Jesper Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi all, Does anyone know if there are there any polishers currently working in Europe? Thanks. Jesper Quote
Eric H Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Marco Quadri in Italy http://xoomer.virgilio.it/tsubame/Web%2 ... FRAMED.htm Eric Quote
Brian Hancock Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi Jesper, UK has got Tony Norman, Les Stewart, John Bolton. Cheers, Brian. Quote
Jacques Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi, Probably the best one in Europe, Zenon Vandamme in Bruges Belgium. http://www.japaneseart.be/ Quote
Jesper Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Posted October 12, 2009 Thank you Jacques and Brian, Do you know if the English polishers have websites? Jesper Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Jesper, I'm not sure both Marco Quadri and Zenon Van Damme still polishes blades. AFAIK Zenon is now more about laquerwork restoration and Marco limited to Stibbert Museum's collection cataloguing and maintenance. Years of hard work in painful poisition are asking their toll. But you can make a try. Avoid *any* italian polisher other then Quadri. There are no more (or not yet...) good ones. Quote
Jacques Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi, Like i personnally know Zenon Vandamme, i can affirm he still polish blades. Like he is always very busy, you must be patient. Quote
loiner1965 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 i can recommend john bolton here in the uk Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Does anyone know if there are there any polishers currently working in Europe? What sort of sword is it you want polishing? If its something very good then you should really send it to Japan. I would recommend Usagiya http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ I have had a few swords polished by Rinzo Negishi and couldn't be happier. The service was excellent. Quote
Jesper Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Posted October 12, 2009 I have picked up a gendai-to a few days ago. The blade is signed Seki MitsuNobu, dated march 1945. It is out of polish, but not too bad with no deep rust. It has a nice small gunome hamon with long Ashi. I think it is traditionally made and am considering to have it polished. I would normally consider a Japanese polisher for very good blades, but might for this one try a polisher in Europe. Thanks Jesper Quote
takakage Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi, VAN DAME Zénon website http://www.japaneseart.be/ and his work on a blade before after a nice work. Quote
Jacques Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Hi, I have picked up a gendai-to a few days ago. The blade is signed Seki MitsuNobu, dated march 1945 I don't think Zenon Vandamme want to polish a Showato. Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 John Bolton would polish your Seki Mitsunobu, you would however need to find someone to act as an agent Below is a before and after example from John Bolton. Blade was previously in very rough and badly abused condition. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 Peter, to be blunt, I don't think the image you've posted of Mr Bolton's work does him any favours. It is very obvious that the mitsukado is poorly defined and that the surface of the area between the shinogi and the edge of the mune has been "rolled" thereby fudging the requisite crisp lines one ought to demand from a good foundation polish. No personal offence intended...towards anyone :? I await the obligatory indignant protestations... ford Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 12, 2009 Report Posted October 12, 2009 to be blunt, I don't think the image you've posted of Mr Bolton's work does him any favours. Probably not, one of the reasons why many people (myself included) have switched to using other polishers in the UK now. Quote
Clive Sinclaire Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 I must agree with Ford and you do need to be very careful with UK polishers. Mr Norman seems to do no damage and does not use acid. Best polish good blades in Japan but it is difficult to see a Showa-to warranting the cost of a polish, shira-saya etc. Clive Sinclaire Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 I don't think Zenon Vandamme want to polish a Showato. Marco too. Hence the reason to not recommend good polishers unless you're sure what we're talking about. As I've said they're getting old and tend to spend the remaining working time of their back and shoulders on good ones only becoming sorta "picky". Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 Clive Sinclaire wrote : t is difficult to see a Showa-to warranting the cost of a polish, shira-saya etc. It is not only valid for a gendaito but for a lot of other swords. If possible, buy always swords in polish. Everybody is aware of the "collapse" of Nihonto market but for very good sords or very low ones (BTW, amazing how craps swords are priced by some antiques dealers). Buying an out polish blade, have it papered (either to have it kanteied or to authetify the mei - most of the time average ones), have it polished (otherwise, you'll never be able to study anything out of it - unless being an expert - and even then .. remember my unpolish Kanetsune which got a kanteisho but once polished had 2 hagire), a shirasaya made. Total cost : more than 3k$ and I am sure I am below the real price PLEASE : BEFORE BUYING SOMETHING/CONSIDERING RESTORATION : WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS. About shinsa : I have seen recently a tsuba on sale. Everybody knows I know even less in kodogu than in Nihonto. but undoubtedly it was a Jakushi tsuba. What the use of getting a TH on an unsigned Jakushi tsuba? I know a lot of people will disagree, but it is the same as in Nihonto. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 What the use of getting a TH on an unsigned Jakushi tsuba? It was a particularly fine example of Jakushi work. Many if not the majority of katana size Jakushi tsuba are unsigned. Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 Peter, You did not answer the question. What the use of having a Tsuba passe TH. Either you are facing connoisseurs and they don't need the paper or it is for newbies unable to to appreciate nothing but a kanteisho. Here is another unpapered one: I have no doubt concerning the craftmanship/school Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 You did not answer the question. What the use of having a Tsuba passe TH. It gives you reassurance that the tsuba you've bought shows superior workmanship when compared to an average tsuba from the school. Basically that it isn't a typical made for profit "pot boiler" piece. Heres a good example of a nice but overpriced Jakushi http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110418981205 Quote
Ford Hallam Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 It gives you reassurance that the tsuba you've bought shows superior workmanship I have to agree with Jean, in cases like this, if you don't get it, i.e. appreciate the quality and can see the superiority of the work as art, then relying on a piece of paper is merely a confidence trick you play on yourself. The danger, also, then arises that without any way of developing independent skills of evaluation you become reliant on the opinion of others who rarely offer any explanation. This is not a health state of affairs. With improved communication within this community and an education in the aesthetics and material qualities of technique we may ultimately reach a stage when well rounded collectors are able to evaluate, judge and discuss these issues among themselves and not be so dependant of external authority. In this respect I quite like the concept of the newly formed Tobunkyo. regards, Ford Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 It gives you reassurance Quod erat demonstrandum The difference in price about the Jakushi tsubas papered and unpapered is 850$ vs 1200$. Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 Ford wrote : I have to agree with Jean My English is a bit rusted, Ford, but it is not an obligation Quote
Ford Hallam Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 Hey Jean, You're right, I don't have to.....but I expect a little quid pro quo at some point Hope your Latin isn't too rusty Quote
pcfarrar Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 The paper is grading of how the piece fits into that schools level of workmanship. How is it possible to determine this if you haven't seen many examples from that school? This is where the shinsa judges come into play. If you buy a tsuba with TH papers you know for sure that its better than the majority of that schools work. Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 Ford, Latin is like everything, abusus non tollit usum: ad augusta per angusta ... Quote
Guido Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 You guys are obviously living in a perfect world where all collectors can judge quality and don't need papers. I have to admit that I myself am confident (cocky?) enough to recognize quality, and that I couldn't care less if a sword or Tsuba has papers or not. However, in the less than perfect world I'm living in I sometimes sell pieces to upgrade my collection. And guess what, items with papers almost fly off the shelves while unpaperd (quality) items remain unsold. I'll not go into a lengthy monolog why that may be as it is, but for that reason alone I have all my stuff papered. And never sold at a loss, quite to the contrary, I always made more than up for the paper expenses in my sales. Cynical? Maybe, but my wallet (and my wife, who's the Lord Keeper of my wallet) speak a clear language. :D Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 I always made more than up for the paper expenses in my sales Glad for you, Guido, but taking into account the market and auction results on papered swords, you are a very very lucky guy. :D All depends on : when and what you buy - where you sold - I have countleess counter-examples included on Juyo at the time being Quote
cisco-san Posted October 13, 2009 Report Posted October 13, 2009 .....but my wallet (and my wife, who's the Lord Keeper of my wallet) speak a clear language. :D Unfortunately I fully agree with you Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.