Justin

Thanks Gents. Will take a look.

I'm visiting Paris late next month and wanted to know whether there were any museums with tosogu on display. I know we have some French members and would appreciate their advice. Merci.

Perhaps used for decoration. Maybe there were times when you wanted a light koshirae, i.e. tsunagi and wooden tsuba. This could have been for ceremonial occasions when you had to wear the daisho for long periods of time and you were in an environment where no fighting would occur. Just a thought. Please find attached an example of a wooden tsuba that I came across recently. I thought it was iron until I picked it up. The lacquer has an iron affect to it. Probably would have fooled most people if mounted on a sword.

Thanks Gents. Much appreciated.

Wondering if anyone can help translate the titles of these two books. Thanks very much.

Here is one of my tsuba. Mito school. Not sure if Dutch or Portuguese.

I agree with Arnold. This is a rare and interesting book. Lots of nice tsuba in there. Who are the hollywood actors who collected sword fittings?

I didn't know this existed. Any idea where I can get the translation for previous DTI catalogues? Thanks!

Some great iron tsuba in this book. Wish I could have attended the exhibition.

Some of the dealers/exhibitors in the Great Hall

Swords and fittings belonging to UK collectors

We were treated to a lecture on the history and use of Japanese polearms by Roald Knutsen, a lecture on Hizento by Clive Sinclaire as well as a lecture on Yamato swords by Paul Bowman and Mike Hickman-Smith. In the various rooms in the castle there were interesting displays of armour lacing by Robert Soanes, sword polishing by Les Stewart and tsuka binding by Mick Hicks. The Denys Eyre Bower Collection

Various lectures and demonstrations

Just back from the Token Taikai event at Chiddingstone Castle in Kent. As promised please find below some photos. We were treated to a lecture on the history and use of Japanese polearms by Roald Knutsen, a lecture on Hizento by Clive Sinclaire as well as a lecture on Yamato swords by Paul Bowman and Mike Hickman-Smith. In the various rooms in the castle there were interesting displays of armour lacing by Robert Soanes, sword polishing by Les Stewart and tsuka binding by Mick Hicks. Many collectors brought along items for display and we also had Denys Eyre Bower's collection of Japanese art and antiques which is permanently on display in the Castle. I'm not sure of the final numbers, however I would estimate we had around 60 people for the dinner on Saturday night and maybe 100-120 people on Sunday. Thanks very much for Ian Chapman and Paul Bowman for organising such a great event. Photos of the dinner on Saturday night

See you tomorrow everyone. The camera is packed so I'll post lots of photos next week Cheers Justin

I remember selling my two copies for $50 each. Times have changed!

Yes Al. Some nice, nice things over here. :D Hope all is well with you.

Tosa Myochin.

Akasaka. Mid-late Edo.

Beautiful tsuba Antti. Well done!

Nice little tsuba. I wonder if perhaps this is the work of the Sendai school? I have seen a similar design on a fuchi kashira by Sendai Kiyosada.

Wow, looks great Barrie. Well done.

Nice kozuka Barrie

Very nice Bruno. Have a look at Dale's second fuchi on this page: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17774 Similar coral inlay.

Tsuba number 5 reminds me of this one (which I once owned a long time ago).