And now for something completely different - how about showing us your top 10 (or however many) acquistions from 2021

GRC · December 31, 2021

OK, I see Grey just posted.

I'd like to say "thank you" to Grey because he's the first person I bought a tsuba from, which started me on this crazy journey of borderline obsession

8- this was my first purchase: a stunning copper tanto-sized tsuba with a beautiful plum branch inlay... go big or go home right?

9- Iron Tsuba with shakudo crows and silver hazy moon motif tsuba, attributed to Nara Toshimasa (Toen Sha papers)

10- a fantastic Nanban phoenix and dragon motif with extensive, finely detailed gold highlights:

11- I know these bamboo motif inlay tsuba were commonly produced in the Edo period, but does anyone know what schools produced them? I haven't seen any yet that have a mei on them...

I know the Heianjo school produced some tsuba with bamboo motifs earlier on.

Regardless of who made it, or when it was made, I really like this one. It looks more like copper inlay rather than the typical brass inlay on these type of tsuba.

I can also see a fine gold highlight along the central vein of some leaves.

12- And to round out the inlays.... here's a Yasuchika Munechika with phoenix and kirin motif:

GRC · December 31, 2021

now for some sukashi...

13-wheel with arrow spokes motif, 14-Akasaka, 15-cross or mon motif, 16-Bushu fret pattern, 17-Owari squared-key pattern, 18-Saotome :

19- A fantastic Nanban karakusa with leaves motif:

20- A nice plum branch design with gold highlights, and lots of surface texture details. I'm assuming Choshu, but I'm not certain...

21- An Aizu-shoami bull (anatomically correct) resting under a pine tree. Nice detailing and simple gold highlights:

GRC · December 31, 2021

almost done...

22- A fist shaped tsuba with nata knife sukashi and a few gold highlights, signed Nobuiye (later generation I'm sure).

I like how the smith achieved the shape by controlled indentation along the edges of the tsuba. Some very nice blacksmithing there.

23- A Yamakichibei 3rd gen Sakurayama Yoshi tsuba:

Ok I'm done now

Thanks for sharing everyone!

...and Richard (RKG), as always, I really admire your tsuba choices, and your amazing photography!

and yes, that is a killer Kanayama you picked up :thumbsup:

Bugyotsuji · December 31, 2021

Just a word of thanks to those above who have bravely shown their Tsuba here, educating us into what is possible out there, to the almost limitless imagination displayed by Tsuba-Ko within the cameo remit of this small metal guard. :wub:

PS Having seen Glen's additions above, I am sorely tempted to roll out some more!!! :laughing:

roger dundas · December 31, 2021

Please do Piers.

Glen (and RKG and others) have shown many great pieces- at least they are to me so thank you all.

Roger j

Brian · December 31, 2021

Some awesome fittings in this thread. Glen..wow. You have done amazingly well. Fantastic.

roger dundas · December 31, 2021

I forgot to mention the outstanding images- just so good.

Roger j

Bugyotsuji · December 31, 2021

OK I’m taking this gently as I’ve been busy with other stuff today.
Starting small, with two very different Tsuba.

The first is thick iron wavy mokko with gold zōgan of five Karigané in night flight against the crescent moon. Sasa bamboo leaves on the reverse. An old Tantō example. 5.8 x 5.0 x 0.6cm

The second (in hand) is one of my special favourites. The smoothness of the metal and the fine, delicate detail of the sukashi carving just blow me away. Tetsu, eda kiku chrysanthemum. I’m guessing later Edo Period work.

6.6 x 5.9 x 0.35

Bugyotsuji · December 31, 2021

Two Namban follow.

The first is a slightly unusual SE Asia marine theme with fishes. 7.9 x 7.95

The second (Tetsugendo?) Namban is OTT outrageous, but once you get over that it has some charm and certainly rarity factor in spades! Iron, two dragons, with seven random amber inserts some silver Sawari, and a silver fukurin. Large at 8.7 x 8.2 cm.

Chishiki · December 31, 2021

Namban Tsuba that belongs to an area of study that I haven't grasped. Maybe made in S.E. Asia and exported to Japan. Thomas Sinclair the owner before me understands the origin. Very nice unusual tsuba with good fukerin. Mark

Curran · December 31, 2021

Going from a good little show of Akasaka and turning into an interesting display of Namban.

Nice to see collections not as concentrated in Higo and Owari as I have been these last few years.

Happy New Year to All.

May 2022 be -Strong like the Ox-

Japan2112 · December 31, 2021

Oh, man. Such great stuff to behold. Congratulations all. I will add two tsuba. Firstly, a nidai Akasaka Tadamasa. the second from 2010 but a great comparison to Bob's Akasaka futo hiki ryo mon and kiri - Akasaka sandai with Kanzan Sato hakogaki.

Best Wishes for continued health and success in 2022!

DoTanuki yokai · December 31, 2021

I would call myself a Tosogu noob but i bought an old Tsuka with damage on ebay in Germany for only 60€.

I dont have a picture of the whole Tsuka but the Ito was damaged and i dissasambled it.

It is really nothing special but i like the workmanship and it was my only Tosogu acquisition this year.

I used the old Same of the Tsuka for a new knife i made.

I just dont felt comfortable with throwing it away :glee:

roger dundas · December 31, 2021

Trying hard not to overdo it with too many accolades here - but again great collecting and a lesson for new collectors plus the quality of the pictures/photographs shown. First class for mine.

Roger j

GRC · December 31, 2021

Just thought I should share these bits of helpful info from Jean Collin (Rokujuro):

I tried to edit my posts, but I was too late, so here's the info:

with regards to TSUBA 7 (double wheel mokume) in my post from yesterday:

"these are indeed wagon wheels as the Japanese used them in HEIAN JIDAI. Often, they are depicted in connection with water as the carts were driven into a stream to prevent the wheels from drying out and falling apart. These wheels did not have an iron ring or bandage to roll on as we use to have it in medieval times up to the 20th century in Europe. "

The water + wheel motif makes so much more sense now.

with regards to TSUBA 5 (mokume with blossoms) in my post from yesterday:

"I would like to comment that no. 5 does not show cherry blossoms. The ROSACEAE plants have five petals, and cherry blossoms are not rounded like UME (plum). There are four petals (like KATABUMI) on the TSUBA, so this is a different plant. Unfortunately I cannot tell what it is right now."

Admittedly, Identifying the various flower types on Japanese tsuba is something that I haven't put enough effort into. I hope I didn't lead anyone astray with my "cherry blossom" misstep.

Compiling a list of Japanese flower types for future reference is probably a good idea.

Thanks Jean!!!

...and just to reiterate Roger's comments, there really are a lot of great fittings in this post, and some nice diversity too. :thumbsup:

ROKUJURO · January 1, 2022

I am very sorry that I have written nonsense. It is KATABAMI, and these have three petals. HANABISHI as an example has four of them.

Bugyotsuji · January 1, 2022

Some more personal favorites.
The first I bought in December 2020 but it’s roughly within the last year bracket! Iron Wakizashi size sukashi wheel @7.2 x 7.4 x 0.4 cm.

The sun, 2 birds and a cloud among the radiating lines. Two gold leaf Hitsu ana. Mumei.

This is not (yet) papered but the design of ‘Ken’ blades and inomé boar’s eyes appeals strongly to me. The faint Yamakichibei Mei is an added bonus. Iron, slim and large @ 8.2 x 8.0 x 0.3 cm, Owari, 清洲 Kiyosu, Early Edo. Fitted box.

Bugyotsuji · January 1, 2022

Had some latticework Tsuba and a variety of others, but maybe I’ll tie this off here.

This last thick, heavy iron mokko cross Tsuba combines several factors to go into my top ten. 160 gm.

7.8 x 7.5 x 0.7 cm

NBTHK give it 大野　Ōno (Owari), and describe it as 四方猪目十字透鐔 Shihō Inome Jūji Sukashi Tsuba.

DirkO · January 1, 2022

Not many additions for me. But a few that are worth sharing:

Iron Khorin tsuba, which in itself is rare, seeing he usually worked in soft metal. Ingenious way to depict grasses in combination with the gold inlay.

A Muromachi Ko-Mino tsuba (TH), these are hard to come by, so pounced when I had the chance. Very nice early nanako, nice floral theme, nice detailing in the ana, what's not to like?

Steve Waszak · January 1, 2022

Excellent Nidai Yamakichibei tsuba, Piers! Well done. Really like that Ohno guard, too.

kissakai · January 1, 2022

Not sure what to show

I've purchased about 30 tsuba this year and a couple of other items. Maybe try and show just a couple of them later

As you can see very sporadic but next tear I hope to be more refined in what I buy but it's just so hard

My latest sale includes tsuba I didn't think I'd sell

I'd love to meet another knowledgeable collector and just try and get a more objective view of my collection

About 12 of the tsuba where from the NMB

2021 to 2022

Aizu Shoami - Kaneuji
Bushu - Mumei = 2off
Choshu - Kiyoharu
Higo - Yoshiharu
Higo style   - Lee
Kachushi style - Mumei
Mito - Mumei = 3off
Myochin - Mumei = 2off
Nara - Mumei = 2off
Onin - Mumei
Shingen - Mumei
Tanaka - Mumei
Tosho Edo - Mumei
Umetada - Mumei = 4off
Umetada - Nishijin Ju Umetada
Umetada Kyoto - Tadatsugu
Yamakichibei - Indistinct
Yamakichibei - Yamakichibei
Unknown   Mumei = 6 tsuba
Unknown   Toshiyoshi

Grev

Curran · January 1, 2022

2 hours ago, DirkO said:

Not many additions for me. But a few that are worth sharing:

Iron Khorin tsuba, which in itself is rare, seeing he usually worked in soft metal. Ingenious way to depict grasses in combination with the gold inlay.

Muromachi Ko-Mino tsuba (TH), these are hard to come by, so pounced when I had the chance. Very nice early nanako, nice floral theme, nice detailing in the ana, what's not to like?

Both flipping impressive, and rare as unicorns.

I and another NMB member were late to that Khorin. Congrats on getting it. You know me and love for Ko-Mino.

Iekatsu · January 2, 2022

Two of my favourite pickups in 2021, both Kagamishi.

kissakai · January 2, 2022

Nice post

I bought these two in 2021
The lobster menuki has incredible detail in a fitted box the like I've not seen before

This tsuba just makes me smile

EdWolf · January 2, 2022

Some really nice items posted! I didn't find many last year. Only a few items but I like them.

ROKUJURO · January 2, 2022

Many of these new acqusitions shown above are really beautiful and valuable, and I am grateful to be allowed to study them.

I am really impressed by their design and quality, so I hesitated a bit to show one of mine as it is (only) a TEIMEI TSUBA. These are not in very high regard, but to me, they have a very solid and reliable charisma, comparable to ONO and some HOAN (which are most desirable but difficult to get at). TEIMEI may lack elegance and refinement, but I like them for their strong character.

GRC · January 3, 2022

Thanks for sharing the Teimei Jean.

I personally think Teimei gets an unnecessarily bad wrap. They've got some really nice designs that you'd swear were "modernist" geometric designs that seem to have been way ahead of their time.

Or, once again it simply points to the massive influence that Japan has had on Western design...

I recalled a quote from Chris K's NMB thread about Teimei tsuba that has stuck with me ever since I read it:

"Kishu Teimei tsuba are regarded inferior with regards to quality in comparison to Kyoto, Owari or Akasaka tsuba made in the middle of Edo times. Nevertheless I noticed that in almost every big and famous collection Kishu Teimei pieces can be found."

Kishu Teimei Tsuba - the beauty or the beast? - Tosogu - Nihonto Message Board (militaria.co.za)

It's as if people secretly like Teimei tsuba designs, but are too hesitant to say so :dunno:

Here's one that I wish I could say was one of my 2021 acquisitions, but sadly, a few other bidders had deeper pockets than me at the time...

mas4t0 · January 3, 2022

I didn't pick up anything in 2021, and not for lack of trying. I had more time on my hands this year and spent more time seeking than usual.

I've averaged only 1 acquisition every 2 years since starting in this hobby, and 2021 was one of the dry years.

Edit: I thought it best to add that I'm not unhappy with this, and it's entirely my own fault as I'm very picky. Most of the pieces I'm interested in have already found their way into museums, so my acquisitions tend to be newly made utsushi at the point where I lose patience with seeking antiques.

GRC · January 4, 2022

OK, two more from 2021... I promise I won't post any more

24- A san-mai tsuba with reddish-copper tones coming through on the high points of the surfaces, and an iron core.

I can see the iron core in the round punch mark at the top left of the nakago-ana, and tested the tsuba with a magnet.

You can also see a seam line running along the midline of the hitsu-ana, and more faintly in the nakago-ana. I can't see a seam anywhere along the mimi.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to what school may have produced this?