It is difficult to explain my fascination with these unique art objects, which
truly are works of functional sculpture. I have been collecting and studying the
Japanese Art Sword for over thirty years. Acquiring my first Samurai Sword in
October, 1975 (see photo of my first katana). Since 1986 I have been concentrating my research on Tsukamaki. In 1987, with the guidance of Dr.W.Y.Takahashi, Sensei, I began a three year intensive study/apprenticeship of the restoration and preservation techniques of John Grimmitt and Takahiro Ichinose, concentrating my research on Tsukamaki and Japanese Lacquerware. Since 1988, I have been performing restoration work on tsuka for various institutions, private collectors, and dealers. In particular, from the fall of '91 until the spring of '96, I performed all of the tsuka restoration work for the Fred Lohman Company.
Currently, I still enjoy both the privilege of doing self-directed, and expertly supervised, restoration and appraisals, as well as the autonomy to research the history and culture of distinctive Japanese art objects.
Buck, T. L. (2012) The Art of Tsukamaki. Portland: Lloyd &Tutle Publishing, Ltd. ISBNs: 0-984377956; 978-0984377954
Available on Amazon.com for $32.97
Available here for $28.42 (free shipping)Buck, T. L. (2002) Across the Spectrum: Historical Trends in Japanese Lacquer-ware. Portland: Lloyd & Tutle Publishing, Ltd. ISBN: 0-9843779-1-3
Buck, T. L. (1998) Ancient Japanese Swords and Fittings: A Collection of Restored and Translated Nineteenth Century Woodblock Prints. Portland: Lloyd & Tutle Publishing, Ltd. ISBN: 0-9843779-0-5
Articles
Buck, T. L. (1999). The traditional Japanese urushi techniques, Conservation
of Urushi Objects, Postprints of the International Symposium on the
Conservation of and Restoration of Cultural Property 1999, Tokyo,
National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, p. 206.Buck, Thomas (1994). Saya Lacquering - How to put on a mirror
finish. Colorado Token Kai Quarterly, v3, n1, pp. 13-14.Buck, Thomas (1993). Tsuka-maki, The Art of Japanese Sword
Restoration. Colorado Token Kai Quarterly, v1, n1, pp. 3-8.Buck, Thomas (1983). The Historical Classification and General
Construction of the Samurai Sword. The Middle States Historical
Journal, v32 (Apr. 1983), 341-352.
Do you know of another sword site that I should add?
