Lorenzo

Piers, back to the tsuba, (ero oyaji, you two) "One distinctive feature is the two large oval windows either side" what does this tells you? Where are you oriented after our suggestion? I can't see any resemblance with Bizen Shoami. If it was only because of the butterfly mon, I think you should widen your research; who suggested that school? The tsuba has papers?

Piers, I see the resemblance in the way the hitsu ana are lined, the seppadai, the mimi and the leaves. See here I'm not saying I am right, just pointing out a feeling. Shoami is the safest hypothesis, when you don't know what it is it's Shoami

If nobody says nothing, I throw in my comment so the other members can correct me :lol: I see some Echizen resemblance.

I'm with Mariusz on this one. Piers, I like your tsuba.

Eh eh eh.. lucky you, when one spend some time with you feels the urge to payback Are you using some kind of pheromones?

Both are Ford Hallam works

With no doubt and much pride:

Can someone who read Japanese better than me check what the description exactly states please? Thank you

Dear Ian, Yes stupid me I mistook the signature with "pearl" in the description.. I really need more attention when I translate Sorry for that.

This morning while digging for pictures I found this: http://www.tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/b00044.html I am not sure if I get it right, but it seems that is made in China during the middle of the Edo Jidai. It exhibits tiny MOP inlays (flowers and signature) and it's well crafted. Any comment? Do you know the story behind this craftsman(s)? Regards, Lorenzo

Yes, we discussed the matter time ago about suspicious blade signed Ono yoshimitsu

I must add though; please sign your posts with your real name as par rules. I see you are from Tokyo, as the "new shop" is; perhaps you can go and check in person

Welcome to the forum. I never saw the shop before, but the prices of the item you show seems reasonable to me. Regards, Lorenzo

Now that I see his face I get what you mean Piers.. Maybe to blow into that thing was the culprit You look good but the horse face really kills the drama :lol: [edit]

Both works

Piers I was worried about you (and the horse) and I missed this post... thanks for the report. :D

In my personal opinion, I don't think it is a tourist item. It is a simple kozuka, but genuine of the period. The material may be gold gilded shakudo, and the horses probably gilded copper or silver (can't figure out by that picture alone)

François, I would forget that Tou to be the signature. Believe me, it's not. Do not concentrate on it; you have an average Edo Jidai Kozuka, which exhibit a nice humor and a clear "kesho" copper grain. Be happy with it but don't fool yourself in trying to establish any link with any great artist of Japanese history. That Tou isn't the signature of the piece, it is a decoration Regards, L

Thank you Reinhard For my education, can you please tell me if I am seeing correctly your image? Are the two traits I marked in red not written or very short? (could be a kantei point) and is the blue trait done as I marked? Thank you in advance Lorenzo

Brian, you got me At least this kozuka gave us an opportunity to discuss about the alternative yasuchika name.

Who knows why it isn't there. Somewhere in time space it became lost. Could be broken, damaged, stolen or sold by itself.. you will never know. I am afraid to say that if you need a replacement you will probably need to have something custom made. That will be the only way to guarantee a perfect fit.

You are welcome. While we are on this topic just another thing you can see on the tsuba about his name; while the mei Yasuchika was signed using Kaisho 楷書, the regular script calligraphy, Touu　東雨 is often (always?) written in Tensho 篆書. Tensho is the seal script calligraphic style.

It has to do with the shipping. When you sell on ebay, if you offer international shipping while creating the listing, it will show in every country (except countries where that kind of object is forbidden by local ebay rules) To see the listing in various languages you just need to manually change the top level domain on your browser link. Example: France (.fr) http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390305391485&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Italy (.it) http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390305391485&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT International (.com) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390305391485&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Uk (.co.uk) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390305391485&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT And so on

That is the latter (monk) name of Yasuchika, Reinhard is spot on. There are few tsuba signed like that, one of the most famous being this one: I don't think the kozuka is made by Tsuchiya Yasuchika though. The kanji could be a tribute by a latter artist.

That's the point. It doesn't make a lot of sense to say that it depends on nationality. Do you trust a seller to be honest and perfectly informed because of where he comes from? Or you don't exactly for the same reason? You should instead be able to judge what you are bidding on for what it is.