Robin

I love good saké! Until a few years ago it was much harder to find nice saké...had to beg to some good restaurant suppliers for the nice stuff. ("no...I don't need 24 bottles...one of this and one of that pretty please"). Now, there's an increasing amount of really good saké available "in the west" ...that's great. And... saké sets are so cute. Kanpai! Robin

Thanks guys! Did a crazy lot of compairing to other tsuba. After eliminating....Owari, Akasaka, Proto-Akasaka...or perhaps Higo after all? I asked Elliot Long...he will ask Robert Haynes. When it turns out to be "just nice" it might go on my iaito...when it's "above just nice"...I won't do that of course. Robin

Martin Hornak from Slovakia.

Indeed, indeed. And just one week later. The typical Japanese (my experience anyway) fantastic customer service did it again! Boxed like they're sending the Crown Jewels What's not to like? Over the moon with this one...floats my boat on so many levels. Still wondering about the school and it's age, but can't have all the answers I guess. Robin

Thanks guys! Still 5 weeks to my birthday, but it feels like it's today now. Kinda strange nobody else bought it before I got the green light. It was on ebay for at least a full week for a (very reasonable) fixed price...no bidding. Lucky me! Robin

Thanks gentlemen! Nice to see I'm not the only one who likes it. (phew!) Unshū-Haruta (Echizen, Izumo?)....that will be pretty obscure. I can't find much about this school. Intriguing! Robin

Hello gents, It's been a while since I got myself a new tsuba, but this one drew my attention...I like it a lot. Will be my birthday present from my wife. Eagerly awaiting now. Photo's are from the seller. Iron, 78,6 x 77,0 mm, thickness nakago ana 5,4 mm, rim 5,8 mm, nakago ana 28,9 x 8,4 mm, 95 grams, mumei. Said to be Edo period. I don't know about the school and age. Tried to match it, but far from sure what it can be (Echizen, Bushu-Ito, Higo....Shoami?) Your wisdom will be appreciated....and hope you like it also. Robin

Lovely! I look forward to hear about your future tea (bowl) adventures.

Congrats! Really nice chawan! There's absolutely nothing wrong with newly made bowls. A good bowl is a good bowl. Old or new, and this certainly looks like a good bowl. I think the first one is special. When you hold it, feel it, look at it and even smell it (the old/used ones can smell "special" ). You say: "first". Plans for more? Cheers, Robin

wow!

totally my taste. Robin

I got myself a new custom made iaito from Nosyudo. The bukuro was a Christmas gift from my wife. From family members....a new hakama, obi and a model from Edo castle. Robin

Well ok, surface mail takes ages, but I saved well over 100 euros with it. Furo and chagama arrived. Until I find the time, peace and right mindset to practise chado, it found it's place in my little museum. I'm very happy with it. It's old and used, but in very good condition. Hardly any rust (it's sticking from grease like hell). Just normal wear from usage. I only cleaned the green oribe glaze on the tile. It was dull from grime. I prefer this crude and simple sand cast iron furo and chagama above the more fancy bronze ones. thanks for watching, Robin

Thanks Alton You're right about the chaire...it's the highest ranking tea ceremony utensil. Not often used anymore, since it's mostly used during the elaborate thick tea (koicha) ceremony. Often in combination with a tenmoko chawan on a tenmoko dai (see top shelf). Nowadays the natsume is more common...and also the highest ranking utensil during the ceremony. The lowest ranking utensil is the kensui (waste water bowl)...placed on the left side of the host...far away from the guests. Out of sight. The chaire or natsume is placed on the right side....closest to the guests. To be admired. Robin

Ah...ok, was already wondering about that seller. Shameful. Robin

Nice! but..$800??? Not in 800 years! I think I payed about 50 for the one I have. No idea whether it's worth more (it doesn't look that special in my untrained eyes), but 800....no way! The ones I have now are all rather basic...start low and climb after learning more, but I doubt I'll ever pay that amount for a tsuba. I still have a nihonto wish and only limited pocket money...must save...and saving isn't my strong side.

Thanks guys! @Steven....indeed, it's a fiercely contested, but well established beachhead. @Stephen...here you are... And the other two shelves... Robin

Hello guys and gals, The stuff I collected over the last year was lying around all over the place. I had no proper way to display what I have. I have "my own" hobby room (man cave), but I like to display it in the living room...not hidden in my dungeon. And that was a bit of a problem. The Commander in Chief (she who has more to say) didn't like the idea of a showcase in the living room. After some debate, bargaining and a sad puppy face....I was assigned a corner. Well...it's something. So...behold my humble corner! Ok...it's small, but that's fine. At least I can display part of my Japanese collection....mostly chawan and other tea ceremony utensils. I'll make seasonal changes, so it will never become boring. Note: bottom shelf is still empty...there will come my "pièce de résistance"...an iron furo and chagame (brazier and tea kettle). It's on it's way, but because of the weight...surface mail....can take months. Thanks for watching, Robin

Thanks Steven, It was special...well, of course a first tea ceremony is always special I guess, but it was. A small (just 2 tatami mats) chashitsu with nijiriguchi ("crawl in") door. Water boiling on the furo brazier....a scroll and small hanging flower vase. Homemade wagashi sweets were served and Usucha (thin) tea was made. I was the first guest. The poem on the scroll was explained, tea was made and the moment that will never come back was enjoyed. I'm used to sitting in seiza for longer periods of time, but this was a new personal record!....ouch! When I post a new slideshow...I'll start a single topic where I can add more later. Keeps this forum nice and tidy. Robin

Your collection is amazing! One thing....you have it all more or less piled up...that doesn't do it justice I think. I can imagine you just have too much collected to display/present it all in a neat manner, but perhaps it's a nice idea to get one nice display cabinet where you can make a weekly or monthly exhibition with a changing selection of what you have? Furthermore.....absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks Steven, A very large sheet of dull grey cardboard does the trick. I love my small Canon Ixus camera....it's performing great when I make close up photo's. (furthermore...not super). Yesterday I attended a tea ceremony and the host asked me to bring this chawan, because he likes it a lot. A very kind Japanese lady also attending translated the grass script on the box for me. "Pine tree hapiness". She pointed out pine trees are always green. That I know, but to her that has a special meaning, but being a Gaijin...I miss the importance of that. The tea for me was presented in my own chawan.....a special feeling and it adds to the emotional value. Happy bunny tea novice me Robin

Thanks for watching Robin

Turning Point: Oribe and the Arts of Sixteenth-Century Japan https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/turning_point_oribe_and_the_arts_of_sixteenth_century_japan I was looking for this book...found it for about $70, but it's available for free also, so.... A good read for those who like to know more about Japanese Momoyama and Edo period pottery. It's for free...it's good, so...go ahead! Robin

It's a (shoto) shinai. New about $40...old no value, because unsafe to use. Robin