Deal On Aoi?

[Swordlook]

Just a newbie here but isn’t, 1,200,000 Yen a great deal for this sword? Or I’m I missing something…

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumeisue-sa

[Ryan]

Just a newbie here but isn’t, 1,200,000 Yen a great deal for this sword? Or I’m I missing something…

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumeisue-sa

 

Seems like a fair starting price to me (a novice) on a gorgeous blade. Keep in mind there are over six days left in the auction. 

[Stephen]

Guess beauty is in the eye of the   beholder. 

[Ray Singer]

Keep in mind that it is not yet Juyo (if that will even happen). FWIW, the price sounds fair for a Tokubetsu Hozon Sue-Sa. Weigh in Juyo shinsa costs if you would be planning to send it for higher papers, along with the time involved and risk it might not pass.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Swordlook]

I just mention it as his opinion seems to be highly regarded on this site. I don’t have the cash at this point but it might be a good risk if you got it for the asking price. I believe cost are around $2K for shinsa if passed? And only a fraction if its rejected.

[Jean]

Ken,

 

I am not impressed by this sword. It lacks the strength of Soshu den.

 

The blade is on auction so not at 1,2 k¥. Look at this one already mentioned in a topic, real Soshu influence. Look at the starting auction price and at the final one.....

 

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as15733-刀：無銘-（直江志津）-katana-mumeiunsigned-attributed-naoe-shizu

[Shugyosha]

I don't know whether it's Tsuruta san's photography or the swords themselves, but they often do have a "dead" look to them and I think this one falls into that category for me. It might be great to look at in hand but the picture doesn't do a great deal to sell it - when I'm lucky enough to own a kamakura era piece I'll want it to look like it came from the golden age of Japanese sword production and this one doesn't.

 

An example from the same period:

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-mumei-aoe-2

 

Half the (starting) price and with more going on. 

 

Best,

John

[Swordlook]

Jean & John,

 

I really couldn't agree more. This was my other reason in posting this as I couldn't see what he was seeing... Why the thought of Juyo? I thought I was missing something.

 

This blade looks to be mediocre to me. I even thought that possibly it just wasn't in the best polish so I reread the discerption but it says, "The blade was polished by high rank polisher".

 

Perhaps it is just the pictures...

 

Ken

[Shugyosha]

Hi Ken,

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Aoi Art and have bought from there in the past and will probably do so in future; after all it's my daily source of fresh sword porn.

 

However, a lot of the descriptions for the swords on Aoi Art are cut and paste jobs so words (and typos) used in a description of an earlier sword get regurgitated, most likely due to the fact that whoever is working the web site is not a native English speaker. "High ranking polisher" appears frequently.

 

Also, as you will appreciate, there is a certain amount of fishing going on and "possible juyo candidate" is the bait in this case. Aoi would be amongst the best placed to know the difference between TH and juyo and have easy access to juyo shinsha, yet have opted not to put their money where their mouth is, so a pinch of salt is required I feel.

 

That said, it's a longer than average blade and in decent condition given its age and it will be interesting to see what it sells for.

 

Best,

John