Tsuba purchasing for new collectors

[Spartancrest]

3 hours ago, 1kinko said:

what is it, a slug and its trail of mucus? Or a slug on an upside down toadstool?

 

Mushroom with the underside showing "gills" - takes a little to work out I admit - to me they remind me of the "Face-hugger" from Alien or fossil Crinoids. But art is all in the eye of the beholder 

   As for vibes - the tsuba nice - the face-hugger not nice! 

 

 

  Snail and Mushroom tsuba from kissakai 

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[Spartancrest]

I just remembered this from "Kinai Tsuba" page 22 by Malcolm Cox in the Download section.  Shitake mushrooms

 

 

 

For Malcom - I found this Shiitake https://www.aoijapan...u-shiitake-mushroom/ it is almost identical to Number 61 in the PDF Just some sekigane at the top of the nakaogo-ana

 

  also https://www.ebay.com/itm/266434412727 very similar to those of number 64. 

Edited January 14, 2024 by Spartancrest
more images

[Tim Evans]

Hi Dan, 

 

Tsuba are a fascinating subject, and after looking at them for over 40 years, I still see forms I have not seen before. Because of the wide variety, there are any number of valid ways to form a collection, such as a “one of everything” collection, collecting certain images, collecting certain artists, signatures or regional works, unusual shapes, etc. However, I think a common characteristic of a satisfactory collection is a drive to find quality examples, and I would recommend the beginning tsuba collector learn how to evaluate a tsuba for quality charictaristics. Quality tsuba are not necessarily expensive and I think it is possible to build a quality collection without a big outlay, but doing so requires a good eye, knowledge, and patience. One reference work on tsuba quality that I think is valuable was written by Dr. Torigoye in  Tsuba: An Aesthetic Study. I have attached a copy of that essay below. There was also an article by me titled "Assessing Quality in Iron Tsuba" in the downloads section but it appears to be missing, so I have asked Brian to repost it. 

 

Dr.T.doc