Merry friends of "Y! Auction".

[Yasaka Azuma]

Dale. The paperweight box says Seikodo. Seikodo is famous as a specialized workshop for making kettles for "Sadou".

 

"Since Edo period, now it's the 10th, the atelier which specializes in making 茶の湯釜 Iron Tea Pot and 鉄瓶 Iron Kettle.
In order to keeping excellent quality, even now, all works are handmade and the works are supported by only a few workers."
http://www.seiko-do.com/about.php?lang=en

That's why the paperweight is worth it and is being put up for auction online for 7,000 yen. Luxury goods!

The paperweight I presented the image on starts at 100 yen.

[Spartancrest]

Yas I would not sell my example for anything. 7,000 is a cheap price for such a long time tradition. Thank you so much for the extra information. The workers are very skilled.

I don't know if the paperweights are still being made? Or what years they were produced?

I see a lot of these “Compliments of NYK Line” souvenir of a cruise line circa 1920’s for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line.

They were given away as advertising at the time - a hundred years old now. They are better made than the cast 100 yen piece.

[Yasaka Azuma]

There is no clue as to when the paperweight of the hidden Christian design was made. However, the interest of the Japanese people in hidden Christianity is very new. A disguised cross made at a foundry in Nagoya in the 1950s is still on the market as a relic of hidden Christians.

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/n490295512

 

[Spartancrest]

Dealers often stretch the imagination when describing their items, but this auction is really stretching the truth ! 

https://auctions.roseberys.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/549/lot/170319

 

[Brian]

Nara period? Yeeeaahhh riiight. Maybe the dust on it is that old. lol

[Spartancrest]

These reproductions seem to be very numerous, they come in various colours and the quality of the casting varies - but they are not genuine tsuba.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/n491403321  It is very common for the facial features to be worn away due to the soft metal alloys used.

 

 

This last example is a handmade utsushi , you may note there is no signature, but the detailing and hand carving is evident.

[Yasaka Azuma]

Dale. You have discovered a new clan. The Battle of Uji River is a popular story and is often used in the subject of sword fittings.
However, the tsuba you posted clearly uses the same sketch or the same mold.
You can see the superiority and inferiority of the finished product even by comparing the products handled by the pro shop.

 

宇治川先陣図鍔

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/tsuba_001/e/539b5021857b21549e591e169f6e6d57

 

[Spartancrest]

Yas that is a great Blog site, thanks for the link.  It is odd that the really good examples have no mei, it is something to look out for.

[Spartancrest]

Well there is a big bonus issue of fake tsuba going up for auction - you could save a lot of money by bulk purchase of junk! One helpful thing is we now have a reference for what not to buy in the future!

https://www.jauce.com/auction/n494240434

https://www.jauce.com/auction/f498316558

https://www.jauce.com/auction/m470906707

https://www.jauce.com/auction/k535155603

[Yasaka Azuma]

Dale.

Recently, I often see such a bundle sale. Japanese collectors are aging or passed away and their collections are being disposed of.
For the person who collected it, "mountain of treasures", but actually ...
That makes you feel uncertainty.

[Yasaka Azuma]

For Feb.

The staple products.

 

https://www.jauce.com/auction/w442781419

https://www.jauce.com/auction/537042340

https://www.jauce.com/auction/n490118751

https://www.jauce.com/auction/o458262355

https://www.jauce.com/auction/r469970161

 

This maker, Hosono Sozaemon Masamori, he is known as an expert of fine line engraving and flat inlay.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/512859713

https://www.jauce.com/auction/p833731620

 

reference sample
鴨河原図鐔　細野惣左衛門政守

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/tsuba_001/e/c3c35dc69973f922934e4fde9d0fde32

 

Although it is a modern mass-produced product, it sells at a high monthly price of 470 to 570 USD. It is a breadwinner.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/j705133324

https://www.jauce.com/auction/w448836534

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q414528942

 

In another flea market, it was clearly marked as a replica of the showa era and sold. The body and semegane are integrated, as is often the case with castings.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/u417797616

 

The laminated pattern cannot be seen in the images on the back and sides.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/o454698954

 

Kozuka on the left has collected a lot of bids for hidden reasons. Seeing that, a similar product appears.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/u417754864

https://www.jauce.com/auction/d507241102

 

The gold color of the clothes may have the paint sticking out or left unpainted.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/g492998792

 

The Toryusai school "kuchi beni" is made by fitting and shaping and decorating. It simply poured melted copper.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/f491592791

 

reference sample

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/tsuba_001/e/c1dc3d5119deb1e974eab5d250fafdfe

 

Crushing around nakago-hitu with chisel is a characteristic of the middle Muromachi period. However, the drills and file marks that open the slogan are modern.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/f493714066

 

Is my search inadequate? The metalworker Goto-norisuke is not on the list I can read. This kind of cursive style is rare for Junjo's signature.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/q419799490

 

It was revealed that the failure of the casting process was a casting work. It is also characteristic that the edge of seppa-dai is slightly raised.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/q425350830

 

 

[Brian]

Are you saying the Hosono Sozaemon Masamori's are fake/repro's?
If so, that is very sad, as they are the types I would grab if I saw them on sale. This whole field is starting to look like WW2 German militaria, and requires a huge step backwards and some re-evaluation of how to collect.

[Spartancrest]

I see these listed every week, it is sort of funny when you check what other items some of these dealers are selling , you get a large number of the same type of fake - https://www.jauce.com/user/dj2hmyuc 

You would think the dealers would try and conceal the truth a bit better.

 

Why would anyone pay 60,000 yen for a brand new factory made reproduction? https://www.jauce.com/auction/w448836534

As Yas has shown it is far from unique. While ever there are people out there that will pay large sums of money, others will gladly go to the trouble to 'supply'.

[Yasaka Azuma]

Brian.

I was told by my senior at kinko collection that hosono like the image should not touch, so I have kept that teaching.
Therefore, I cannot show the rationale in published books etc.
However, it is also true that my belief has been shaken by seeing a specialty store that is said to be credible in Japan recently selling works with a similar touch that comes with NBTHK paper.

 

嵐山図小柄　銘　細野惣左衛門政守花押

http://ginza.choshuya.co.jp/sale/new_tousougu/d/d081/index.htm

 

Hosono's signature is difficult to judge because there are some patterns in "Sosho-tai (cursive style)" as discussed on the MNB bulletin board in the past. I dared not touch it. However, I've heard that items signed in the horizontal position with kozuka & kogai need to be careful.

 

Dale.

 A metal plate in the shape of kotosho-tsuba is buried in the Arizona desert and rusted plausibly. I've heard of an urban legend that sold in Japan and made a lot of money. It may be possible in the Great Victoria Desert.

Don't worry about Sarasa-mon's tsuba. A charity trying to help a souvenir shop that is about to collapse due to COVID. Perhaps...
 

[Spartancrest]

Yas I have to cross a lot of water to get to the Great Victoria desert, I get plenty of rust right here from all the rain we get in Tasmania! 

Did you know the size of the G.V. desert? = 422,466 km²  - That is larger than the whole of Japan!  = 377,915 km²    As my dear old father used to say "Australia - plenty of room"

[Yasaka Azuma]

OK, there will be enough space to fill the 4 inch diameter tsuba. Like a squirrel that stores acorns, I may forget where I buried it.

[Spartancrest]

Another factory produced cast tsuba - with its original cardboard box! https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flange/203293794720 

I like the box, never been a fan of the design of this trinket, there are endless numbers of them - many genuine but for me - - unattractive.

[Yasaka Azuma]

The ebisu & daikoku design tsuba has been around for a long time as lucky charms and is also featured in books.
Since ebisu and daikoku are gods of good business, you may have in luck if you make a successful bid.

 

[Kurikata]

End of march , within a french auction house --> Tsuba as a trivet !!!!!

[Spartancrest]

https://www.jauce.com/auction/s808531392  28 cm x 25.2 cm

11'' Japanese Tsuba Katana Sword Guard Fitting Cast Iron Signed Wall Plaque

https://picclick.com/Vtg-11-Japanese-Tsuba-Katana-Sword-Guard-Fitting-232398491013.html   Also on  https://www.jauce.com/auction/b539885510

SOLD - Sep 29, 2018, 04:50 PM $55.00 

 

 

Nambu Tekki      tsuba design ornament plates [diameter 15 cm]

https://www.jauce.com/auction/f486771757

 

    https://www.jauce.com/auction/v779901391 275mm x 245mm x 7mm  Weight 1884g

All these are seriously large tsuba-like objects. I have one the same size as the top image (different pattern) that I use as a Sundial in my garden and I also have a set of the tsuba cast iron 'sizzle' plates. Most of these objects are relatively cheap ornaments - except their weight is often a small fortune in shipping costs!

[Yasaka Azuma]

2 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Hi Antonis

These sites sell very similar Iaito  (居合刀) modern metal practice swords, without a cutting edge, used primarily for practicing Iaido.

https://www.seidoshop.com/products/tsuba-umebachi-sukashi-t063?_pos=64&_sid=cfd38143b&_ss=r

https://www.seidoshop.com/products/iaito-jisei-mizutori-koshirae-js103?_pos=110&_sid=cfd38143b&_ss=r

The guard on your example is like that found here.  https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/8092474309071042/  [Sorry for the picture quality].

 

These can also be found at online auctions. Since it is a wide variety of goods, there are likely to be many things that have passed.
https://www.seidoshop.jp/products/iaito-minosaka-higo-zogan-ms103

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q436443831

https://www.jauce.com/auction/b541163588

 

[Steves87]

SIGNED Wave KATANA TSUBA Japan Original Edo Sword Antique | eBay

 

Looks like the last link of Yas's post (#131) is being re-sold by a reputable (imo) dealer. everyone is being fooled these days!

[Yasaka Azuma]

He bought it for $ 118 in dollar terms, but it's bearish to start at $ 45.5. I don't know anyone, but I want to say this. Be self-assured!

[rkg]

yow wow - that musashi plane piece went for a lot:

 

https://www.sendico.com/ayahoo/item/b541163588

 

I guess we can hope that this actually was an old piece...

 

You know, what might be handy is to create a list of links to these iai sword tsuba makers...

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

Uh-oh. I seem to have made a mistake because of the similar silhouette.

[Spartancrest]

Roll up, roll up get your rusty old fakes here!! Get them in bulk while stocks last!!

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q439317905

https://www.jauce.com/auction/g497315143

https://www.jauce.com/auction/543751676

https://www.jauce.com/auction/w450889141

[Brian]

Are these guys importing them from China, or are these being made in Japan en masse?

[Spartancrest]

Hi Yas, another Hamano Noriyuki reproduction - "Silver" this time [Don't think so!]   https://www.jauce.com/auction/c896249242

The face as usual is worn away, the inscription and other details are not too bad, the ura has casting faults in the seppa-dai. They must have made plenty of them that's for sure, they keep turning up. 

 

These  are back again as well : https://www.jauce.com/auction/m480343769  ,   https://www.jauce.com/auction/h542120189

 

[Yasaka Azuma]

I think this tsuba, where he sells, is more damaging. Unless he is a little calculative buyer, he will bid.
https://www.jauce.com/auction/b546089456

 

By the way, I saw the news that The Met would sell its collection. It's amazing, and it's if to get out of hand if you have an auction.
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/metropolitan-museum-art-vote-aamd-guidelines-1950363

[Spartancrest]

Yas - The Metropolitan Museum of Art already sold a large number of tsuba back in 2006. [Christies Auction of Japanese Art 28th March 2006 Sale 1638 ] I collected the images and information into book form so that they would not be entirely lost - My advice is don't donate to that Museum - they are only in it for the money and won't preserve your gifts. All these guards were gifted to the museum and are now in private hands around the world.