Peter Bleed Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 What causes collecting fads? I’m sure there are lots of potential reactions to that question, but it seems to me that tsuba collecting has had a series of fads over the past several years. As a collector, I think it makes sense for us to be aware of what is hot. There is certainly nothing wrong with collecting what others also like. But it seems to me that popularity of some styles and schools can lead to “bubbles.” Nobody wants to buy into a bubble! Have there been fads – and price bubbles – in tsuba collecting? Let me cite a couple. In the 90’s tosho and kachushi tsuba – mebbe with a bit of mon-sukashi – were sought after and worth about twice or more than they command now. There was a time when an elegant iron disk was what collectors wanted. Now they are a commodity on eBay. After that, brass inlay tsuba – Heianjo-Onin – were in high demand. My sense is, however, that they are less popular now than they were a few years ago – and that prices have gone down. Namban tsuba seem to be pretty hot nowadays. I have to wonder if they are entering a “fad” phase. I full agree that high quality stuff transcends fad. Good Kanayama and Owari sukashi are always sought after. Some “types” are rare enough they can’t support a fad. We all know what a Kamakura tsuba looks like, but how many do we see? Fads can only happen in rather common categories. So what do you think? Are there fads? Why to they happen? And what should collectors do about them? Is now the time to buy Namban – or to sell? Peter Quote
Curran Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 While I would say Kanayama seemed to bubble a bit in price a few years ago, I've always thought exceptional Namban to have been too easily dismissed as ~just Namban~. I would stress exceptional namban. Of course you will ask for clarification. I can only say those unique enough in design, workmanship, and condition where they were works of art unto themselves and only held back by classification as Namban. That is a bit of a circular argument, but I don't seen the chinese xeroxed Namban going up in value much other than being easy to appreciate by novice collectors for their complexity and gold. Then again, maybe Namban appreciation is spillover from the inflation of Chinese art assets, and western eyes seeing such things now. Quote
Steve Waszak Posted October 24, 2011 Report Posted October 24, 2011 Peter, Good questions you ask here. As to the matter of why interest in certain types of tsuba spikes or lags at different times, I think one reason might be that if influential books are published---books which might feature famous or "important" collections, and which offer both excellent writing (very, very rare in the world of tsuba publications) and superb photography---the result may be increased interest in the types of tsuba highlighted in that book. I think a classic example of this is Sasano's Sukashi Tsuba: Early Japanese Sword Guards. I believe the publication of this book had a rather pronounced effect on the interest in iron tsuba, especially on iron sukashi guards, of course. While the photography of the examples in this book is not outstanding by current standards, at the time of the book's publication the photography was relatively good, and the layout (one tsuba per page with a fairly detailed comment on each tsuba) was very well-conceived. And the writing remains the finest in English on the subject in my opinion. Following the publication of the "gold book" (the book I am speaking of above), Sasano's "silver book" came out some twenty years later (1993 or 1994, I believe). This book featured vastly improved photography (but much poorer writing), and among the wonderful pieces presented were a number of tosho and katchushi tsuba. You note in your post here the popularity of these types of tsuba in the 1990s... I wonder if this book had anything to do with it. Frankly, the popularity of Namban tsuba mystifies me. Not a fan. Even the "best" pieces to my eye are lost in their own busy-ness; I see little or none of the "first aesthetic quality" Dr. Torigoye speaks of. They are entirely dependent on the "second aesthetic quality" of surface carving for whatever aesthetic appeal they have, but in my view they are "over-carved" to put it mildly. The concept of "Less is More," which informs so much Japanese artistic output across a multitude of genres, does not find application on the Namban tsuba. Perhaps for some their appeal has (more) to do with the impact of foreign cultural and/or aesthetic sensibilities on tsuba design. I really can't say... Good topic, Peter... Cheers, Steve Quote
Soshin Posted October 24, 2011 Report Posted October 24, 2011 Hi Peter, I would agree mostly with Steve remarks and thanks for presenting such a interesting topic for discussion. Owari tsuba of the different schools are always in demand. I find them personally very pleasing to look at and to collect. I know that Higo tsuba are in high demand and often enjoy higher prices more so then what I think they should. This is just my opinion and reflects my own collecting interests. Perhaps for some their appeal has (more) to do with the impact of foreign cultural and/or aesthetic sensibilities on tsuba design. I really can't say... Good topic, Peter... Cheers, Steve I would personally say that the above point about Nanban tsuba that Steve makes it one of the reason I am attracted to them and enjoy collecting high-end quality Nanban work. Currently I am looking for Nanban with strong European influences. I find Japanese stylization of both European and Chinese aesthetic sensibilities specifically during Edo Period while the country was under a almost country wide policy of isolation from foreign influences very interesting. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
Fred Geyer Posted October 24, 2011 Report Posted October 24, 2011 This is a very good question, I have always liked the high end Namban fittings or ones with a odd content or construction, and feel that for years they have been very under valued for there history and quality so I feel they are just catching up to the prices they should be !!. I will post a few photos of some of the odd ones that I have, also as a note I have seen Namban for sale in Japan as much as 1,200,000 yen, so I would say as with any group of tsuba there are ones that really stand out. Fred Geyer Quote
Fred Geyer Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 here are some that I like and had out of the safe. The set is really outstanding and very open the dragons on the single tsuba move freely inside the tsuba and the coin one is really nice a few of you have seen that one when I brought it to Tampa. So here are a few to open the Fad topic up!! Fred Geyer Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Nice gloves.....where you on your way outside to shovel snow???? Quote
Fred Geyer Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Hey Chris!! No....I dropped a very expensive tsuba one time, so I ALWAYS wear the one with little rubber dots on them when ever I handle my tsuba ....well and maybe yours :D Fred Geyer Quote
Curran Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Ah ha! Now I know where that coin one went! I didn't know you (Fred) owned it. I got an offer too good to refuse on my last Namban, and haven't owned one since I let it go... but wanted to jump at that coin one, and found it gone. Very unique one, and it is one of the 10 or so that have stuck in my mind. Nihonto and Numistatics rolled into one. Quote
Peter Bleed Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Posted October 25, 2011 Fabulous, Fred. Thank you for sharing. Have you any history on the repurposed smallsword guard? When and how did it leave Japan? Any guesses on how big a nippon-to would have fit that guard after it was turned into a tsuba? Looks like it would have been pretty small. I'll say it again, Wow! Peter Quote
Soshin Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Hi Fred, Thanks for posting so many wonderful photos of high end Nanban tsuba. :D I have a two nice ones but nothing like the ones you posted. Thank you very much for sharing. Yours truly, David Stiles Quote
DirkO Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Here's the post from 2 years ago about that 'coin' tsuba (like John I immediately recognised it :-) ): http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4608 Quote
Guido Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 The set is really outstanding and very open ...Fred, IMO the set isn't Namban/Japanese but made for a Qing period Chinese Dao: Quote
Fred Geyer Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Peter, It was bought in Japan about 12 years ago from a family collection, and yes that was the first thing I noticed was the size of the sword, maybe a youth blade? It is 7/8 high and 3/16 wide. I have seen Kanbun blades that were made that would fit this and it would be in the right time frame..my idea anyway. I did not know the coin tsuba was seen on this site before, it is a really nice tsuba it rates up there in odd like the watch case I have made into a tsuba thst you have seen from Borris site. Anyone else out there have any odd Namban they want to show off ? Fred Geyer Quote
Fred Geyer Posted October 25, 2011 Report Posted October 25, 2011 Guido, The set has NBTHK tokubetsu papers to Namban, I really looked at the set before I got them and fully believe they were 100% mounted on a Japanese sword as the tsuba has seppa marks, dragons have 3 toes " I understand some Chinese under class have 3 toes" the nakago ana is set to a Japanese sword, and the person who I got these from knows there stuff. But maybe they were at one time in there life and reset to a Japanese sword? We have seen coins, watches, rapiers mounted to suit the taste of a person to there sword? Fred Geyer Quote
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