Tsuba Collectors, Where Do You Draw The Line?

[Alex A]

I seem to be getting more interested in tsuba these days, but a bit wary. It starts with one, then two or three, then before you know it you have a dozen, then maybe dozens or more. There are so many to choose from, from Tosho to Kinko to Yagyu to Kanayama etc etc.

 

So what do you guys do?, maybe move one on when you buy one? (not easy when you get attached sometimes)

 

or do you just keep going?

 

As with swords, maybe there is a quality over quantity approach which eventually kicks in.

 

Read about the guy with 10,000 swords a while ago, must be tsuba collectors out there who don't know when to draw the line.

 

What sensible advice would you give to a new collector of tsuba who wants to buy/choose wisely?

[paulb]

Hi Alex

To be honest I am not sure what you are collecting really matters the basic rule remains the same. Better fewer good pieces than many mdiocre.

Those serious fittings collectors I know have tended to either specialise in a specific area i.e. Iron sukashi or Higo or Owari or they have aimed to get the best example they can from a specific school. If a better one turns up they sell on the other one and move up.

Based on limited experience I think that once you start to have many pieces (measured in 10s not 100s) you only focus on the top 5-10% and others receive only cursory attention.

Decide what you like buy the best example you can afford and if you want to upgrade in the future move the lesser example along.

easy to say not always to do

[Kevin Adams]

Buy books, peruse the MFA and MET online collections, learn as much as you can about the technique and Japanese art, mythology and culture. These are critical tools in being able to "choose wisely" - the rest is just uninformed guesswork and relying on the opinions of others. Develop your eye and equip yourself to be confident in your own opinion, and you'll find that the need to "acquire" will be replaced by a sense of connoisseurship and enjoyment.

[Alex A]

Thanks Gents.

 

Paul, you hit the nail on the head with the word "mediocre", something I want to avoid. I'm looking to maybe own several nice examples, not go to mad. I like Ko-Katchushi/ Ko-Tosho so might start with one of those. Looking through the "high class Tosugu thread", there were many nicely carved tsuba, I would like something along those lines too.

 

Kevin, of course your right about books. I bought some a while ago but always got side tracked with the swords, be good to get back into those as a start for some knowledge building.

 

Look forward to it, hopefully wont end up with 10,000

 

 

Cheers.