Fuchi / Kashira

[cameoking]

I recently purchased this on ebay and would like to know more about its age and the items themselves and or the school that may have produced them. Thank you in advance for more information Alex

[cameoking]

It was suggested Goto school still looking for an opinion thx Alex

[paulb]

Alex,

I always qualify comments about fittings by saying it isnt my field so can only give a basic view. From the images these look to be nowhere near good enough quality to be Goto School or Waki Goto (if that is the correct term for the branch school) the carving is nowhere near crisp enough and the colour poor.

Sorry but I think they are not very old and mediocre quality.

Now having said that, one of the fittings specialists will tell you why I am wrong!!

[Brian]

No..I think Paul has it. Very typical of the stuff found from one particular seller on eBay...they look at first glace very busy and flash, but on closer examination they lack fine detail and skill. Not terrible, but average stuff...I don't think conforming to any particular school.

Also not an expert, so happy to be corrected.

 

Brian

[christianmalterre]

Brian,

just allow me so to comment,as i think i do speak for many others,too?

The "problem" is in fact simple.

How many times already?-Guys dedicating their´s freetime,passion and funds into collecting-did,still do... write same like i actually do it here?

WE ARE VERY CERTAINLY GETTING RID OF THIS EBAY-STUFF!

90% of what is offered in E-BAY is "MÜLL"!(google for this word if you don´t already know...

8% of the rest remaining 10% is very medicore!

2% remaining may be good(most times those old sellers we all do know-so here there´s nothing to complain about)

Gernerally speaking-and for those who regularely read those hundreds posts here ben written...

DO BUY ONLY THINGS YOU DO KNOW ABOUT!

DO BUY ONLY FROM SERIOUS COLLECTORS AND/OR SERIOUS DEALERS!

(Sorry!)

 

Christian

[Jean]

Alex,

 

How much do you pay for it?

 

Have you any idea of the price of a Goto school f/k?

 

Once you answer both questions, you shall have your answer. I hope this experience won't have cost you too much (for what it is worth).

 

By curiosity, never buying on e-bay, what do you expect to find on e-bay concerning Japanese art?

 

Why don't you ask NMB members their opinion before buying?

 

These 2 last questions are basic ones because you are not the first one but unfortunately not the last one acting this way and we must, if we can, help people avoiding doing that in the future

 

 

RULE OF THUMB: NEVER BUY SOMETHING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW ITS VALUE (I am not talking about Nihonto) That's common sense.

[Jorgensen]

I am not a tosogu guy either, however I fully agree this f/k set seems of medium quality and of those more common pieces. I would say the f/k set is descent and quite ok for the small collector. Specially if he got the f/k for a reasonable price and the set is appealing to him, I think its great.

 

Christian, I do agree with you in many aspects and yes, e-bay is a pain in the ass, both with all this fake stuff floating around, confusing new collectors to nihonto and annoying for the rest of us, when looking for the good stuff on e-bay. But in the other hand I love ebay - so much to look at and always something interesting to find...

 

BUT! -Not everybody has the money to collect the very good stuff and for those (and also for other serious collectors, that want to sell/buy good stuff) ebay is a great place. And thank god I say - in my oppinion all nihonto are worth preserving - even the lower grade items and collectors that are not able to pay the big buck, hopefully will do this.

 

Myself really have had many good experinces on ebay (and one not so good/but not that bad either). I remember Gunto-San that bought this fabolous Kanekuni sword for a few bucks. What a deal!... Still envy that one =) The aspect is though (I know him personally and very well) that he is a very skilled collector and has a trained eye - thats the reason he could make this deal + some bit of luck of course.

 

Lot of babling... My point is that, it depends on the every each collector, what he likes and how much he is able to spend, whether the stuff is good for him or not. Everyone should of course be aware, that shopping from pictures always carry a risk and personally I would love to get rid of all the fake junk. With this said I indeed agree on buying only stuff you now something about and/or from a well reputated dealer - it will make the risks much less.

 

Just my oppinion...

 

EDIT - just saw Jeans post. And I say well said Jean and appreciate the idea to be helpful to each other and specially the new collectors that will carry on the traditions after we other have passed away!

[cameoking]

I appreciate all replies and this is how i learn. I do buy what I like but also hope it retains its value. I have had one bad experience so far but not on Ebay as much as with the locals here in Miami. Thx Alex

[Soshin]

Hi Alex,

 

Here is a link to my current favorite tsuba on eBay and at a fair deal: http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-C-TSUBA-NBTHK-TOKUBETSU-HOZON-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Menuki-Fuchi-Kashira-/280938925562?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item416943cdfa. One correction I feel the tsuba is likely 17th Century (1600s) as it was papered to Shoami and not Ko-Shoami by the NBTHK. I need to get back to saving my pennies I hope my piggy bank is large enough. :lol:

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[christianmalterre]

LOL :D

seems i do know this Tsuba David!

Sometime in past bought it for 1600.-Dollars from Fred Weissberg

Latter it was bought back by Fred Weissberg again.

(Good Deal so far for both of us-interesting item so to study it...)

 

Now,like it seems,it´s again offered in the typical E-Bay manner...hopefully an "idiot" will grab for mine asking price"...Not?-LOL!

 

This Tsuba is correct,good and papers equally...

Of course the actual to be seen asking price completely fails the market value!

 

LOL!

(yes,old collectors-we do know ours stuff!)

 

Christian

[Alan Morton]

Alex,

 

It's pretty empty out there on your own. I know that there are sword and gun shows

 

in the Miami area and Jssus that will lift what you are seeing and so your apprciation

 

of what is mediocre to what is very good. Sometimes older collectors might even show

 

you some good peices.

 

Alan

[Soshin]

Hi Christian,

 

Thanks for the information about the really nice tsuba I like on eBay. Now I know what to ask for when I make a offer for it. I'll let the seller make a little profit but not over a 100% profit.

 

Alex,

 

This is an example of asking a more experienced collector their opinion before you buy something specificly on eBay. I hope you find this information helpful.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Art Torano]

Alex,

 

Good to see I am not alone in Miami trying to learn this hobby. I find going to the Florida and San Francisco shows over the last few years has been very helpful. I used to "impulse" buy. (a bad thing) Now I buy very few new swords and fittings and end up buying more research material.

 

Regards

Art Torano

[Ray Singer]

Moses recently moved his shop to our area: http://www.nihontoantiques.com. There are actually quite a few of us here in South Florida. It's perhaps long overdue that a local study group is formed.

 

- Ray

[cameoking]

I love the idea....Alex