Tsuba collection in Japan for sale

[johnb]

I'm in Tokyo and have just come across a collection of 35 plus tsuba for sale. My knowledge of tsuba is very poor. I have posted a few here and will post the others I have photographed if anyone is interested. I am thinking of buying a couple and am not sure whether the prices are reasonable or not. So any advice on this would be much appreciated.

If anyone wants one...happy to buy it on their behalf...so long as it isn't one i want. :D

The rest can be viewed here.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... =794234390

 

Johnb

[Bugyotsuji]

I can't see facebook without logging in...

 

Those seem to be quite expensive to start with, even if you are able to negotiate with them.

[johnb]

Yes Piers, I was just thinking the same. I just checked the currency exchange an must have been a little confused when I came across them earlier today. Nonetheless I omitted to mention in my previous post I have discussed a 30% discount...still a bit pricey.

[Curgan]

Any with peony theme, kinko or daisho sets among them?

 

PS Sorry can't login at facebook

[drbvac]

Gents:

 

I know less than either of you about tsuba however if you check my avitar I do have a dragon themed one signed Kinai of echizen that is really much better than the one for 140000 Y and I doubt I could get half that for it. I would say they are all priced about double what they could fetch on the market "if" they are not copies!

[Soshin]

I think all of the tsuba are real, antique, and dating to the Edo period. I also agree that the tsuba are a pit pricey given the current exchange between the US Dollor and the Japanese Yen and the current market. I have of recently shifted my purchases from Japan were I started to the USA. Next year I am also going to try to make it to more show in the USA as well as deepen my research of tosogu. Thanks for sharing photos of the tsuba for sale in Japan.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.

[Jean]

Over priced

[Pete Klein]

I totally agree with Jean. These are two to four times what they should be and the quality is only good to mediocre. I'd walk.

[Alan Morton]

Hi there John,

Here is a link to a site that will give you good comparison

whith a 30% dicount to board members. http://www.japanesesword.de

All these peices look far too expensive, if you ever need to sell these

you will never get your money back no matter how long you keep them

 

Best Regards to you and your family Alan.

 

when are you due back in Oz?

[johnb]

Hi Alan, not sure when we're back next, regards to you both too.

Here's another link http://www.flickr.com/photos/57454512@N02/?saved=1

I hope that one works. Received an mail from the seller this morning, it seems there are 60 tsuba in all. If i buy them all he's offering a 60% discount...in total...24k! ouch!

 

Johnb

[Pete Klein]

From what I can see wholesale in Japan at the dealer auction would be about $6000 to $8000 for the 60 lot. Then you could sell them on Ebay and possibly make a couple bucks.

[Henry Wilson]

Living in Japan and generally working in Yen those tsuba are way over priced. They remind me of the stuff that are available at weekend flea markets. I would definitely avoid them at all costs. If you want to get a nice tsuba on a budget try here:

 

http://www.finesword.co.jp/

 

Scroll down a bit. The are located in Ginza which is quite central.

 

Cheers all and hope the 二日酔い is not biting too much...

[johnb]

Hi Henry,

Eating cheap and trying not to worry about the yen. Off to Yasukuni flea market in a minute. (Your travel list in hand, thank you again). Just trying to get the girls out of the shower. I might just offer the collector 8k for the lot....see where i come out. Although I just checked ebay and nothing seems to be selling. I have to say...we're loving Japan.

 

Johnb

[Henry Wilson]

Glad you are enjoying yourself. My advice would be to leave them because as you say nothing is selling. Maybe by something that you like with the intention of hanging on to it.

 

At Yasukuni Shrine make sure you go around the back to the duck pond. To the right is the old sword factory where Yasunkuni swords were forged.

[drbvac]

Are there 60 or 32 ? As several folks have said, in this market and considering the quality, IMHO wouldn't allow much more than a couple of hundred bucks per and even then you could be a long time making 10% on a resale anywhere. If I had 8 grand to drop in Japan - not so sure it would be here !

[johnb]

Actually I don't have a casual 8k to drop. And as I mentioned in an earlier post there are 60 tsuba. At 8k it's a hundred and thirty three bucks a pop.

And maybe it'll take a while but it could give me a return on ebay...a calculated risk.

 

JB

[jlawson]

FYI John I have seen that collection as well and bought a total of 10 tsuba this year at the DTI out of it. The ones that are left are not much and have been already picked through. The 1st one you have listed also has a hozon paper. Also if you are really set on buying the lot still he did 50% for me buying the ones I did in November so don't accept the 30%.

[johnb]

Thanks the info James, my wife tells me it was a 50% discount that was offered....I should never do business on my own! I have now been offered a 60% discount if I buy them all.... way out of my pocket.

[Alan Morton]

Hi John, your last post 27/12/10. It's now 12/1/11

What did you end up with?

 

Alan.