Spartancrest

I have to agree with John J. the ten-zogan is real and what remains of it is well done. I would say the theme is Chrysanthemum flower on water like Thomas S. suggested "Floating Chrysanthemum" = kikusui. The waves are a bit hurried but I have seen worse.

Thanks for the link Ford, I have seen that post before, it is of some interest that the example seen in that first post has sekigane - the only one I have ever seen. How it was put in is a great mystery as you would expect the guard being so brittle would break. I should have said I agree with the lighting, the change in background was probably to simulate the original picture from the previous owner? Not blaming the 'fixed' photo, you do need the before and after shot for the effect of the damage.

Ford I believe either the first image before the break already showed a hairline crack. - - or the first image is just the two pieces pushed back together and thus shows the 'before' image after it was already broken. I have seen a number of these rather fragile guards broken into two , three or more pieces almost as if they were made of glass, some even set up for sale, with plenty of glue in evidence from hasty and in my opinion useless repair. Broken or not there are so many of these out there for sale that I can only feel sad that anyone would/has paid more than a few dollars for them. They are in their own way worth about the same as any of the fake Chinese alloy decorations that resemble tsuba - because they aren't tsuba.

The image seems to have disappeared from the previous post - replay.

I was sent this image taken from facebook (face-ache) from S. King in Western Australia - he knows my pet peeve about these things - it would be funny, but I don't suppose the owner got it cheap enough to see the funny side. [Supa Glue work on cast iron?] There is always a replacement available https://www.jauce.com/auction/o439044478 one almost every week in fact!

This week on a Japanese auction site two virtually identical tanto tsuba were offered, the first was not papered and started at a low 1,000 yen price, this increased slowly as you would expect to around 5,000 in a few days - then the other papered version turned up with a buy it now price of 600,000 yen - this seemed to set the bidders off on the first guard, I suppose because they saw a 'real bargain' until some 'lucky' person finally won the first guard for 34,360 yen [$340 USD] Now for its size and condition that sounds about right - however the seller had obviously also seen the papered example's price and figured he wasn't getting anywhere near as much, so pulled it at the last second. What all who took part, got wrong, was accepting the papered example was worth the near $6,000 US. There are some condition problems with the first guard but nothing that can't be corrected, and the papered version is not perfect either. I can't help wondering what the first guard would have sold for if the papered version had been listed next week? You may also note one guard is described as Yagu while the other is Owari - which is correct?

I have seen this design a number of times, usually two moths/butterflies facing each other. Yours seems to be incorporating other details reminiscent of a temple gong in the top part of the design. Is the reverse the same or with the elements inverted?

Michael, the Kinai 'school' was well known for its production of Aoi pattern guards, they were produced in some numbers and as usual in various states of quality. Yours shows no casting signs, but I would agree the Mei looks 'hasty'. A large number are from 'student' craftsmen who happily signed their work with the masters name. Yas's example only goes to prove the numbers made. Another two examples with the same signature.[sorry for the partial image] Another similar to yours [ura view] and an even more common version. [the right hand pattern are so common they are still being copied] One going on auction now as well. https://www.jauce.com/auction/s784060301 I hope the images are of some use for comparison. [As you noted the nakago-ana is the fingerprint and the tagane-ato are the clincher for individual guards.] Regards Dale.

As an update the 'pot -lid' attracted 24 bids and sold for 16,000 yen. Someone thought it was good!

Found this on a Japanese auction site, what are your opinions? A true tsuba or a modified begging bowl? There is no visible evidence that it has ever been mounted and is not decorated in anyway. , https://www.jauce.com/auction/j690128184

http://mon.xavid.us/Mon/Three Color Diamond Banner

English translation of the Georg Oeder collection. https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Decoration-ornament-collection-Dusseldorf/dp/1364114488 https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/94725053/posts/2485101137 Not that you will need it Peter!😉

Good work Yas. The reed leaves are very common, I have seen a few that are cracked or broken because they are cast iron. I personally like the design because they look like eucalyptus leaves (Australian gumtree leaves)🦘

Pietro - Yes another clone, the signature is clearer than most. The nakago-ana has all the common features. The asking price is exorbitant!

Florian I have a guard of a similar design and one not mine. Image of one almost identical to your picture and a display board I made in the same shape. Still looking for a temple with the design like the original post - could be what is represented?

Adam you may have something there with the temple eaves being part of the top and bottom designs - this picture is not exactly the same design but I have noticed most temples have a unique ornament at the corner of the roof and carved eaves. It may even be possible to find a match on a temple from the area of the tsuba's manufacture, if that is in fact what it represents?

Adam - Like having bats in the Belfry - I think it has a different meaning in the Western world!😇 There is another design on the guard that has already been described as crossed 'hammers' they reminded me of guard I have, that I call a teapot but is in fact a Taiko drum with an attached drumstick - could they be crossed drumsticks? The hitsu-ana being used to represent drums at the same time? It would be a clever use of the hitsu as a design element. Maybe I am just 'banging on'

Back to the original image - It is a bird, but if you go out at night it could be a bat - who could tell the difference in the dark!😉 What seems to be the problem is which end is the head and what the tail? Vague!

Hi Dick I am inclined to agree with Grey. Are they weighty? Bit unclear but are they pins or loops underneath? If they had flat bottoms they could be calligraphy paperweights 文鎮 (bunchin - pronounced "boon-chin"). These are often beautifully crafted with whimsical decorations for holding the parchment steady while the calligrapher wields the brush. The pins/loops may have been added to repurpose them - big fancy buttons? See topic -

Hi Grev I found this reference on Noh masks. The local macque monkey as you probably know are called 'Saru' "A collective name for Noh and kyōgen used until the start of the Meiji era. Sarugaku derives from sangaku, which came to Japan from the Tang Dynasty during the Nara era and was combined with ancient Japanese comedies. Sarugaku flourished during the Heian and Kamakura eras, and was at the time strongly comedic and broad based, including skits, acrobatics and magic. In the middle of the Kamakura era Sarugaku split into Noh, with a more serious dramatic nature, and kyōgen, with more comedic dialogue, and the two began to be collectively known as Sarugaku. After that, until the end of the Meiji era both Noh and kyōgen actors were called Sarugaku, but during the Meiji era when Noh began to receive the support of the nobility, the term saru (or “monkey”) fell out of favor, and the two began to be called nohgaku." It may be a tongue in cheek poke at taking life too serious, or may show what the owner prefered as far as entertainment - just a theory.

Hi Yas, yes I saw the glued one last week on Jauce, no bids at all! I have seen prices of $800 US. for one, that is taking someone to the cleaners! Yahoo and Jauce must be linked as items appear on both sites and finish at the same time. Getting back to Roger, there were over 41 bids on that first auction before it was cancelled, if they were by the auctioneer or owner why so many small increments? Jauce already has the ability to let the owner put in a reserve or starting price. I have 'won' auctions a few times, then been told the bids were closed at the last second [ in reality up to a day later by the seller] Am I naive to believe there should be some ethics in auctions? Getting back to the gist, Yas has shown that there are a lot of these souvenirs out there so just be aware and if you do happen to like them, try getting them for the cheapest price.

Yas I see the dealer pulled the auction at 25,000 yen - not enough money for him? I also see it is relisted today with starting bid of 1,000 yen - the dealer is persistent! [he should have taken the money offered]

I have been following these cast guards for literally years now and am often surprised at what people are prepared to pay for scrap metal. Is it the false advertising of "Edo period" is it the shape - perhaps the poorly cast mei that is more often than not illegible ? It can't be the rarity, they turn up week after week. I do hope the members of NMB are not active in this auction, the starting price of 1,000 yen was already above it's value and that only because of the storage box included. [It is missing the cardboard box it came out of the factory with.] (current bid at twelve hours from finish is just over 16,000 yen) https://www.jauce.com/auction/u389417633

I like the first, top left love the shape and the centre bottom with the ten-zogan - far right bottom is as you say cast, even so there are some good casts and very poor casts yours looks all right. I usually come across three or four of these cast dragons every week in various metals though more usual in cast iron - today I can find only this one. [is that good or bad?] https://www.jauce.com/auction/t568921943

I agree with Chris Sch - a bad artist. Or at least a confusing one.😬 Sure has got a lot of speculation going - never a bad thing.