Spartancrest

Well I should be able to find it in this 'book' NOT!

Well from my window it is dark and ready to pour down - just like my mood! My 'Photographic memory' [which I don't have] does not let me know where things are - only that I have seen them before. Actually there is another current thread Hamano Tsuba and I know for sure I have seen a guard just like it in recent days but now having gone through forty books, twenty museum sites and lots of searches on tsuba types - it is impossible for me to find it again! Plus my eyes are starting to bleed! I need image recognition software that doesn't confuse a tsuba with a badge, buckle or horse brass! [I will have a talk to the Aliens currently scouting our planet and see what they come up with - while they continue their search for intelligent life on this planet]

Still looking - but it is not looking good! One thing is I am finding other utsushi images to add to other threads! All research has its advantages.

One that got away - https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1060869808 a perfect match for Steves87 Posted February 12 Another from a Japanese book I have [please excuse the glare spot from very shiny paper]

Thanks to Luca's example No. 7 [fantastic!] We now have No. 8 found in the Princeton University Art Museum [No. y1930-124] - https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/19409 it is a close utsushi to the San Diego Museum of Art's example in the first post [1928.25.28] "artmuseum.princeton.edu."

Still looking- Goami/Kiami? I have seen one but WHERE?

I don't think we have seen this one before - it has some features similar to Mauro's Posted November 5, 2018 and Glens example posted Posted April 7 This was found on - https://klefischauktionen.wordpress.com/ [if you like to search through several thousand images! ]

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/6027-jp-samurai-sword-guard-three-kingdoms

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324847344738

I just listed a reworked book on the tsuba from Tadamasa Hayashi's collection - Louvre Museum (1894) and his auction catalogue (1902) both originally in French. Translated now into English. The images are only in B&W and some are grainy due to their source, the orientation and sequence has been altered from the original so that images and information run parallel. The original timeline sequence is maintained but this might be disputed in some cases. [I don't like to alter someone else's work unless an obvious mistake is made.] The book is 86 pages and is not a scholarly piece merely an up-date of otherwise lost information and translated to give more people access. I expect it will become available from more distributors but so far it can be found on these sites. https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Tadamasa-Hayashi/dp/B0BB5QQ8X2/ref=sr_1_18? https://www.amazon.com.au/Tadamasa-Hayashi-Tsuba-Collection-1894/dp/B0BB5QQ8X2/ref=sr_1_1 https://www.amazon.com/Tadamasa-Hayashi-Tsuba-Collection-1894/dp/B0BB5QQ8X2/ref=sr_1_1 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tadamasa-hayashi-tsuba-collection-tadamasa-hayashi/1142031253 I make note that the Japanese Amazon site had the book listed yesterday for much more than it is today- It is also noted that the print on demand book is 'Temporarily out of stock' which is complete BS. I am not a fan of 'middlemen' playing games and 'ripping' people off, so anyone interested can PM me and I will see what the real cost can be reduced to. For those with money to burn you can grab the original French book also from Amazon but the $400+ price tag is a little stiff!

Does it count if the design is in iron? Same number of petals 32. 74 mm x 68 mm x 4 mm 100g. [image is 'lightened' from almost black] Nice piece Grev. Great patina and you don't have to worry about rust!

Luca - you need to give Glen a harder challenge than 50/50 - say 1 in 10?

I have to say there is a discrepancy here - was it the practice of the Chinese to "switch out" their guards when fashions changed like the Japanese did? I have always assumed a Chinese sword came with it's guard and could not be changed due to the handle construction. But the Japanese sword was in fact designed so that the guards could be switched. So there would be many more Japanese namban tsuba available than Chinese if for no other reason than the Chinese swords did not survive and hence the guards as well. Reasonable assumption or not?

kissakai Posted May 17 Does anyone have the contact details for the author S.J. King who wrote the book 'Collecting Tsuba'? Although basic I think this is ideal book for someone thinking about collecting tsuba that is clearly laid out. A few reasonably priced books available in English - I do believe Markus's "Handbook" may be hard to find but great for terminology.

The simple answer is you need some experience and you need to make a few mistakes - like the rest of us. You can always post images of what you are interested in buying, here on NMB, and we will do our best to guide you. I would post just the images if possible, or you may find other people who may be interested in competing with you. Hopefully members would not do this if you make it clear it is something you are likely to buy and have found on your own. It gets more complicated the further into the hobby you go - just check almost any thread and you will see that! "Bad design" - I for one think this is in the eye of the beholder, 'Bad workmanship' is something else.

Back on thread - I don't think we have seen this one before. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/015-sukasi-round-iron-shachihoko-tsuba Long tail ribs/spines gold outlined hitsu and ten-zogan. [I have taken the liberty of lightening the rather dark images]

A. H. Church needs to get on-line and explain how come he doesn't know what is in his own collection? Number SIX. http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10399 Tsuba with banana palm (EAX.11185), Bequeathed by Sir Arthur H. Church, 1915. Another here in the National Gallery of Victoria [Australia] but I am not totally convinced - https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/52213/

Late find - once again from the distant past. - Tadamasa Hayashi collection, 1902. "137. Iron guard chiselled and openwork. Banana tree. Primitive style of the Bushû. 16th c." Well this makes FIVE so can someone let A. H. Church know?

You are right Glen same one going around the merry-go-round. [Not my cup of tea - not enough piercings] The signed variant above - Kubrick version "Eyes Wide Shut" Seriously I think this is a 'type' where the eyes are (badly) glued on, and obviously failed. Similar to the 'Horse and wood cutter'

Piers try this - https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1060519593

A popular theme indeed! Found this one just listed - https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1061055724 Described as 'nanban' - possibly Hizen?

I agree, every collector needs a good magnet! The work involved carving the voids is twenty times more than cutting the voids all the way through, so I believe Glen is correct when he says it is cast. Perhaps reworked? 'Broken' punch ishime finish. I like it regardless! PS. Is the guard tapered or is it the angle of the photo?

One late entry here - https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1058878701 described as Saotome with inlay.

Marcos. This modern copy has just reappeared (mentioned July 12 above) - the design is similar to your fantastic piece, but obviously simpler and crude. [where do they find the designs to start with?] https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1059093133 [At least I will know where to look for the images now - here!] 81 mm × 81.5 mm × 4.5mm Wt.85

Late post but what to make of this? The first tanto size guard with a square hole - neither Chinese nor European pattern. How do we explain this?