cdrcm12

Thanks Alex. I wonder if the owner wanted to refresh it's look, influenced by what was in vogue at the time. It doesn't appear to have been damaged, it's in pretty good condition.

Thanks Dale, that makes sense. There do seem to be marks on the sekigane that would indicate filling to fit a blade or the movement of the tsuba over a nakago. Colin, I think you may be on to something. It does seem odd that various mountains have been cut off, example on the rear face below at 9 o'clock: May also explain the the uncertainty around the school, if these were normal hitsu-ana would Jakushi attribution be easier.

Thanks Lewis and Curran, To your point on Jakushi, from Bob Haynes site. The theme is similar, the write up points to the influence of Chinese Nanga Literati paintings as a source of inspiration for Jakushi artists.

Thanks all. There was just that nagging seed of doubt from the auctioneers description. Will look into Takada school. Geraint, I think the 'modern reproduction' may be put people off from the auction, sometimes luck goes your way as well!

A recent auction purchase that I took a chance on as it was described in the catalogue as 'A modern reproduction of a late 19thC Japanese cast metal tsuba'. I had studied the auctioneers pictures and I was pretty sure it wasn't a modern copy as I could see nunome-zogan, the sekigane around the seppa dai and hitsu ana looked like good copper inserts, the figures on the bridge looked typical of ones I have seen on other tsuba and it appeared to come with an old higher spec custom box. I'm no expert here and I may be totally wrong but now I have it in hand it looks authentic? Dimensions: Height 85.5mm Width 83.0mm Seppa dai 5.1mm Mimi with gold fukurin 5.2mm There's a few questions if you don't mind: The hitsu ana seem unusual for Soten compared to others I have looked at, is it Soten or in the style of? It doesn't look to have been mounted, and again the large sekigane for the hitsu ana I've not seen before, is this unusual? Having looked at Japanese paintings on-line to try determine the scene or tale it represents nothing jumps out with three travellers/sages admiring the mountain view with shrine/temple in the distance, any thoughts or is it just a nice scene? Thanks for looking and welcome any feedback.

Just received my latest purchase from Grev, as always a pleasure to deal with and no qualms regarding the quality of the tsuba. Would highly recommend buying from Grev.

Would you class Naomichi as a member of the Ichinomiya school, being the son and student of Ichinomiya Norinao?

Looks to be Naomichi, Tetsugendo school

All, Thank you for your responses, a couple of options to further explore. Dale, I'll take a look at that thread.

Bump - £115 + shipping Shipping - £10 UK £20 international

I've been trying to identify the school for this one, a common theme of tea ceremony utensils. Dimensions below: Shape: Nagamaru-gata Mimi: Maru-mimi Height: 69.5mm Width: 65.5mm Mimi thk: 4.65mm Seppa dai thk: 4.85mm Nakago ana: 23mm x 7mm I thought possibly Choshu or Kinai but not too sure, hence the question. At one point I even thought Akasaka but I don't think it's a theme this school would have used. Any thoughts welcome.

All, Thank you for your responses, these have given me food for thought. On reflection I agree with Dirk and Florian the theme is around rice planting. Florian's picture of the farmers in the paddy field certainly rings with the design on the front, with three farmers on the left and two on the right, with the small gold vertical inlays the actual rice plants (although not the normal uniform planting). This may also account for the horizontal carvings in each quadrant on the front, representing the water in the paddy field. Similar on the back. The pole and flags may well be a simple scare crow! Your thoughts and insights are very much appreciated.

I recently purchased this tsuba and whilst the mei is a standard Kaneie I believe it's probably an Aizu Shoami copy in the 'style' of Kaneie. What I'm unable to figure out is the theme of the tsuba. It looks to be a group of stylised people on the front either side of a path or road, with possibly trees? On the reverse, again it appears to be groups of people near a path or road but this time there is a pole with ropes with flags/banners? on it. I thought possibly a Shinto festival but a search hasn't revealed anything that looks similar. I may be well off but your thoughts would be most welcome. Dimensions: H: 70.0mm W: 69.0mm Mimi: 3.75mm Seppa dai: 4.35mm One small piece of inlay missing on the back at 5 o'clock but interestingly the original left a gap in the inlay for the seppa here.

Hi Brian, I could ship internationally but need to check costs to US, I don't think there's any export charges this but not sure about customs your side of the pond. Just checked approx. £20 to ship internationally

Bump - £125 + shipping Happy New Year!

For sale an iron Akasaka style Yatsuhashi tsuba, with unusual hammer finish (ishime-ji or arashi-ji), not corrosion. Asking £150 + shipping. Details below: Maru-gata Maru mimi H: 75mm W: 75mm Mimi: 6.1mm Seppa dai: 6.45mm Nakago-ana: 25.5mm x 7.5mm

Just a short note to say thanks to Grev for an excellent service. The tsuba I purchased, posted yesterday and arrived today, securely packed. A pleasure, as always to deal with,

This one from Artur Drogameicza was posted on Facebook yesterday. Very similar, almost identical.

Thanks again Dale.

I had a read of Malcolm Coxs' reference guide on Kinai, which very useful. I'm more inclined to say Kinai, with possible Shoami influence. Will look further into which of the two Kinai families it could be attributed to.

Hi Dale, thanks, I hadn't seen this, very similar. Will try copy the images for the record.

Thanks all for your comments. I did think Kinai at one point.

Dear NMB, I've had this tsuba for a short time and have been studying it to identify a school. My thoughts are between Kyo-sukashi or Heianjo-sukashi. Whilst these school are very closely linked I'm leaning more to Heianjo. Would welcome any expert thoughts please? Details of tsuba below, with a couple of images: Aoi or hollyhock design Maru-gata Kaku mimi ko-niku H: 78mm W: 78mm Mimi: 5.01 - 5.45mm Seppa dai: 4.75mm (Nakabiku) Nakago-ana: 27mm x 8mm

Hi Adam, Nice Tembo tsuba, I have a very similar one, size 86mm x 80mm, image below: My research indicates the mimi is maru with uchi-kaeshi at four corners, Saotome style carved rim. If you search 'hot stamps' in the NMB you should be able to identify the ones on your tsuba.

Hi, A recent purchase from a local auction house. A Heianjo piece unfortunatley almost all of the hira zogan has gone except for some very minute pieces and the karigane on the spokes of what I believe is a 24 spoke wheel, but it would have been very nice when first made. The zogan extends over the mimi but most of this has worn away. The hitsu ana looks to be plugged with lead. Shows the level of work that has gone into produce the inlay. The Buddist symbolism of the piece I think relates to Ashoka? H: 82mm W: 79.5mm Mimi: 5.4mm Seppa dai: 4.50mm (Nakabiku) Nakago-ana: 28mm x 8mm There is a similar piece in the Jameel Centre - http://jameelcentre..../7/10237/10344/20053 but is a chrysanthemum. Noted as 17th century. PS - it's not as bright as it looks in the images.