Curran

quadrilobe? Someone failed geometry.

Inside the nakago ana of the Ko-Shoami I'd guess the museum got it in the 1920s or 1930s, so this tsuba saw WWII relatively safe in Denmark. And another pic of the Uchigatana ko-kinko. It has a doppleganger in the Sukashi tsuba book.

For the next two weeks, offering out 3 tsuba. (1) Large Ko-shoami . About 9.17cm large. Thin. Ex-Denmakr Museum. Acquisition #812 $1200 I spoke to Bob Haynes on the phone about this one. He thinks 1450 - 1500. I'd lean towards 1500 AD. (2) Owari of Matsukawa design. The books reference the design as Kanayama, but I feel this one is Owari. $750 (3) Ko-kinko bronze uchigatana tsuba of Chrysanthemum design. Original black lacquer. $550 Original black lacquer. Muromachi-early Momoyama kozuka ana. Custom fitted or raised fitted boxes. Shipping in the USA $20 Shipping abroad: Depends on your country. We will discuss appropriate Customs Declaration, per your needs. PM me your questions or interest via NMB. I'll cross post this to the Facebook groups tomorrow. -Curran [Chris in ATL]

I too bought a tsuba from Bonham's Skinners (Marlborough, MA). Pre-tariff, I think premium, expensive shipping, and USA urban sales tax added +70% to the price. Then the expense of getting it NBTHK papered was about 175% of what I would have spent pre-tariff. All in all, not the bargain I originally thought it.

Hey... No worries! Good tsuba. There are a few of us in the USA that collect Norisuke tsuba and might put an exhibit together some day. I figured one of them had gotten this example. Though subtle, it pulls off the water ripple effect very well. It makes Hotei's bag look very fluid and generous. Even though I am a part time Corp Tax CPA, I totally got my own taxes wrong under the new USA tax laws. It will even out next year, but I owe a lot more than expected this year. Missing out on that tsuba was simply a casualty of timing and cash flows. I really did think it was going to one of the collectors in the USA.

I was an underbidder on the Norisuke, though it seems you and another bidder took it above my attempt to steal it. It is published in the Nagoya NBTHK Norisuke book, along with a smaller companion, as part of a daisho set. I also believe that there is a rubbing of it in the Norisuke sketch book, as illustrated in the back of the Nagoya NBTHK Norisuke book. God of luck's treasure bag.

Higo-san also has good stuff. I've dealt with him and can definitely recommend him .

Longtime but spartan collector: I purchased a kogai recently, so something need come out of that part of the tansu. If Ko-Goto is something you appreciate, i would be willing to sell my worn arrow quiver Ko-Goto arrow n quiver kozuka at $500. There is a similar example for sale in Japan, and similar published in the 2014 DTI catalog. The question is worn Ko-Goto within your aesthetic? To me, the 1500s black beetle shakudo is appealing, but the wabi-sabi aesthetic is not for all. For what it is worth, I did a lot of archery and do look at the arrow tosogu whenever I see it. If you are looking for a specific theme, I can always mention it to you when I see something. PM me, if interested. Curran

1,500,000 yen? *cough* *cough again* Be careful. Goodwill has been the recipient of at least 2 duds I bought over the years, but almost $10,000 is a big hit to take. As much as I am disillusioned with the current NBTHK, I'd want to see papers on something like this. I don't see any mention of papers. Instead, the dealer has written " As this piece is presented in its original, "fresh-from-the-workshop" state, it does not yet have a fitted paulownia wood box (one will be commissioned and prepared for the buyer). " Yes, very fresh from the workshop appearance. Kids..... Be very careful.

I haven't really studied this. Quite the old thread. An international member in one of the other groups I co-moderate sent me an image of a well known Sekibun dragon tsuba. He also sent me images of some iron ones that were visually very convincing as a .jpg I was aware that the Swimming Carp Sekibun design was also a target of casting, copying, or or other technique. Within a month or so of his convincing evidence to me, this popped up on a dealer site: https://www.samurai-nippon.net/SHOP/VT-038.html

Owari kinko or any attribution? Not that it matters much, if mumei- enjoy them. Complicated and pretty f/k with little wear. Nice.

Skip was an esteemed collector, mentor, and friend. I found him to be an old style gentleman of sharp perception and soft manner. His technical understanding and aesthetics were very high. He will be remembered and missed by many of us who were able to know him. I wish the best to his family.

Thanks David. I haven't done much with the website other than 'hang a shingle' out there. The website host is a bit antiquated. With time, I will work around some of their quirks. Probably after tax season is done. It looks like the Auction is winding down now. I'm watching final prices pop up.

VERY GOOD POST BY COLIN> This is my favorite _half gimei_ Purchased in 2007. Now Tokubetsu Hozon NBTHK. Signed on the front by shodai Norisuke. Signed on the back by nidai Norisuke with his early signature "Norishige". It bounced around Europe for many years as a gimei. I bought it and studied it. Over time and with Tanobe-san help, I came to feel that the 'gimei' mistakes on the front were consistent with the nidai's handwriting. This design was known to be one of the last ones done by the shodai. There is a dated one on record. As the shodai lay ill and dying one winter, it seems the nidai finished the work and partially forged his adoptive dad's signature. Thus, it passed shinsa as a daisaku finished by the nidai. If we didn't have extensive records of the shodai and nidai, this one would have been declared "GIMEI' by the public at large. Judges things by the workmanship. Some people collect signatures, but sometimes you just have to appreciate a finely made piece and ignore the signature. I too like the kozuka of Kansan sweeping. Some of the gold inlay, [on his leggings] is the work of someone very skilled. Nice kozuka. Workmanship is good. --You get sick of it, I will trade you something for it.

Gimei happen. They happen a lot. Sometimes the false signatures are on otherwise beautiful works. I've love two or three for the workmanship, knowing the signature wasn't authentic.