In general, auction catalogs are an exceptional value offering excellent photographs,
detailed descriptions, and estimated selling prices.
N.B.: The number of lots listed for each auction reflects only that portion
concerned with Japanese arms and armor.
JAPANESE SWORDS AND TSUBA
FROM THE PROFESSOR A. Z. FREEMAN AND PHYLLIS SHARPE MEMORIAL COLLECTIONS
Sotheby's Auction Catalog (10 April 1997, London)
Includes 100 lots. SASANO Masayuki is credited for directing the
development of the Phyllis Sharpe Memorial Collection of Tsuba.
57 pages, 8¼ x 11" soft cover $75.00 |
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THE LUNDGREN COLLECTION OF JAPANESE METALWORK
Christies Auction Catalog (18
November 1997, London) 278 Lots of fittings and koshirae, and additional 15 lots of articulated
animals mostly of the Myochin school
of armor makers. The collection includes both iron and soft-metal works with
all lots are shown in high quality color photographs. In all, a spectacular
assemblage of Japanese artistry. Completed with a two page signature
reference in b&w followed by a five page biographical listing listing art
names and commentary for each of the metalworkers included in the text.
121 pages, 8¼ x 11¾" soft cover $149.00 |
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HAYNES AUCTION CATALOGS, Vols. 1
- 10
Robert Hayes et al
What the Compton auction catalogs are
for swords, Haynes' catalogs spanning 1981-84 are for the
field of tosogu...arguably more so. Presented
are a broad range of fittings with many significant examples
throughout the series, all with supporting documentation and
commentary making for excellent reference. An added
value to the series was the translation of Torigoye's
Tsuba Geijutso Ko (1960).
This complete set is a tremendous opportunity for
serious students of tosogu.
10 soft cover volumes $695
Some individual copies also available:
IMPORTANT JAPANESE IROGANE, KO-TSUBA, MENUKI, WOODBLOCK
PRINTS AND NETSUKE
Auction Catalog
#3
(28
November 1982, San Francisco)
Includes 355 lots noted for coverage of tosogu (197), this
is the third in what would be a ten volume series of
catalogs. Includes part three of the series' translation of
Tsuba Geijutsu Ko (Torigoye, 1960), and indexes of signed
works.
93 pages, 8 x 10" soft cover $75.00 |
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THE JACK PARAS COLLECTION
of Japanese swords, fittings and armor
Butterfield's, San Francisco (1981)
Includes 469 lots; b&w plates throughout showing 375 pieces.
With realized prices list included.
112 pages, 8½ x 8½"
soft cover $55.00 |
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JAPANESE SWORDS & SWORD FITTINGS FROM THE
COLLECTION OF WALTER A. COMPTON, part I (31 Mar. 1992)
Christies catalog of the first Compton auction.
The quality of Compton's collection and Christie's photography and
documentation of it make this an important reference text. With realized
prices list included.
429 pages, 8¼ x 11¾" soft cover w/jacket
$325.00
Interesting note - In this giant catalog and #2 all photos of the
fittings including iron works are shown in full color.
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Read a report on the first Compton auction:
"A Cutting-Edge Collection Earns $7.9 Million at New York Auction." |
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JAPANESE SWORDS & SWORD FITTINGS FROM THE COLLECTION OF WALTER A.
COMPTON, part III (17 Dec. 1992)
Christies catalog of the final Compton auction.
The quality of Compton's collection and Christie's photography and
documentation of it make this an important reference text. With realized
prices list included.
122 pages, 8¼ x 11¾" soft cover w/jacket $140.00 |
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JAPANESE SWORDS, ARMOUR AND SWORD FITTINGS
(10 March 1976, London)
Sotheby's auction of 210 lots: swords(56), tsuba(49), kodogu(92), armor(4) and related works; eighteen
pages of b&w plates on gloss stock. Includes separate
estimates listing.
31 pages, 7 x 9½" soft cover $22.00
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THE ROY
G. COLE COLLECTION OF FINE JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS, LACQUER & OTHER
WORKS OF ART
(13 Dec. 1990, New York)
Sotheby's auction, includes 202 lots: tsuba, kodogu; many pictured, color
photographs. Includes sale results sheet.
69 pages, 8¼ x 10½" soft cover $60.00
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THE FIELD MARSHAL SIR FRANCIS FESTING
COLLECTION OF JAPANESE SWORDS AND SWORD FITTINGS FROM THE COLLECTION OF
LT. COL. H. A. BACKHOFF
Sotheby's Auction Catalog (1 April 1993, London)
Two important 20th Century collections are presented. Includes 110 lots:
swords (38), kake (9), and tsuba (61); each piece fully
described. Festing's collection, much of it acquired in the late 40s,
contains many big-name smiths including Kotetsu and Kiyomaru. All of the
blades are shown in high quality photos; many koshirae presented
in color. Backhoff's collection includes both iron and soft-metal works;
both color and b&w photos.
60 pages, 8¼ x 11" soft cover $75.00 |
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JAPANESE SWORD FURNITURE: COLLECTION
OF GENERAL J.C. PABST
( 26 June 1956, Amsterdam)
Van Stockum's Antiquariaat - The Hague auction, a collection assembled by the former Dutch
Minister to Japan; includes 507 lots*: tsuba, kodogu; with 56 lots pictured, b&w
photographs.
80 pages, 7¼ x 10½" soft cover $45.00
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FINE JAPANESE SWORDS, NETSUKE, TSUBA
& OTHER WORKS OF ART
(4 Nov. 1969, London)
Christie's auction of Japanese art. Includes 52 lots: tsuba(17), kodogu (19), swords(14),
and kabuto(2); four b&w plates.
46 pages, 6 x 9½" soft cover $15.00
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JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
(20 April 1971, London)
Christie's auction of Japanese art. Includes 119 lots: tsuba(97),
kodogu(16) and swords(6); two b&w plates.
45 pages, 6 x 9½" soft cover $15.00 |
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JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
(16 November 1971, London)
Christie's auction of Japanese art. Includes 75 lots: tsuba(33), and swords(42); two
b&w plates.
39 pages, 6 x 9½" soft cover $15.00 |
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GOOD JAPANESE SWORDS, FITTINGS AND ARMOUR
- New Listing
(31 May 1973, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 396 lots: tsuba(131), kodogu(49), swords(162) and
armor (27) and related works; forty-six pages of b&w plates.
With separate prices realized list included.
65 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $30.00 |
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IMPORTANT ASIAN AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(29-29 November 1973, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 550 lots: tsuba(160), kodogu(77), swords(199),
yanone(12), and
armor (84) and related works; thirty-four pages of b&w plates.
With separate prices realized list included.
208 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $35.00 |
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JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(22 January 1975, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 322 lots with estimated prices: tsuba(109), kodogu(69), swords(124) and
armor (10) and related works; thirty-three pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
73 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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JAPANESE AND OTHER ASIAN WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(16-18 June 1975, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 174 lots with estimated prices: tsuba(48), kodogu(57), swords(65) and
armor (2) and related works; nineteen pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
217 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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IMPORTANT ASIAN AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(18-19 November 1975, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 113 lots with estimated prices: tsuba(13), kodogu(2), swords(61) and
armor (15) and related works; twenty-two pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
134 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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IMPORTANT ASIAN AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(21 April 1976, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 103 lots with estimated prices: tsuba
(21), kodogu(31), swords(44), and
armor (7) and related lots; twenty-four pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
60 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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IMPORTANT ASIAN AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(14-15 June 1977, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 37 lots with estimated prices: swords(22), tsuba(2), kodogu(5), and
armor (2); nine pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
131 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $20.00 |
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JAPANESE AND OTHER ASIAN WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(9-11 May 1978, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 82 lots with estimated prices: tsuba(30), kodogu(19), swords(28) and
armor (6) and related works; twenty-five pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
304 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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HIGHLY IMPORTANT JAPANESE
SWORDS - THE COLLECTION OF
MR. BUMPIE USUI
(25 Jan 1979, NY)
Sotheby's auction of Japanese art. Includes 159 lots: nihonto
(150), tosogu (4), katchu (4), and tanegashima
(2); b&w plates throughout showing 125 pieces. Most swords shown in
multiple plates as seen here. With estimated prices list included.
68 pg, 7 x 9½" soft cover $45.00 |
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IMPORTANT ASIAN AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
- New Listing
(1-3 July 1980, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 180 lots with estimated prices: swords(61),
kodogu(52), tsuba (54), and
armor (11) and related lots (15); twenty-eight pages of b&w plates on gloss stock.
289 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $30.00 |
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IMPORTANT JAPANESE SWORDS
(5 May 1981, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 484 lots: swords(166), tsuba(181),
kodogu(84), armor (14) and yanone (15);
one hundred-fourteen pages of b&w plates and one page of color
plates
on gloss stock.
Includes estimated prices and separate prices realized listings.
132 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $35.00 |
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JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
(30 June
1981, London) Christie's auction of 38 lots: tsuba(12),
kozuka(11), and swords(15); twelve pages of b&w plates. Includes
estimated prices, and a separate prices realized list.
44 pages, 7¼ x 9½" soft cover $20.00 |
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JAPANESE ART AT AUCTION
(28, 29 August 1981, East Dennis, MA)
Robert C. Eldred Co. auction of 40 lots: swords(8), tsuba(14),
kodogu (18) and related lots; four pages of b&w plates. Includes
separate estimates and prices realized listings.
136 pages, 8½ x 11" soft cover $15.00 |
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JAPANESE SWORDS, SWORD
FITTINGS AND ARMOUR
(27 October 1981, London)
Sotheby's auction of 310 lots: swords(73), tsuba(110), kodogu (133),
armor (7) and related lots; forty-four pages of b&w plates on gloss
stock. Includes separate estimates listings.
54 pages, 7 x 9½" soft cover with dust jacket $35.00 |
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THE
BACKHOFF
COLLECTION
OF JAPANESE
SWORDS AND
FITTINGS
(27 Oct. 1981, London)
Sotheby's auction of an important 20th Century collection. Includes
277 lots: swords (28), kake (1), and tsuba (248) with
all the major schools represented, iron and soft-metal works.
Photographs in both color and b&w. Includes estimates sheet.
53 pages, 7 x 9½" soft cover $45.00 |
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FINE JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
(8 December 1981,
London)
Christie's auction of 79 lots: swords (14), matchlocks (7), and
tosogu(54) and related works; one color and six b&w plates on gloss
stock. Includes estimated prices, and a separate prices realized
list.
55 pages, 7¼ x 9½" soft cover $20.00 |
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IMPORTANT JAPANESE SWORDS
AND ARMOUR
(17 June 1982, New York)
Sotheby's auction of 227 lots with estimated prices: tsuba(84), kodogu(13), swords(92) and
armor (36) and related works; forty-three pages of b&w plates and
one color plate on gloss stock.
48 pages, 8¾ x 9¼" soft cover $25.00 |
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JAPANESE WORKS OF ART
(6 July 1982, London)
Christie's auction of 37 lots: swords (7) including Naotane and Juyo
shodai Masatsune, tosogu(28) and related works; six pages of b&w
plates. Includes estimated prices, and a separate prices realized
list.
66 pages, 7¼ x 9½" soft cover $20.00 |
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* The number of lots listed for each auction reflects only that portion concerned
with Japanese arms and armor.
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