Tsuba nomenclature

[John A Stuart]

We all know the origin of Kenjyo tsuba. As I was surfing I came across a tsuba on Fine Sword, k1791. I have the almost exact same tsuba and had always considered it an Higo tsuba. Fine Sword has labeled theirs as 京献上 Kyo Kenjyo. Now this is new, a specific location of a gifted tsuba as a type. Anyone have an explanation for this call? John

[christianmalterre]

this may be the reason resulting from the depicted motive and stylism John.

Quite common procedure if an item(in this case here an Tsuba)can not ben very clearly placed to specific school,time,origin.

It´s certainly more "secure" to place it Kyo Kenyo(picturesque style)than Higo(school)...

The attribution certainly is caused to this.

 

Evaluating it for auction house,me equally would do that-as long an proof into Higo-school is not 100% secure....

Such you(seller)can not ben made responsible for "false" attribution...

Market got extremely "delicate" within last decade

(it would ben described as Higo stylism iron Tsuba with Kyo Kenyo influence)

 

Christian

[John A Stuart]

Never thought of that. John

[Ian]

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18980/l ... 6b1%3Dgrid

[John A Stuart]

Well that certainly makes it all the more confusing. Awa Shoami. I would have never made that call, papered by the Sword Fittings Museum. And the price realised. Nuts! Somebody had deep pockets and got caught up in auction fever. This is never an exact science sure enough, but, jeepers. John

[Pete Klein]

John -- those auctions are usually visited by art collectors and not by real Nihonto enthusiasts. If it looks pretty they buy it. Big auction house = big status symbol for their rich clientele.

[Soshin]

Hi John S.,

 

The tsuba you linked to reminds me of this one in my collection.

http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#!Composite-View/zoom/c5om/image1v33

I think my is Ko-Umetada because of the turned up rim and strange chisel marks on plate surface intermixed with hammer marks. It is unpapered and gold inlay designs have a strong Kyoto artist influence. At some point I will like to submit it to shinsa.

[John A Stuart]

It certainly does have similar elements, David. To Pete's comment; I would never have bought this tsuba as being a particularly fine example of Japanese art, but, I surely am not in the artsy crowd being more attuned to the technical perfection found in some really good higher end tsuba. John

[Pete Klein]

John - I was referring to the Bonham's auction and your reaction to it. 'Deep pockets' make for deep blunders.