Bazza

A friend of mine has a number of Komai pieces and I like the work. Another mate once turned up a card case so I did some google searching that I now attach here for those interested in Komai. The Komai founder's early career was indeed in sword fittings. Here is a brief biog - the source acknowledgement is in the attached document: =============================================================================== The Komai Company is thought to have started production at the very end of the Edo period (1615-1868); the effective founder of the company, Komai Otojiro I (1842-1917), learned his metalworking skills from a maker of sword-fittings and in 1865 became head of the Komai family. Otojiro continued to make sword fittings until the abolition of sword-wearing in 1876, but even before he had started exploiting the export market, he was making ornaments for sale to foreign residents of the port of Kobe. His business prospered thanks in part to his association with the dealer Ikeda Seisuke and his work was shown at foreign exhibitions, probably starting with the Nuremberg Metalwork Exhibition of 1885. He retired in 1906 and his son Seibei (1883-1970) took the name Otojiro II, continuing to work until 1912. It is thought that larger pieces such as model pagodas started to be made during the latter period of the company's activity; one pagoda was acquired by the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, in 1915. =============================================================================== On Komai sword fittings the V&A has a MAGNIFICENT Komai tachi koshirae with a Gassan Sadakazu blade. See here: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O90838/sword-and-scabbard/ I also attach 2 pictures of a Komai cigarette case encountered in my wanderings through diverse collections. Best regards, BaZZa. GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS FOR KOMAI KEYWORDS.doc

Not much to offer from me, but having seen a reasonable number of Komai pieces I opine NOT Komai. This is earlier work IMHO. BaZZa.

All, So, I see one (1) copy has sold to Australia. Since I have a copy it must be me!! I want to endorse this book to anyone seriously interested in tsuba and I sincerely hope to see a lot more sales to Australia. For what is in the book it is a cheap and excellent addition to any Nihonto library. It has already helped me almost equally to a Shinsa!! More when I have found the right Round Tuit... Bestests, BaZZa.

Franco mate, this is a Nagoyamono and surely not an example of 'good shakudo'??? Did you mis-type the address by any chance??? Any other opinions as to 'good shakudo'??? BaZZa.

BUT... is right. Its not like any SUO MORITOSHI I've seen (2 in new polish). The menuki looks good, methinks, and the poor-looking, neglected tsuba may be OK. BUT the blade... I tend to thinking its a Chinese knockoff... It will be interesting to see if this comes to light anywhere else. BaZZa.

Ahhhh, blast from the past... Time for some trumpet blowing - the photos are mine, as are some number in that book. I remember that sword very well. I think the camera I had at the time was a Pentax Spotmatic, now using a Canon 18-megapixel box. Gotta say Darcy and rkg make me feel like a Kindergarten Kid! The joy continues, still taking photos all these years later. I'll have some more to put up in the near future. Bestests, BaZZa.

Spotted in my email inbox: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/rare-Japanese-cloissonne-bronze-samari-helmet-urn-4964CCCB0E?utm_source=house&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=exclusive&utm_content=art091017 I like cloisonne, but this object???? BaZZa.

TH for this sword??? I'll believe it when I see it. Decades ago I had a NAGAMITSU with the same kanji but without SAKU. I lived with this for a time looking at it carefully and comparing it to the rest of my collection as it was. This Nagamitsu did nothing for me and in the end I sold it... Don't regret it to this day. BaZZa.

STUNNING!!! BaZZa.

Where is the green???? In Japan "Green Car" on the railways is First Class, I guess the equivalent of Pullman in the USA. That's why Green Papers (once upon a time) were Green!! The chirimen green that used to be 'de rigeur' in fittings boxes seems to not hold sway these days. Why?? Does anybody know??? BaZZa.

The last picture suggests two things to me (1) that the clay simply fell off the blade there during yakiire, or (2) that the smith might have been attempting to create O-koshiba of the Kamakura period. I have seen a Shinto/Shinshinto katana that had a very good representation of O-koshiba. BaZZa.

Recently I came across a couple of articles on kintsugi. Links for your interest: https://www.worthpoint.com/articles/blog-entry/kintsugi-repair-techniques https://www.worthpoint.com/articles/blog-entry/secret-Japanese-art-kintsugi-brings Bestests, BaZZa.

BRILLIANT... BaZZa.

Drearie me, 6 weeks to pick up on this!! I thought this thread could do with a bump as Grev's work to get this book to print is amazing. I've been collecting 50+ years and for Grev to have accomplished this after coming into Nihonto in 2012 is a stunning compliment to his enthusiasm and persistence - with a little help from his friends, as the saying goes. I think John Johnson (Post #3) said it well: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All in all I feel that it is a very well thought out and presented book with sufficient breadth to appeal to those who are at the start of their tsuba collecting, or who dabble occasionally like myself, but also some depth to attract the more experienced collector in terms of good pictures of tsuba from well-respected schools that have been hidden away until now and sample signatures of their makers. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I heartily agree with John's comments. For myself there was a surprise. Having bought a couple of tsuba recently I found a mate on page 31 of the book, the bottom rhs tsuba from the Choshu Nakai group of iris leaves and flowers. When I have photos that accurately show the colour of this tsuba I'll start a thread on it because I have some questions. BaZZa. EDIT: For those new to this thread and Grev's book the below thread outlines the genesis of the book: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13514-re-listed-tsuba/

I believe the technical term is "clipped point"??? BaZZa.

A friend sent me this link for my interest. Thought I'd share it here: https:/www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/miniature-Japanese-matchlock-pistol-netsuke-9534CECAA2 BaZZa.

IMHO the bonji look strange and somewhat crude compared to well-executed ones I have seen. Even the way the kanji TOMOYUKI are incised looks not quite right to my eye. Are we looking at a higher end Chinese knockoff here??? BaZZa.

Pete, I love the way you think!! BaZZa. (Old and Seasoned Campaigner in the double entendre ++ vein)

But the yasurime (not yasurimei) look VERY unprofessional and not from the hand of a Japanese artisan. BaZZa.

Time taken for a better job = $$$$$$$ BaZZa.

WOW!!!! Anthony, did you acquire that multi-barrel matchlock from Australia, by any chance??? BaZZa (still reeling)

OTTOMH - Satsuma?? Very late, likely even 1920s-30s. The dot technique is possibly for Western tourists??? But what do I know... BazZa.

Beloved Brethren, Here is one for the photo enthusiasts: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/massive-military-photographic-archive-mostly-wwi-56A46BDA1A?utm_source=house&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=exclusive&utm_content=jam080717 The description is very lengthy so to whet interest I'll just post the introductory words plus selected excerpts: ==================================================================================== Lot 2062: MASSIVE MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE, MOSTLY WWI-WWII, AMERICAN, ALLIED, GERMAN, Japanese.Description: This archive is a lifelong collection of the consignor who has a publishing company and had hoped to publish photo history books utilizing images from this incredible archive. This dream never came to fruition and a change in life has instead led to the consignment of this treasured photoarchive. Archive consists of about 33,000 vintage and first generation photographic prints and 18,900 negatives, over 500 slides. Also included are five 8mm newsreel films, one 16mm newsreel film (original German newsreel footage of Fallshirmjager troops parachuting into Holland), 25 stereo-cards and miscellaneous ephemera belonging to photographers whose work is now preserved in this photoarchive including letters, correspondence and military service records. ... Many negatives included in this archive are large format and glass plates. Virtually all of the archive has been researched for the historical content, placed in acid free archival sleeves and boxes and labeled. All the 8x10 custom-made, wet-process prints were made by the consignor who has had fifty years of experience working in photo darkrooms ... Vintage photos and negatives all taken by Marine tanker John Quas on Iwo Jima ... Scenes from India, Burma, Suez Canal taken by WWII Signal corps photographer Robert W. Lavelle with two books of his negatives, truly excellent photographs and 200 1st generation 8x10 custom prints. ... Over 1,000 sample images and a brief description of the contents are shown in our on-line catalog. Prospective bidders should examine this archive in person. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. There are images that have damage, though vast majority are fine. Interested parties should examine lot in person. 52429-1 ==================================================================================== WW2 Japanese related images are also listed and I'll leave reading those to the particularly interested. Good luck to any bidders. This looks like an absolutely fantastic opportunity. Best regards, BaZZa.

Jeremiah Mate, Dinna worry Laddie, the pitfalls are many. I have a good friend who once opined about my "more outrageous pronouncements"!!! BaZZa.

Thanks Ray, I was wondering when someone would address this nomenclature slip!!! I was waiting to find the right Round Tuit!! Add fumbari to the misunderstood terms list... BaZZa.