Curran

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KANAYAMA for Sale $1000 . Dark, sandy, Owari, quite the strong yakite. Straight out of Sengoku Warring States period. Efficient at 6.9cm x 6.6cm and stout at 5.25mm (5.5mm at a few tekkotsu). It is slightly bowl shaped down to about 4.95-5mm at the seppa dai. This one has strong yakite close to melting point. Partially from that, I would date to around 1590-1600 in my opinion. From one angle, it is glossy bright. From the other angle, it is pitch Owari river iron uranium grey-blue-black. Color totally depend on the angle of the light hitting. If interested, please PM or email to cur@irontsuba.com www.irontsuba.com

Higo-lite? It resembles the earlier works of this design, but has a crudeness that makes me think later or much later. A member here has one, but I cannot share the photo without his permission. I believe this design is also documented and published in Ito-san's texts. Probably in Shimizu-Jingo volume, though it might be in Hayashi as well.

That is unique in my long memory. Seppa dai is wow. Good clean signature too. Akasaka is known for experimenting with some interesting designs, but this one also plays heavily with the texture and flow. Ah, those boxes are so difficult and expensive to get now.

It looks that way. Very different from the tsuba signatures.

Eh, magari. You have no idea how much my Italian has declined in the last 35 years. Even then, if my Italian or Japanese were ever as good as your English??? Non ci credo.

Man.... some serious collectors came at me fast on that one. Me'thinks I underpriced it. Thanks all. Maybe a Kanayama up in a few days. Curran cur@irontsuba.com

And SOLD.... in less than 30 minutes. Unfortunately, not on NMB.

And ON HOLD....

We have Goto Kenjo and others going up from Edo over to visit the Maeda. We also have abumi workers form there sort of teaching the reverse technique to fittings makers. Quite the artistic commune back in the day. My thoughts were more... what artists hitched a ride to the art commune back in the day? Colin's tsuba has the feel of someone familiar with Chinese painting style or screenwork, and the placement and zogan from Kaga works starting sometime in the 1600s. My thought is that there is at least a year or two there where he must have been up near Kanazawa and learned a trick, ... or five... Just it feels like a lot of Kaga influence in this. Given the supposed production period of the artist, gotta think something is missing from his bio.

Mega sized Ono of Tokugawa Crest. 17 sizeable tekkotsu, and weighs in at 161 grams. 6.5 to 6.7mm thick x 7.65cm x 7.5cm $1250 This is my favorite Ono and has everything that defines Ono as the steroided cousin to Kanayama. Comes with fitted box. Take my best as I build funds for another Juyo tsuba. (Cur) Chris Campbell irontsuba.com

Thanks Steve. I didn't see this post until now. I had my head turned by a Hoan the other day. We'll see if I end up on target in April, or coming back with something else. I have to halt this listing, as the -sho just papered in Japan. Got to get the -sho back, and consider listing as a Dai-sho set. The Dai- came from Ito-san. The Sho- came from a pre WW2 collection in Massachussets. How do we know they were a Dai-sho.... well, not 100% confirmed, but looks like they are recorded back in the 1800s Kamiyoshi Ehon records of Hayashi tsuba. Off to post the Mega-sized Tokugawa Ono next.

Wow! That is earlier than I would have thought for some of the techniques used on the tsuba. Kinda like seeing a Boeing Jet and thinking it is 1969, only to learn the image is from 1869.... I am aware of some Kaga area Abumi artisans transferring some of their style of workmanship to tsuba around the 1650-1700 era, But I have to admit that I would have dated this tsuba closer to 1800.

This was RKG : https://www.rkgphotos.com/about.htm I believe he was in his late 50s. Has there been an obit for him? @Grey Doffin how did you hear this? I'd hoped he would get through his surgeries.