Spartancrest

Glen they are beautiful crab designs - but they are not 'sukashi' style. I personally like the Boston designed one with the 'saya-dome-ana' in the hitsu, it doesn't require drilling holes in the plate itself - that is clever.

Roger, sorry I should have got back to you. Like Glen said whatever floats your boat. Like it or not there are two types of collector - the Curator or the Dealer [some are both]. We believe we own our purchases but really we are renting them from history - just like real estate renters there are good and bad - I can't see that a clean up after the last renter has trashed the place is a bad idea, but like the real estate renter you shouldn't go knocking holes in the walls or take out a window to make 'improvements' so to speak. Buy what appeals to you and keep them safe, you might get more out of them than just getting your bond back! Glen: Isn't it weird that people buy this modern crap when they could be part of history? Instead, opting to be contributors to the landfill generation.

No Ford, my bad photo. You are very correct about what you can find under the corrosion, it was a total surprise to me - I have recently had both eye cataracts replaced and can see things now that used to be a blur, but the original image wouldn't have made much difference. What struck me with this guard is the tiny details, so tiny in fact I can't help wondering why they bothered? I mean why go to the trouble of carving details you would be at a stretch to see in daylight with a magnifying glass? It is such a shame that the previous owner/s didn't look after it. [ not that I could have afforded it if it was pristine ]

Sorry Ford but there are no seki-gane at all on this guard, there is a niku like outline around the entire nakago-ana just as in the Christie's piece. From the rather deep tagane-ato punch marks that have definitely moved some metal into the hole, I can't see even an annealed cast iron taking the hit without cracking the whole thing. There is also a lot of undercutting and though it does not show well in the image [old digital camera] there are almost microscopic scales carved into the two dragon bodies and the masks(?) or demon faces have kebori eyebrows and some have inlaid eyes [corrosion has removed about half] I apologize for the image quality I may have to do a high resolution scan. I am not worried particularly, the thing only cost $60 because of the condition it was in and it will never be going off for Shinsa assessment. [ I read somewhere recently that they don't like doing assessments on Namban anyway.]

Björn I just came upon this old Christies auction from 2017. Not a lot of information on it sorry. You might notice the surface texture is very similar to one of yours [sorry the image was as good as I could get] https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/art-Japan-online/collection-twenty-four-tsuba-48/40285

Thanks Glen. I was just about to add this image and information from a Christies Auction back in 2015 - There is a statement about the nakago-ana not 'nagagohitsu' as they call it, being a hidden Christian cross. I have seen these on many namban including the one I just received, but I think that it being a hidden cross is a stretch too far - way too far!!

It has been a while in getting to me [understatement] but the rusty namban and 'friends' arrived today - I couldn't stand the condition it was in so I spent several hours cleaning boiling and scrubbing the rust and filth off. Some obvious corrosion loss and a few of the undercut tendrils were long gone but I am happier with its appearance so far - it still needs a lot of work.

Yes Jean I got what you were saying - it still gives me a kick every time an ad says 'found in an old trunk' in Japanese - but google translates it as 'found in an old elephant'

Mauro, I wish I had found your link from 2014 it would have saved me gathering all my images, thanks for linking that in.

Second can also be called Mino-Goto style. [Mino Goto means in the style of Goto]. A lot were basically shiremono [off the shelf] mass produced in various levels of quality. They appear in various patterns - yours is the treasure ship, there are half a dozen at least standard patterns. They often share 'ready made' tagane-ato [punch marks around the nakago-ana] you might notice that no metal is actually moved into the hole and they are usually intended to suggest the tsuba has been mounted, which is not always the case.

Jean it is an obvious Google translate error, it should read "invisible inlay" not transparent!

Hi Dave, I think that is exactly why Aus/post allow it, it makes them money [though with this $16 'special' not much money = $3 profit]

I just ordered some Christmas stamps tonight, they might get a few heads shaking. Here in OZ we can have our own stamp designs made for everyday postage or for special events like a wedding etc. This year Australia Post has allowed even Christmas postage stamps to be made by the general public. https://auspost.com.au/shop/product/mystamps-mystamps-m and from what I see there is no restriction on overseas orders either [I have no idea if you can use the stamps if sent from overseas however?] So some members might like to have their favourite Tosogu item 'immortalized' as a sheet of postage stamps. Last year I had a different design made see this link:

Bjorn this one was passed in at auction within minutes of the one you posted above. https://www.jauce.com/auction/b533425068 it looks a lot more worn and much of the inlay is missing - a popular pattern indeed. Not in the same league as your piece though.

The design looks to be popular in more than one style. I found this Heianjo up for auction https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1011548147 The embellishments are totally different but the design is very close. Björn, did you get your first piece through Bonhams auctions? https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26087/lot/1145/?category=list Bonhams image. Omote side only.

Stephen talk about Haori ripper, I saw this 'trying' to be sold and there is one much like it still listed. [frustrating when you can't track it down again] Who are they kidding? And what to do with your old circular saw blades!

I just found this "menuki" listed for auction that strongly reminded me of the negative silhouette Bamen style horse tsuba that turn up from time to time. https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1018588943 I am not sure if in fact it started out as a menuki it may have been a tobacco pouch ornament. There is an old thread from 2015 for those interested. I can't remember seeing a 'hollow horse' menuki before.

Well Brian - you are not the first to come up with the idea. [good Photoshop work by the way] It seems Anime and role play is taking up the idea!

TOO RIGHT! [also in my watch list, in this case extremely unlikely to win list as well] it is a beautiful example. I love the three overlapping layers - how is the seppa-dai attached, a groove cut all the way around and the riveted portion inset? Fantastic skill.

Why is everyone interested in what's in my 'watchlist'! Oh well I can 'wave' good bye to that one! Stephen I can see a pattern forming here! Kimono no, Haori yes? [from the time line, I saw it listed half an hour earlier than you - I have email witnesses ] Brian I don't think customs would allow that one into Australia, is it something that you could get sent to South Africa? Chris is right it would do more damage to the owner. Probably a prison sentence here! [and to think we used to make our own throwing stars as kids watching 'Shintaro' 1962 + repeats, It was a huge success here, did anyone else see it as a kid?] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Samurai_(TV_series)

A nerikawa is listed here for auction - https://www.jauce.com/auction/m397466150 You might note the de-laminating layers and it looks to have been lacquered on the edges, so may not have had a fukurin. I don't know why one of the hitsu is only partly cut through?

I can't help with the school or maker but here is a Utsushi (写). No udenuki-ana.

Dirk you must be correct - yet another with .top domain. https://www.sonry.top/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_72&products_id=22456 This one is being funny with it's company name I wonder if it's not an acronym for "Undoubtedly Fake Organizations, Asia"

Greg, he is no angel - you might be able to make out his gang affiliation teardrop tattoos on his lower eyelids - I think he is a 'cartel canine'. American Staffy - oh no they have longer legs and can reach the higher shelves!

He must have misunderstood 'Tekkotsu' Iron bones? Or just wanted to hang out with his friends?