollections that apply here. Cheers, -S-

Henry, This happens to ALL of us, with regularity, that is the nature of this place....free sharing, expounding, and exploring ideas. -S-

Facinating article on the well known Japanese subject of Susanoo's Dragon fight, it also explores the universality of the theme through the ages. A real gem of a find Peter, great reading! Cheers, -S-

Thank You Robert, I posted the video to answer your question about raising the rim, metals aside the technique is similar. I could comment on your other questions, but will leave it to Ford. As to the school, I find it a bit of a head scratcher. Many of the regional Shoami schools have related elements, but none of them explore the organic, and plastic qualities to the degree exhibited by this tsuba. Going out on a limb, it feels like a 19th Century Myochin piece to me, they produced a few atypically 'decorated' pieces as the century progressed. Whatever the outcome, it's an extremely handsome thing. Cheers, -S-

-S-

Ford, My intent was not to diminish the scholarship of the work, it is excellent, I should have expounded on my brief remarks. The subsequent blossoming interest in the art of Tosogu, both applied and as a scholarly pursuit, in the west and conversely in Japan, has refined and amended our knowledge of the subject. Someone, such as yourself (Artist/Scholar), can offer salient new insights into the subject. -S-

Once you acquire some reliable light sources things should be easier. Can't, of course see what you do, but some of the pictures convey a very good sense of texture. Your photos are 95 percent there, that additional 5 percent is chasing the Grail. Most would be overjoyed at these results, fine pictures of a gorgeous tsuba. Cheers, -S-

Beautiful piece Jeremiah, bet your glad you added it to your collection. Photos look quite descent to me, fine detail etc., don't see much to take issue with. Cheers, -S-

Facinating Article Axel, written under the auspices of the Freer Gallery, one of Americas great repositories of Asian Art, it is a time capsule of the scholarship of 40 years ago. -S- p.s.-Barry enter it in your browser, I had no problem.

Onin, 16th Centurt, Varshavsky Collection. -S-

Beautiful menuki from the MFA, Boston. -S-

It's not the type of thing anyone with a genuine interest in nihonto would enjoy looking at, on the contrary. The tsuba is terrifying, one of the ugliest objects I can recall seeing in recent memory. If your friend has any aspirations of acquiring a genuine sword, I'd suggest he rids himself of this unfortunate distraction. If he has no real interest in Nihonto, but feels compelled to display this....a poorly lit wall, shelf, or corner would be ideal. -S-

Neiil, I agree with Brandon, it depends on whether it's a piece for your collection, or something you plan on selling. If you'd like to restore it for yourself, including re-wrapping the tsuka go ahead, it's widely accepted practice. If your selling offer it as is. -S-

Your a wizard Robin, you could start a sideline making seppa! AND you fitted seklgane, impressive. Cheers, -S-

Chris, No one who has come to know you is worried, of course you'll cover everyones needs, you wouldn't do things any other way! Cheers, -S-