How And Why Of Modern Collecting

[Peter Bleed]

This morning, in the ongoing discussion of masame hada, I confessed to buying a yari from a well-known Japanese internet dealer.  Subsequently I received feedback from fellows I respect suggesting that this dealer purveys nothing of quality. At the same time that conversation was afoot, another truly expert collector gave us useful and carefully presented advice on a Japanese dealer he has found a trustworthy source of reasonably priced really good swords and fittings. This pair of posts provides an opportunity to consider the state modern Japanese sword collecting.

All of us are basically “stamp collectors.” That is we all figure out what we like and then try to assemble examples of the range that is relevant to that topic.

Like a lot of old time American sword collectors, I approach collecting like a treasure hunter. A major part of my hobby has been searching out swords. I like looking at stuff and I don’t mind finding it “as found.” Beyond that, I also like to figure out the history of particular swords especially if it exposes the history and culture of Japan. My focus most of the time is figuring out where, when, and how  a sword was made.

This is different from  the “kantei approach to sword  collecting”.  Kantei is a game many Japanese play and one they have taught many non-Japanese collectors. The kantei approach to sword  collecting involves understanding  “quality”, knowing what is ‘good’, and acquiring pieces that meet those standards.  Treasure hunters can use the structure and lore of kantei, but kantei collecting requires that you understand “quality”. That depends of working with experts, learning their values, and following their standards. Treasure hunting depends on learning to look for stuff and to recognize unappreciated stuff. Kantei collecting depends of looking at well-organized merchandise and competing with others who share your interests.

Learning how to regularly visit sites of serious Japanese dealers is an important part of modern sword collecting. It helps us learn the values and availability of swords of interest to knowledgeable individuals. I think scanning low end web sites is also useful because it may reveal under-appreciated items that deserve attention. It will also show what kinds of stuff are leaving Japan because they fall below the standards of “kantei collectors”. That’s the stuff international treasure hunters will  soon encounter in  gun shows and antiques markets worldwide.

Peter

 

[Vermithrax16]

Jean had a somewhat similar post a while ago (sadly died out) but as a newer nihonto admirer these discussions are important.

 

Peter you bring up some interesting points and I can only try to add what I have learned in my journey to the discussion.

 

We all scan the auctions, web sites, For Sale section here on NMB (where you get the best deals at best prices IMO) about everyday. As my desires have changed over time, I have had to branch out to other sites, private sellers, and other avenues to find what interests me. It's a long slog. And we must finally talk about budget, which gets ignored or passed by too often in our discussions here.

 

 

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

I've seen a couple of threads here by new members showing their first swords, what's really interesting is some of them have done the homework, listened to advice here and bought quality, papered pieces as their first serious sword.

 

It's really great to see people starting on the right foot without going through the usual wild goose chases that beginners enjoy.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Good descriptions, Peter. I've found myself transitioning between the two over the years, & my collection reflects that.

[Peter Bleed]

Please allow me to say more about collecting. I find the topic of collecting interesting and under considered. Lots of people seem to think that sword collecting was easier/better in the days of the 1960s when veterans were moving to new homes and dumping their war souvenirs. Indeed, some larger collections were formed at that time, but IMHO , appreciating swords was not easy at that time. Say all the nice things you may about John, Yumoto’s book was a very weak reed (pardon the pun). Collectors at that time had to work very hard to master information that shortly later was made available to kids who played Pokkemon. There were very few sources of information and dissemination was slow. The quarterly JSSUS Newsletter really mattered.

Contrast that to the current situation. Today  every serious collector can – and should – visit Aoi Arts for a few minutes every day. I start on the Japanese side and use it to quickly practice some kanji. Shifting to the English version I get very nice descriptions and discussions of a couple of worthy items. After that I often drop by Andy Quirt’s site. Andy is an old friend but he also has real handy links to major American web sites. I am less adept with Nihon-go pages. Mebbe somebody can offer guidance.  I’d welcome it!

Peter

[SteveM]

I thought Darcy's recent blog post on collecting was interesting, and maybe of interest to those thinking about collecting and collections. 

I hope I'm not breaching any protocol by linking here:

https://www.nihonto.ca/ha/?p=564

[Gakusee]

Actually Darcy has another older post about the high and narrow versus wide approach earlier on, when he started the blog. It is a worthwhile read. I also quite like Guido’s pamphlet on collecting, which is also quite exhaustive and trenchant. Personally, I have adopted the narrower approach of trying to have very good examples of a certain school across two - three sword eras. I have been a stamp collector and I do not apply the same approach (not least because these are very different objects). There is always kantei involved as that is an evaluation and assessment based on certain principles - whether it is about lower end stuff or higher end artefacts.

[Dave R]

I suppose I come under the heading of "treasure hunter" here, in that I buy at the lower end and then research what I have. There are those who disdain this approach, but for me the result is that I do actually have a collection, Nihonto and Showato (Gunto) blades and tosogu. If I had the income to do otherwise, then I might have gone in the other direction, but I wouldn't swear to it. The hunt is such fun.

 

  One proviso though, I buy my blades in hand at the antique and militaria fairs because there is such a risk buying from a photo' and even a "cheap" blade is a big chunk of my limited disposable income.

 

I buy  tosogu over the internet from Japan, because it is so much cheaper, a wider choice and the outlay represents a smaller proportion of available funds.

 

 All that said, previous research does really pay off, I have dodged a couple of bad deals due to keeping my eyes open.

[vajo]

Dave you doing right in my eyes.

You can have a 1 or max 2 sword collection of full documented outstandig high priced pieces and a empty moneybag. Someone would be satisfied with it.

I like to hunt, to buy and sell and to grow up my collection with pieces that i like. I depends what kind of collector you are.

[paulb]

There has been often and sometimes heated debate about what is the right and wrong way to collect. The reality is there is no right or wrong way and there as many different approaches as there are collectors.

The key point, mentioned here several times is that you enjoy what you do and like the things you buy.

I think in all of us there resides both the treasure hunter searching diligently at  the lower end hoping to find something special and the more specialist seeking the best they can find in a given field. As said neither are wrong nor right, just different.

The other thing is that approach can and will often change over time. As someone learns more they often become more selective in what they buy.

I do believe it is better to have a few very good pieces than masses of mediocre work but that is a personal preference developed over 35 years= of collecting.

The point is we should accept that people are different and are motivated by different aspects of the subject.

[Stephen]