Jump to content

Tsuba From Birmingham Uk

kissakai

By kissakai
in Tosogu

 Share

Recommended Posts

kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi

My new book - Fifty selected Tsuba from a Private Collection V2 is available on LuLu publishing

If you go to the LuLu.com website and use 'Greville Cooke' in the search box you will see my tsuba books

 

I have received and reviewed my '50 tsuba book'

I noticed that some of the images were pixilated so these have all been improved

Image sizes have been maxed up and the largest are 180 - 160mm

A brief outline of the contents:

Dedication to Thierry Bernard who sadly passed away last year

Tsuba terms

Full tsuba images

Large mei images with Arabic & kanji characters

Two resorted tsuba

Tsuba design & symbols

Kanji interpretation

Collecting notes/hints

111 pages

Cost = £20 ($28) for the hard copy and £10 ($14) for the eBook

 

Also a note for my Birmingham Museum Tsuba book

 

221 pages

Cost = £39.99 ($54) for the hard copy and £19.99 ($28) for the eBook

 

I welcome any feedback especially from anyone who has purchased both books

 

 

With thanks

Grev

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...
JohnTo Community Regular

JohnTo

Posted
Posted

Hi Grev,

 

The number of copies sold in the UK has now risen to at least 7; I received my copy last week.  Overall, I’m pleased with the book and must congratulate you on your efforts. I have sometimes wondered if it was possible to get involved in working through the collections at the British, or Victoria and Albert Museums to photograph and write on-line descriptions better than ‘iron tsuba, Japan’.  A monumental task.  It’s a dream, but you have done it with the Birmingham collection.  Not a great collection (some have more rust than my first car), but probably of more relevance to the average collector, like myself, as the quality is the level we are likely to find affordable when tsuba come up for sale. The Sasano books, Compton collection catalogues etc. are fine for the rich collector, but for us of more modest means this book hits the spot.

The book is useful for a collector to compare their tsuba with those in this collection.  From my brief reading, I did not always agree with the attributions.  But then I also wonder at NBTHK attributions (I’m just a beginner, but like to challenge accepted thoughts and this, to me, is what collecting is about).  I see that Grev also had second thoughts.  Two photos of tsuba 14930M944 appear on page 78 attributed to the Nara Hamano branch, then reappear on page 110 attributed to the Shonai Shoami school.

You asked for comments on the contents and here are a few I picked up on.  Please don’t feel I am being over critical, I just hope they will be of help.

  1. The material and patina of the tsuba are not included, though obvious in most cases.
  2. Tsuba showing the Yatsuhachi Bridge are sometimes described as the 7-plank bridge at the Mikawa iris marshes (1930M737 p9 , 1930M1115 p97).  Yatsu is Japanese for 8.
  3. The three piercings on tsuba 1930M611 are described as gourds, whereas the usual description (used elsewhere) is kukurizaru (self-righting monkey toys) representing Daruma and no doubt popular because no matter how hard you knock them down, they get back up.    
  4. Tsuba 1930M767 and 1930M669, p 124, dated 1500 and 1525, respectively, are attributed to the Umetada school.  Umetada Myoju’s dates are given as 1568-1631 and I don’t believe his predecessors used the name Umetada.

At least it shows I'm reading the book and not just looking at the photos.

 

Best regards, John

(Just a guy making observations, asking questions and trying to learn)

kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi John

I really like your feedback and comments

They not only help me but others who have the book

You have stated one of my main aims which was to show tsuba that  available to the 'normal' collector

My principal aim was to show tsuba that were hidden away for a 100 years

I did ask about buying some but if they sell one tsuba they lose any Government funds that they may be able to claim

I still wonder that if they sold some to pay for the conservation of other tsuba everyone wins!

 

Just would like a review of my 50 tsuba book as this would be the icing on the cake

 

 

Grev

 

 

  • 4 months later...
kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Great news (well for me anyway)

I had three aims

Photograph the museums tsuba - done

Publish a book on these tsuba - done

Get at least some of these tsuba out for an exhibition - Maybe happening

After losing all my museum contacts it has been a pain to get anyone else interested

I had an email to say there are changes to the museum so exhibitions are already booked in for 2019 but after the rework they are planning an exhibition called 'Art of the Warrior'

As yet I know no more but hope it is solely about the Samurai as they have quite a few other related items.

They have purchased my book and will contact me shortly

If anything comes of this I'll start a new post

  • Like 2
  • 2 months later...
kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I think this is normally their maximum discount

It is only valid for today - a nice Christmas present?

 

Today Only: Take 25% Off Your Entire Order
Offer Expires 23 November at 11:59 PM EST
Your Coupon Code: BLACKFRIDAY25

 

 

Grev

kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Is was wrong about maximum discount

I don't think I've seen an offer this good - today only

TODAY ONLY: TAKE 35% OFF YOUR ORDER
Offer Expires 26 November at 11:59 PM EST
Your Coupon Code: CM35
  • Like 1
  • 1 month later...
kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

As the book came up in a post last week and someone hadn't seen the book I thought I'd give it a bump

Although there is no need to reply I wondered who on the NMB had bought any of the two tsuba books

 

 

Grev

  • 2 months later...
kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Kathi

As I've mentioned before the colour images are good and a lot of these tsuba are obtainable at a reasonable price

Good value for money.

If you want further reading with more depth then I recommend Sessko's Tosogu Classroom series

After these tsuyba books start getting very expensive

I look forward to your reviews and be nice if you add something to the LuLu website

 

 

Grev

Steves87 Mentor

Steves87

Posted
Posted

Bought the Museum book, excellent work! Ive been able to see a few similar examples in the book of Tsuba designs I have wondered about. I have only done a preliminary flick through, but I can see hours of viewing pleasure from this, thank you!

  • 2 months later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 7 months later...
kissakai Grand Master

kissakai

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm I've posted these error before but Dale has pointed out another couple

Below is a list of all known errors with the V2 edition

I have printed this list and keep it with my copy

 

 

Birmingham Museum Tsuba book V2

 

 

Two photos of tsuba 14930M944 appear on page 78 attributed to the Nara Hamano branch, then reappear on page 110 attributed to the Shonai Shoami school.

The Shonai Shoami tsuba 1903M944 on page 110 should be deleted

 

Tsuba showing the Yatsuhachi Bridge are sometimes described as the 7-plank bridge at the Mikawa iris marshes (1930M737 p9 , 1930M1115 p97).  Yatsu is Japanese for 8.

This is an error with my description

 

The three piercings on tsuba 1930M611 p45 are described as gourds, whereas the usual description (used elsewhere) is kukurizaru (self-righting monkey toys) representing Daruma and no doubt popular because no matter how hard you knock them down, they get back up.

These are indeed kukurizaru. Gourds would be a more elongated shape

 

Tsuba 1930M767 and 1930M669, p 124, dated 1500 and 1525, respectively, are attributed to the Umetada school.  Umetada Myoju’s dates are given as 1568-1631 and I don’t believe his predecessors used the name Umetada.

I think this may be a typo!

1930M767 page 124, dated 1500 should be dated 1600

1930M669 page 124, dated 1525 should be dated 1625

 

 

On page 60. 1930M546 which I have this listed as Myochin, but on page 146 this is the same guard as Sado Island

I believe this to be Myochin so no idea why it appears again as Sado. The Sado one should be deleted

 

There is a guard on page 131. 1930M951 with two facing Dragons, I have a Wangata version and they represent a 'Mokugyo'

This is a new term to me but I see your point. Maybe easier to state it was dragons and jewel!

 

Dated 28/05/2020

 

I will update this book to V3 but as sales are very few it will not be too soon

 

 

  • Like 2
This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...