johnb

Some years ago our house in Sydney was broken into in the middle of the day. My wife came in the backdoor and she heard the thieves run out of the front door. Quiet daunting for her. They took cameras, jewelry and other small items. They didn't touch my swords, some of which were sitting in plain view on top of the chest of drawers where they live. The police say that is was probably kids, they take stuff they can carry without it being seen and stuff they can sell quickly. One wonders whether this sword theft was random or rather more purposeful? Johnb

No Peter, no fukurin. Johnb

Everything fit together very well Ford, saya (pictured) seppa etc. So it's not a parts sword. I hope the cleaned image gives you more of a clue. John B

It wasn't the tsuba that suckered me Al, it was the saya. And a better pic of the tsuba...after soap and a tooth brush. John B

As is my my I bought a piece of junk from ebay...it's an addiction that I have to cure. The tsuba which I though was just Iron actually has the relief pattern in brass. Is this an edo Heianjo tsuba? John B

I had this as Kanetoshi...am I right? John B

I had this as Kanetoshi...am I right? John B

Actually, I wasn't aware that it was a non Japanese tsuba. I quickly pulled some shots of the internet simply as examples. So, no, no machiavellian intent. :D John B

Here's one I found with a very similar finish to the saya. But in a very sorry state. John B

Liberty & Co is a well known department store in London and has always been synonymous with luxury and great design. Arthur Liberty opened the store in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objet d'art from the East. His intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world and particularly Japan looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele. Liberty’s is also well known for promoting Art Nouveau, a style of decorative arts that came to prominence in Europe around the mid 1890’s. And this was some 20 years after the store opened and began selling Japanese objet d’art, I have always found intriguing the similarity of Art Nouveau and Japanese design, and the huge influence that Japanese art had on its origins. In fact, it took the Europeans a few hundred years to emulate what the Japanese had been doing 300 or 400 years earlier. With regard to the origins of Art Nouveau I have attached some pics. I'm sure there are much better examples. JohnB

Interesting......it might be nice to know a little more of the members of this message board. What do we all think? We could even start a you scratch my back I'll scratch yours, sort of nihonto Masonic thing! Johnb

Here's mine Johnb

Yes Paul, I'm aware that monkeys are a popular theme, I was questioning the gibbon reference. Quite a different animal. Johnb

Are gibbons really a popular theme? I'm surprised as they are not an indigenous species. Johnb

Here's another monster ko-katchushi...9.5 cms Johnb

Have a look at this GAllery if you have a moment, Some lovely armour, mempo and kabuto. With prices to match. http://www.giuseppepiva.com/index.php Johnb

As we speak I am trying to find who owns the copyright for the Seven Samurai. It seems that it's been that it ran out in Japan, but has been recently been extended. As for the rest of the world...anyone have any info? JohnB

Caption for image..."I have to say...this is one big tsuba!" Johnb

Hi Al, how are you? Yes, I do own it, I bought two when we were in Japan at Christmas. Both at flea markets. This one, the nicer one. Johnb

David S posted a tsuba on a thread a week or so ago where a fishermen appears to be fishing into the nakago-ana. the composition very nice, made all the more appealing by a clever use of perspective. The one posted here also has a clever use of perspective, this time in low relief. It also has a really lovely chocolate colour. Perhaps Cadbury school? Johnb

Would it be fair to say the kissaki has been reshaped? The geometry looks a little off... IMHO. Johnb

I found it on a tattoo site. Although I suspect it's somewhat modernised. Nishikigoi, (my real passion) weren't bred for colour until the early 1800's so I assume the 'milloin living jewels' line is a later edition. Well I hope so anyway, otherwise it make my tsuba much newer that I thought it was! Johnb

Apparntly, it goes like this.... Many years ago, in a time before recorded history, a huge school containing thousands of koi swam up the Yellow River. The colors of their well muscled bodies flashed in the sunlight making them seem like a million living jewels. All was going well until the koi reached a waterfall. Immediately, a large number of them grew discouraged and turned back, finding it much easier to simply go with the flow of the river. Yet, a determined group of 360 koi stayed on. Straining and leaping, each koi strove to reach the top of the falls. Again and again they flung their bodies into the air only to fall back into the water. All this splashing noise drew the attention of the local demons who laughed at the efforts of the struggling koi. Adding to their misery, the demons sadistically increased the height of the falls. Still the koi refused give up! Undeterred, the koi continued their efforts for one hundred years. At last, with one heroic leap, a single koi reached the top of the falls. The God’s smiled down in approval and transformed the exhausted koi into a shining golden dragon. He joyfully spends his days chasing pearls of wisdom across the skies of the vast and eternal heavens. Whenever another koi finds the strength and courage to leap up the falls, he or she too becomes a heavenly dragon. The falls have become know as the Dragon’s Gate and, because of their endurance and perseverance, koi have become symbolic of overcoming adversity and fulfilling one’s destiny.... I assume we see the Dragons gate portrayed at the bottom of the Tsuba? JohnB

David, thank you. I also learnt something new about the design. I bought it because I saw it as being rather unusual, very well designed and skillfully crafted. Knowing the theme only adds to the pleasure of owning it. Thank you gentlemen. Johnb

Here's a slightly better picture that clearly shows the transformation of the koi. Johnb