My best tsubas (beginner's pride)

[Marius]

Dear All,

 

I thought I might publish pictures of what I regard as the best tsubas in my small newbie collection... I wouldn't assume that you can be really interested as this is mostly low-grade stuff... But I thought some of you might still want to have a look.

 

Some of the tsubas I have no idea about, and so I have marked them with a "?" And, if you have really nothing to do at the moment, any comments or pics that you would like to post would be greatly appreciated

 

Here they are:

 

http://web.me.com/mariuszk/mariusz/Tsuba.html

 

Thanks for looking

[docliss]

Dear Mariusz

 

Thank you for sharing your collection with us. Your modesty is very touching - your collection is selective and interesting, and puts a number of our less discriminating members to shame. My only comment would be upon your 'sukashi 1 and 2' which, interestingly, has recently featured as a tsuba kantei in the the latest Northern Token Newsletter. It is inscribed CHOSHU (NO)JU MASASADA, and is an example of late C18 Choshu work.

 

Regards, John L.

[cspage]

Mariuscz, congratulations! So you're the one who snapped up that Kaneiye. I'd had my eye on that tsuba as a candidate for my next acquisition, but as I didn't "take tarts when tarts are passing," someone else (you) scored. I'm glad it showed up here. I think for a "modest" collection, it illustrates excellent taste.

 

Colin

[Amon]

Thanks for sharing your collection Mariusz, very nice.

Your Choshu tsuba is very interesting.

 

Best regards,

[Soshin]

Thanks for sharing the nice collection of tsuba with the Tosogu message board. I really like the Choshu and Miboku tsuba(s). Something about thoese type of kinko tsuba I really like and the Miboku is a really good example.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S. (Soshin)

[reinhard]

Hi Mariusz,

 

Thank you for sharing your collection. It seems I've got the twin brother of your Owari tsuba. Did you get any expertise for yours? Mine was never put to Shinsa and I neglected it for some time. Your post made me pick it up once more.

 

reinhard

[Marius]

Thank you for your kind words I am very happy that you seem to like some of my tsubas

 

Oh, and many thanks for the information about the Choshu tsuba.

It seems that the rice motif was very popular.

 

Reinhard,

as to the Owari tsuba, whose twin you have - it is not papered, and the dimensons of mine are as follows:

 

Diameter: 69.1mm;

Nakago ana: 25mm;

Thickness: 3mm

 

The tsuba has tekkotsu in the mimi, said to be a feature of earlier Owari works. Should you like to see the tekkotsu, I can take pictures and post them here or send by PM. Just let me know please.

 

PS: you won't see it in the pics, but the Higo sukashi with the aubergine (or gourd) motif has an absolutely wonderful patina. It is one of my top favourites, I won't part with. The least interesting of all these is (IMHO) the brass tsuba with the dragon motif. The Owari (?) with the bamboo motif is nice, but condition is only so so...

[docliss]

Dear Mariusz

 

While admiring your collection, I fear that you have one gimei tsuba to add to your collection of gimei blades! I regret that your 'Miboku' tsuba is in no way the work of that Meiko artist, Hamano Shozui. But you can't win them all!

 

Regards, John L.

[Curran]

I think it is a nice selection with aesthetic. I wish I could tell you more about the Tomoe tsuba. It is interesting to me. If you have more photos of it, throw them up.

[Mike]

Very nice collection, some quality tsuba you have got. I must say that the I find the tomoe tsuba intersting I used to see it in iron.

Mike

[Marius]

I think it is a nice selection with aesthetic. I wish I could tell you more about the Tomoe tsuba. It is interesting to me. If you have more photos of it, throw them up.

 

here you go The texture of the suaka is different on each side - on the front it is mikagiji, on the back it is smooth but not as a mirror. You cannot see this in the pics, but the mikagiji is wonderful. It is really very nicely polished surface with a wonderful color to it.

 

The dimensons are as follows:

7.6cm x7.6 x 0.3cm

Nakago ana: 2.9cm x 0.9cm

 

Enjoy :-)

[Marius]

Dear Mariusz

 

While admiring your collection, I fear that you have one gimei tsuba to add to your collection of gimei blades! I regret that your 'Miboku' tsuba is in no way the work of that Meiko artist, Hamano Shozui. But you can't win them all!

 

Dear John,

 

the tsuba description has been adjusted accordingly. I have also changed the description of the sukashi tsuba with the rice plant to "Choshu", as indicated by you. Thank you very much for your contribution and your willingness to share your knowledge with a beginner

 

BTW, I have another tsuba with the rice flower motif. I wonder what you think of it? Sorry for the abysmal quality of my pics, I had only a kiddie camera at hand...

[Gunome]

Hello,

BTW, I have another tsuba with the rice flower motif. I wonder what you think of it? Sorry for the abysmal quality of my pics, I had only a kiddie camera at hand...

 

May I am wrong, but, it look's like Choshu too. Should be confirmed by the expert of the forum.

 

Sebastien

[docliss]

Dear Mariuisz

 

I am by no means ‘the expert of the forum’ to whom Sebastien refers, but I agree with him that this, also, is an example of Chōshū work. While more 3-dimensional in its depiction of the rice plant, it lacks the quality of your previous posting, with the latter’s sharpness of detail. Its provenance is confirmed by the black patination of the plate; the ubu-sukashi depiction of its subject, with a similar depiction on the reverse side; and the scanty gold decoration.

 

It is probably C19 work, and is rather in need of some TLC.

 

Regards, John L.

[Curran]

Tomoe tsuba:

 

First thoughts- I am mentally searching for the name of the artisan. Andy Quirt's website had a set of menuki by him. Early 20th century work. Often a little flat in appearance, but guy worked with copper and developed what to my eyes is a rather distinct earthen red patina. Probably one of the bigger brains like Ford or Peter Klein will come up with the name....

 

The menuki seem to have long sold from Andy's site. I suspect your tsuba might be more of his time/place of production. Early 20th century, and relatively sought after by some collectors.

 

These are just my impressions. It kills me I cannot remember the artisan's name, and I don't know if I have him on file.

 

Curran

[Marius]

Tomoe tsuba:

 

First thoughts- I am mentally searching for the name of the artisan. Andy Quirt's website had a set of menuki by him. Early 20th century work. Often a little flat in appearance, but guy worked with copper and developed what to my eyes is a rather distinct earthen red patina. Probably one of the bigger brains like Ford or Peter Klein will come up with the name....

 

The menuki seem to have long sold from Andy's site. I suspect your tsuba might be more of his time/place of production. Early 20th century, and relatively sought after by some collectors.

 

These are just my impressions. It kills me I cannot remember the artisan's name, and I don't know if I have him on file.

 

Dear Curran,

 

many thanks for that info. Such a pity the menuki are gone. If you come up with the artisan's name, I will be grateful.

[Bugyotsuji]

John L. "your collection is selective and interesting, and puts a number of our less discriminating members to shame."

 

As one of the above-mentioned members, may I just say that I enjoyed seeing your Tsuba collection. Thanks for sharing!

[ububob]

Nice beginning. I must confess to being partial to your Akasaka piece thanks to Fred Geyer.