Curran

Yes, the one from the 2005 exhibit is mine. Nice write-up by Jim. Much of my introduction to Yagyu was from him. He had a great Norisuke that illustrated the intense filo dough layers seen in the Norisuke copies.

Depending upon what source you read, there is a lot of conjecture as to how they were finished. You read things like that some where put in sand barrels and pounded before finishing. I don't really have an opinion on that. I just like some Yagyu designs. Attached is an image of one of the earlier Yagyu have this sort of filo dough layer to the mimi. Something that strongly says Yagyu when you see it, or possibly a Norisuke copy. Norisuke copies tend to have like 2x the number of layers, so they kinda out themselves as excellent copies.

These are the 4 NBTHK papered Yagyu that I have owned. While you might find one or two in the design books, defining a Yagyu tsuba is a more a mixture of the design+materials+execution. Each of these tsuba has a relatively solid meaning behind the design. Each has the sandy grey grit iron that is associated with Yagyu construction. Each has the squared off mimi. Some have the filo dough layers evident on the mimi, but some do not. Just remember that a lot of Yagyu are not in the design books. Don't get fixated on something from the design books. More over, a lot of other schools copied the ones in the design books. You will have a lot of tsuba that are or Yagyu design, but tick none of the other boxes of what is considered Yagyu. Repeating myself from above: Defining "Yagyu" often comes down to the materials+the design+execution (the geometry, etc.)

The Aoi Arts one is kodai Yagyu-- at best. I have a much better one with old green papers, that is borderline 2nd period Yagyu to early kodai (ie. late Edo) Yagyu. Condition is certainly better than the Aoi Arts one, and I would be glad to sell at that Aoi Arts price. Curran

I read your post while traveling, and couldn't post to NMB while on the road. The Tosa struck me as an exceptional example (I'm partial to the theme), and I am glad to hear both were recovered.

Thanks Paul. Sending a PM now.

This was my experience in the past. After the disaster of a Sept 20-22 ish sale in NYC right after 9/11, where they'd had some sort of guaranteed minimum price with the consignor.... they quit doing Japanese for quite a while. I forget who bought out Sothebys the other year.

It doesn't seem I have any photos of my Bell Owari. @Ed would like that one. I've been meaning to submit it to shinsa for a few years now, but I'm not so keen on shinsa time and opinions these days. To further encourage the love for Ono tsuba, I'm posting an old favorite Tokugawa mon Ono. It is one of those with narly woodknot shaped tottetsu along the mimi.

BOOK INFORMATION REQUEST: does anyone have a copy of "Kamiyoshi-tsuba ehon" or able to help me track down a copy? I mistakenly thought it a Kamiyoshi only book, not realizing it documents a lot of the Hayashi school. It appears I own two tsuba in the book, shown side by side on a page. It would also help in the study of the evolution of a certain design down the schools for 8 to 9 generations.

For a bokken.

I bid on that one. Quickly outbid by someone else.

A yari. Weight alone would make it wrong for an arrowhead. ...Or a very large arrow head for a bolt shot from a ballista. Don't know if the Japanese every had or used ballista, even in naval warfare. And why such a quality head on a ballista bolt? Therefore: A yari. __________________________________________________________________ Looks nicely made too. Grooves reduce the chance of suction. Easier to stick, unstick, and stick someone else.

There was a time that the best buys were found in the USA. Last few years, it seems the best buys are in Europe. Congrats. What is the size (in cm) including thickness (in mm)? And yes, straight up classic early to mid Edo Owari.

Hi Johnny, You should include the measurements. Sado Island tsuba are often robust nice tsuba akin to 3rd gen Akasaka. Given the mines and the shipping there, the iron is often harder and richer in a cold earthy way than Akasaka iron. Very distinct. They are outside the Pantheons of Higo, Owari, and Ko-Goto/Ko-Mino that interest me most, but they have a tactile appeal to them that is very pleasant to me. [edit: ah, I see that Haynes already mentioned the hefty circa third gen Akasaka aspect.]

SOLD