How Should One Begin To Study Tsuba

[lonely panet]

Hi guys

 

well im almost ready to study and collect tsuba (because I cant afford swords anymore)

 

normally I would just buy what I like, but out of interest is there a more common sense approach to helping me learn the schools and linages while I buy?

 

I was just going to look at buying good examples of the schools listed here, except yagu as I think there very overrated

 

anyone got some good advice

 

regards H

[Jean]

Collect what you like as for swords.

 

If you like a school, collect its tsuba.

 

This is a hobby, what you will collect others will discard, it does not matter. I have never felt any obligation when collecting swords and I still don't for tsuba. I like it, I can afford it, I buy it. I am collecting by my taste and not by others.

[lonely panet]

But how will i learn to tell the differance nishigaki and akasaka hahaha

[Curran]

But how will i learn to tell the differance nishigaki and akasaka hahaha

 

Books, fellow collectors, and time.

 

Even then, sometimes you cannot be sure and will have to form your own opinion.

About 11 or 12 years ago I bought a very nice unique Akasaka from a collector in Japan. It was a thick tsuba with very evident 3 layers in the construction, typical of Akasaka.

A few years later I sold it to Europe.

 

While listing two tsuba on eBay today, I stumbled on a Japanese seller selling old NBTHK papers. BANG!   There was the paper for that same tsuba:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NBTHK-TOKUBETSU-KICHO-Certificate-NISHIGAKI-sccool-paper-only-for-study-/272380023192?hash=item3f6b1d5198:g:ywwAAOSw8gVX3Vfp

Problem is.... the old green papers say 'Nishigaki'.

 

Also, people do resubmit items for different papers. I've only bothered once, and the modern NBTHK gave it two very different kantei.

So, primarily Books, fellow collectors, and time. Papers help too, but their opinions do vary.

[b.hennick]

I suggest that you try this. Look at all the iron tsuba for sale in our sale section. Compare tsuba in these artificial categories less than $500, $500 or more but less than $1000, over $1000 and finally this tsuba http://www.nihonto.ca/nobuie/index.html

Nobuie is considered to be one of the best if not the best tsuba maker.

I think that you will find that one $1000 tsuba is worth more than 10 $100 tsuba.

You could repeat looking at soft metal tsuba. 

Finally buy books and their translation.

[lonely panet]

Thanks for the help guys. Next stop Sasano

[Alan Morton]

Hi Hamish, Barry is spot on with his comments. The most revealing book for me has been Owari to no tanko and Markus Sesko's fab translation

 

It is necessary to have the the two books. Next I would look at the Haynes catalogues from the early 80's even though the pictures are mainly

 

black and white and his opinions are criticised by some but most love him and won't mater to you one way or another, look don't buy yet.

All these books can be got from Grey.

Alan.