the tale of two tadatoki

[lonely panet]

ok guys i ask you for opinons.

normally im happy with my knowlegde of Akasaka,  but please tell me why one tsuba is selling for $5000usd and the other i just bought for $250? my keen eyes hahahah 

 

should i be sending mine to shinsa?

[lonely panet]

No one wish to comment 

[Brian]

Not experienced enough to comment, but it's a good looking tsuba, looks worth getting a professional opinion to my eyes.

[Spartancrest]

A couple of other examples: 1. a Facebook site for a Japanese dealer  https://www.facebook...sumoto/?locale=es_LA  

 This one was sold back in January [price unknown]

 

2. An example from Greville Cooke's book on the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery number 1930M731   75 mm x 72 mm x 5 mm.

 

3. From the Cleveland Museum of Art  number 1919.302 70 mm in Diam.

 

4. Ashmolean Museum , Oxford number EAX.10673   https://jameelcentre...ction/8/object/21277

http://jameelcentre....0/EA_X_10673-a-L.jpg

 

5. & 6. From Cornell University and a Bonhams auction back in 2008 where one sold for £780

 

7. Christies auction https://www.christie...m/en/lot/lot-4962432  An Akasaka Tadatoki Tsuba  Edo period (19th century), signed Tadatoki saku. With a delicate lobed rim and pierced with chrysanthemum petals and leaves around the edges and carved on the web with leaves in ke-bori  2 5/8in. (6.8cm.)  [18 Sep 2007]

 

- are they cheaper by the dozen? 

[Kunehito]

Did you already consider there were several generations of Tadatoki active? there were more an less skilled workers active.

Shinsa is always a good way to get proof your signature is authentic - if you think its a work from a better artist. But you wont get the attribution to a generation obviously. Perfect condition reference pieces published or from famous collections (e.g. pieces with a good story to tell) are more expensive than the common things.

 

5k is ofc high above - for me at least. but if someone wants to have it to him/her it might be reasonable.

 

 

if you aquire all of them maybe you can figure out which generation and maker it was? 😇

 

Best wishes,

Tobi

[Kurikata]

my Tadatoki

[Iaido dude]

The tsuba priced at $5,000 on Shibuiswords is attributed to the 1st Tadatoki (4th generation Akasaka). I'm not familiar with how to evaluate the mei of this tsubako, but what I do know is that the 4th gen Akasaka is arguably among the best, having not only authentically derived from the Akasaka lineage, but because he pushed in a new and innovative direction that is quite distinct from what happened with the generations that followed (generally regarded as inferior). After him, there is a noted decay in the quality of the execution, whereas his designs are executed with a crispness and artistry that is distinct. Whether it is worth $5,000 is arguable. The artistry is IMHO unquestionable.