Spartancrest

Brian - I believe the postage rate will be a bit high to cover his costs! It has happened before, a 26 yen bid ended up costing nearly forty dollars in 'fees' and shipping and that was way back when shipping was around $12 from Japan to Australia. I will find out if he honors it, if it turns up at the Jauce warehouse. They are expensive shippers but I have always received what I paid for, from them. PS. The other one auctions off tonight [Aus time]- but I don't think there will be any takers!

Another site to be wary of https://www.teritive.top/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=62_123 Same sort of format with ebay pictures used.

Last night I was looking at a few online auctions and came across one with a minimal opening bid, starting at 1 yen. Knowing the object was modern, not that well made but came with a fitted box I thought 'what the hell the box is worth a punt' - no other bids appeared and strangely the auction was not withdrawn, so a 1 yen win and another paperweight to add to my collection. Elsewhere on the same auction site an identical object [I won't dignify it by calling it a tsuba] was listed at a starting bid of 20,000 yen. Call me crazy but are the dealers really serious with what they expect to get for a modern copy? At least I got a nice box to put something better in, the expensive bid had nothing else going for it! https://www.jauce.com/auction/u1009658715 vs https://www.jauce.com/auction/v780836906

I don't think Gold leaf will stick to iron by itself, it is either glued, mercury gilding or nunome. I can't see any cross hatching so not nunome. Are the photos taken at an angle? The guard doesn't look symmetrical. Very thin and with a slightly rough surface texture, could it have been gilded much later than when it was first made.

Alex, Thank you so much for that- I will print a copy and add it to my volume. I will send Justin Orr a PM in case he does not see the post. Once again thanks very much.

An old thread may have some information - fifth post.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/w1010216624

I have discovered two sites that are offering tsuba and related pieces at frankly impossible to believe prices. https://www.hispidair.top/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=34_186&page=1 Which has a wide variety of pieces both antique and more modern. The third item listed is a Nanako-ji shakudo guard with a single gold chrysanthemum flower. https://www.hispidair.top/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_186&products_id=29082 - selling for $40 knocked down from $490 . . . . Now that is a bargain, or is it? Likewise this site https://www.phasiaon.top/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=advanced_search_result&keyword=tsuba&inc_subcat=0&page=1 which from the top tab address has the same logo and layout, yet listed under a different business name. They are selling a lot of ebay items - how they can offer them at a tenth the price is very suspect. I recently 'purchased' a hard to get Japanese book from a similar type of site for a bargain price - despite several communications asking why there was a delay in shipping I was told not to worry, it was because of covid delays - be patient. However after several months it was a no show. Getting my money back was a nightmare - the company evaporated into the ether and Paypal were reluctant to reimburse me because the time period for complaint had lapsed - all part of the bogus company's business plan. Sell anything at cheaper than normal prices, then get out and change their business name and do it all again. No product, all profit and they can't be tracked down. https://www.xnlmqiavscz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=567341 is an example from another site, modern but at least a third the price of comparable pieces. Anyone interested in purchasing the $40 shakudo on spec? If you do I will double your money if you can send it to me! But honestly it's a gamble I am not prepared to take anymore.

Ford I am definitely on the rusty side. Somewhere along the scale "We buy junk - We sell antiques" [My wife has come to realize that my short comings are as nothing to her previous two marriages - and she is getting too old for a fourth!] Ford we all hope you have many more years of wisdom to impart.

Just sukashi crabs - there are many more on solid plate. I would say the majority that appear are copies with very few ubu Edo examples.

A question my wife asks about me, almost daily!

Ford - you just can't trust anything at face value. I made a Ko-sukashi back in the 80s from a suitably thin plate of steel, cut the pattern out by hand [I had more patience then] took a lump hammer and beat it on some flaky sandstone to get a good texture. Left it in the garden for a week, washed and patinated it and was offered $450 for it [not a lot of money now but that was a weeks wages in the 80s] I didn't sell it, eventually gave it away to someone else years later. Bob. These off the shelf antiques turn up day after day - and no shortage of buyers! https://www.jauce.com/user/dj2hmyuc I wonder if they are made from old 44 gallon drums?

A form of modern Shibayama? [without the skill and lets face it without the destruction of endangered fauna] - My definition of Shibayama is "non functional tsuba-like object to sell to the uninformed". Totally over the top decoration, any idea what the price was? Not my taste at any price.

What opinions can be gleaned from this piece? https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1008381764 or https://zenmarket.jp/auction.aspx?itemCode=b1008381764 It shows many of the same surface features. If it is fake they went to extraordinary trouble, it is not something you are going to mount on a sword of course. At 2.1mm in thickness there is not a lot of meat left - any thinner and it would make a dandy razor. Sunny: Roger is right too many people are hesitant to give an opinion for fear of getting it wrong, some threads go unanswered for days or even weeks for that reason. Glad you stepped up. All opinions can be seen as stepping stones - we often don't know where they will lead to. PS, 'Mistaken' is my middle name!

I am not so fast thinking it is modern or waxed, I recently bough a small sized guard that at first sight looked too glossy [overexposed lighting in the photo] the secondary image was 'normal'. After I received it, under heaps of grime and flaked rust I discovered it was in fact 'glossy' and not waxed. I believe it is a yakite finish. It has been mounted at least once [see top of nakago-ana second image] I have seen many modern fakes and I don't think this is one. If you believe your example is waxed - boil in water for a few minutes, won't hurt the piece as long as you dry it properly. Testing is always better than guessing.

A few from way back: And a book I doubt most people would have heard of? [It seems if you don't keep your eye on them tsuba will get up to some strange things!] Tsuba coat hooks

Andrey Thank you for the information I will add that to my data base. Wow I would even wear those [I might have to cut some holes in my shirt sleeves first- when did cufflinks go out of fashion?] They are a nice little object on their own. I found these sites for 'modern' tsuba cufflinks https://www.modernsamuraistyle.com/ and the ever present ebay https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?item=324670356953&_ssn=goyokiki-Japan&_osacat=0&_odkw=tsuba&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313&_nkw=tsuba+cufflinks&_sacat=0

Andrey I have two or three like that, different patterns. I wonder if yours is powder coated? At least one of mine is, which would point to very modern manufacture. Barry that is a nifty little item, I see Jean Collin made something similar but I like the folding aspect of yours. I have an image of another strange use for a tsuba shaped object.

Being a tsuba nerd I have 'accumulated' a variety of tsuba related 'stuff' that are not actually tsuba. Included in the pile I have some tsuba pins or badges, these are related to Kendo clubs or tournament medals. I was wondering what other collectors might have come across. The image is of some tsuba based badges I have found over time. [most are not mine]

I am glad I posted this on Tosogu - the sword collectors are a tough audience!

Just stumbled on this site https://www.reddit.com/r/powerwashingporn/comments/o1g7fu/i_clean_antique_weapons_and_recently_finished/ And would like to complement the restoration cleaning of what most people would consider a garbage bin worthy piece. Are there any award ceremonies for heroic action in the face of overwhelming rust?

John I think it is in pretty good condition for what 400 or 500 years? I think the nibbled edges and the minimal ten-zogan loss, as well as possible late replacement of same make it a historic piece. There is a little, off-line inlay, but it was made for war at a time of war so there may have been time constraints.

I recently saw a set of fittings with instructions on the order of how they should be assembled written on them in Japanese. Ikea labels A,B,C, etc. would help? [Ikea - sounds vaguely Japanese!]

For altered [destroyed?] pieces some of these are asking pretty high prices! https://www.rubylane.com/item/413041-KCHAx20638/Japanese-Oval-Panel-Shakudo-Bracelet https://gem.app/product/shakudo-necklace-Japanese-shakudo-pendant https://www.abrandtandson.com/products/1-victorian-large-silver-mixed-metals-shakudo-dragon-ring Almost enough of these to make a complete sub-set of collectables

I just bought some 70s bling myself - not as nice as those! A silly nasu tsuba tie bar. - and I don't wear ties!