Merry friends of "Y! Auction".

[Curran]

  On 12/1/2020 at 4:41 AM, Bazza said:

 

To add some "juice" I've attached images of an Akasaka Tadatoki V tsuba.  The description given when I bought it was:

 

 I believe this particular tsuba was made by Tadatoki V (8th master of the Akasaka school). He became head of the family in 1818. This tsuba has a near faultless surface and demonstrates the artist’s ability to create a dynamic composition in an extremely limited space. There is a imperfection on the ura side of this tsuba (near the signature). This looks like silver inlay, however I'm not sure how or why it is there. Overall it doesn't detract from the tsuba ...

 

 

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Very nice example. I hope Mike C. over in Orlando sees this thread.

Like Wave forms, the various subtleties of executing the plum blossom branch are sometimes very like a telltale fingerprint.

 

I had a (Hayashi) Tohachi of this design. Very happy warmly executed. I hated letting it go.

The only plum blossom branch one I have left is this one.

 

[Shugyosha]

Here's a similar design, plum blossom and bush warbler which I think is Hayashi, but another design found in Akasaka tsuba:

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

December is a peak season for sellers. 

 

The staple products.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t776386130

 

It's multicolored, but they're almost the same.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p813303186

 

When casting with a sand mold that allows gas to escape easily, the surface roughness becomes apparent.
 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w438649785

 

The golden stripes of the tiger were drawn with a brush, so they are thicker than iroe, which is cut out of gold foil. In addition, the paint spreads along the hair carving.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s788294749

 

reference sample

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/tsuba_001/e/0cf90897fd4e2113719a76edfda5c771

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/tsuba_001/e/67950a34a415c87f71bb0ea7f1a81da8

 

On the left, there is no Katakiri-bori that Nagatune is good at. If I thought I couldn't find this pose in his drawing book, another seller begin selling  a male mold that was exactly the prototype.
 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q412711852

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e484519399

 

Sellers explain that it is ko-kinko tsuba from the Muromachi period to the Momoyama period. Regardless of whether the age is correct, the reproduction will appear soon because it was evaluated at a high price.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p812260011

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c873696380

 

The two are very similar, but is another clone.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w440420274

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

The replica tsuba, which is said to be a mild steel plate press, has been around for a long time, and it was easy to understand made by a turret punch press machine. It took a lot of time to add embossing like this product, and especially when there was no NC, the wages would be high.
 

https://twitter.com/yakozen777/status/1128125017714151424

 

What I recently discovered is a low price of several thousand yen while showing through such a complicated pattern. I was wondering if it was a product without a press even though it was over 5mm(0.2 inches) thick.
However, if I look closely, it also appears that there is a boundary between the sheared surface and the fracture surface on the side of the wavy watermark that could not be chamfered.
 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n470282523

 

But the process is too mechanical, as the replica makers were still unfamiliar with the design of the tsuba seme-tagane.

 

Pressed replicas often use chemicals to corrode the surface to make it look old. The tsuba seller on the left in advance that it was a modern product, which is unusual explained .

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d484506377

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h522307378

 

[Brian]

Yas
Thank you for that huge amount of work. I think I am going to have to pin this topic as it is becoming so vitally important. The depth of this deceit is staggering. And they are targeting native Japanese buyers mainly there...so what chance to Westerners have to remain safe? Hmmm

[Yasaka Azuma]

Thank you Brian. I have a different perspective. Despite the recent rise in the yen's rate against foreign currencies, it is probably the overseas commission broker who are making a successful bid. So I'm a little worried that it might ruin someone's Happy holidays shopping. 

 

[Spartancrest]

Great work Yas as usual. You can add these things to the growing list - there are a few now being listed with the original factory packaging - can't see that it makes them more saleable. https://www.jauce.com/auction/c874356864

 

 

Also https://www.jauce.com/auction/g474999929  - It is almost like "If you want a fake, we have it!"

[Yasaka Azuma]

Dale.

If left as it is, a mint of a non-malicious replica. This is also beautiful with the design of tsuba, Hokusai-Katushika, which is a non-malicious ornament.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k520766995

[Spartancrest]

Yes Yas I saw those, a modern take on Hokusai [ I like the 'Great Wave' the most]. They were out of my price bracket though. They don't pretend to be what they are not.

[Curran]

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p821071012

 

Currently just shy of $1000.

   I'm curious how much someone will pay for this cow-pie.

 

As a much missed ex-NMB member would say, "It has been stepped on" [stepped in : if you have dogs or cows, you will know what I mean]

 

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

I am also watching several types of tsuba, including this Yagyu wave. But even if it is infinitely suspicious, at least we need evidence that everyone can understand as plausible. For example, I also caught a suspicious tiger's tail, but not all of it was exposed.

 

[Curran]

Azuma-san,  

ah yes.... Haguro tsuba are a bit too easy to copy.

 

I went through a Haguro phase, but passed through it and sold mine at Bonhams.

Every time I think of buying another, I remind myself how good the copies can be.

[Iekatsu]

Yas, 

 

The Tsuba you posted with the fox/squirrel and wave motif are not modern, they are early San-mai and utilise stamped plates in their construction (quite often from the same dies). The marks highlighted on the Seppa-dai are actually rivets that hold the plates in place, this variety was likely produced in a single workshop,  given the consistency in technique and construction. They are generally attributed to late Muromachi-Momoyama period.

 

Take a look at the following thread for more examples:

All the best, 

 

Thomas

 

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

Foreign, especially Western collectors are hot to ko-kinko, so if there is demand, supply will occur.
Yotsu-mokko wave and squirrel, why does the same type of tsuba appear on the market over and over again?

 

https://www.samurai-nippon.net/SHOP/T-831.html

 

Inadequately refined copper Yama-gane does not necessarily guarantee the Muromachi period. This time, I uploaded an image of a product (ID p812260011) that was judged to be a copy that has not passed the age. I think I will continue to find "it" and post only the URL as "staple products". Have a happy new year.

 

[Spartancrest]

  On 12/31/2020 at 12:23 AM, Curran said:

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p821071012

 

Currently just shy of $1000.

   I'm curious how much someone will pay for this cow-pie.

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Yagu  [Gag-you] 4 hrs out up to 96,000 yen. Oh the humanity! 

[Iekatsu]

Yas,

 

The work was likey massed produced, given the number of extant examples. The same style of Tsuba are also found in Maru-gata and there are also different motifs and bespoke custom peices that appear to come from the same workshop. As for the age, dating anything pre Edo is pretty tricky as there are so few dateable reference points, that said the Kantei points appear to be consistent with the attribution.

 

All the best, 

 

Thomas

[Spartancrest]

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p821071012  sold just short of $1,000 US.!

I wonder how much this will go for?  https://www.jauce.com/auction/c877166910

[Yasaka Azuma]

  On 1/4/2021 at 11:53 PM, Spartancrest said:

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p821071012  sold just short of $1,000 US.!

 

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Dale.
I agree. The tsuba was overpriced. There were other items that were sold at high prices, and I was amazed.
I have no particular opinion on these. It was just a high price.

 

Successful bid price  1,001,000yen

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w443777586

 

679,000yen

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w435977803

 

351,100yen

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g479872306

 

[Spartancrest]

Yas I do like the Mokume, I am sure many would pay that - Not in my price range though.

- 586 is it silver and gold? I don't recall seeing clouds with nanako before,  do you think it is Japanese buyers or Westerners? 

[Yasaka Azuma]

Dale. The winning bidder for "w435977803" was like a foreigner. I don't know the others.
Mokume-gane should have mokume on the surface and masame  ( straight grain pattern) on the sides. I have bad eyesight, I can't see masame well.

[Spartancrest]

Yas - just for a laugh -  https://www.jauce.com/auction/o449060436

I think price has too many zero's, needs to be 12 yen. 

[Yasaka Azuma]

"How enduring is thy heart and how cunning beyond measure!"(Andrew Lang)
 

[Spartancrest]

Big name auction house pushing junk - https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Japanese-edo-gilded-silvered-brass-tsuba-crab-46-c-3684f009c4

The last line of the description is very telling - 'authenticity' - you must be joking!

 

Description

East Asia, Japan, Edo Period, ca. 1603 to 1868 CE. An unusual basket-shaped gilded brass and silvered brass tsuba (hand guard) traditionally used with Japanese swords. The upper section features a gilt brass crab crawling over the basket, and the body of the tsuba presents an openwork brass basketweave design with a central blade opening (Nakago-ana) and a silvered brass rim. The crab is likely a reference the legend of Heikegani, the so-called samurai ghost crab. Heikegani is a species of crab that is native to Japan and possesses a pattern that is reminiscent of a human face. Given this, the Heikegani crab is thought to contain the souls of Heike samurai warriors who were killed during the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185 CE - an especially significant event in Japanese history that established the first shogunate. Size: 3" W x 3.4" H (7.6 cm x 8.6 cm)

A tsuba is the hand guard of a traditional Japanese sword, usually a katana or tachi. Its primary purposes are to balance the sword, prevent one's hand from sliding down the blade and, as a last resort, as a block against an opponent's thrust or slash. However, as time and skills developed, the tsuba evolved into an artistic item and symbol representing wealth, prestige, or skills as a swordsman. Early tsuba, known as neri tsuba, were made of leather encased in an iron or wooden frame which was occasionally lacquered for strength and stability.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

 

[Kurikata]

It happens frequently in France with regional auction houses not requesting the support of experts offices.  It's a trap for new collectors or just individuals wanting to have an exotic asian object. Very sad.

[PietroParis]

  On 1/8/2021 at 12:32 PM, Spartancrest said:

Big name auction house pushing junk - https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Japanese-edo-gilded-silvered-brass-tsuba-crab-46-c-3684f009c4

The last line of the description is very telling - 'authenticity' - you must be joking!

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It does look like junk, but is that really a "Big name auction house"? I was expecting Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams...

[John A Stuart]

Invaluable is an exchange for auction houses from tooth brushes to Kmer statues. I know Artemis. They have a wide range. You must know what you are doing. John

[Spartancrest]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Katana-Tsuba-Crab-Basket-Sword-Equipment-Japanese-Sword-Samurai-Antique-M638/284092202276?hash=item422536fd24:g:twoAAOSwr7RfvKtN

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Katana-sword-guard-crab-basket-sword-equipment-Japanese-sword-prop-tsuba-h-292/274584701363?hash=item3fee8609b3:g:k9wAAOSwF2tfuPOy

Two ebay sites with the same junk - right down to the same pictures used but by two sellers.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/k493388709  Japanese, Jauce site. Also the same stock pictures used. No imagination. buyer beware!

[Spartancrest]

Well we have hit rock bottom with this little item - https://www.jauce.com/auction/524113488

The attached statement reads very funny. 

State	Slightly scratched and dirty

★ ☆ Fake Important Cultural Property Chidori Chidori Figure Inferior Goods Bending Tsuba ★ ☆ Inferior Important Cultural Property Chidori Chidori Figure (Inferior Goods 1 ???? Yen) is exhibited .. Refer to the photo. Please make your own judgment. Does not include shooting jigs. Aluminum molded products Partially wooden or copper- covered rings

  Inferior goods have been sold. I bought it from a major company in Osaka . It is a very rare bending brim. Be careful of the staggered figure of the eastern rain, which is an important cultural property of modern inferior goods .

  

 Please do not buy this product ・ Purchased and received a bad evaluation ・ Distributor name: I want to keep the morals of one of the commandments."

 

I have to believe the seller is having a shot at the original seller who sold him the piece, he really should name and shame!

What he may have been trying to buy [if I have put the jigsaw back in place ] is this design, taken from "Japanese Swords" by Nobuo Ogasawara - the design appears in other publications [and I have always wanted one!]

[Yasaka Azuma]

  On 1/10/2021 at 11:36 PM, Spartancrest said:

Well we have hit rock bottom with this little item - https://www.jauce.com/auction/524113488

 

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Dale.

Aluminum alloy Tou Yasuchika is certainly a bottom. This is where I sighed.

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w444074484

 

These are just the sale of empty boxes. However, when I imagine the future, I have a bad feeling about this.

 

 

[Bazza]

The downvote is not for Yasa san, but for the practice of selling empty boxes with hakogaki. If this is true (and I have no doubt it is) what a gut-wrenching, despicable act to contemplate.

 

BaZZa.