Thomas L. Buck, Ph.D.
Tsuka-maki & Lacquerware Restoration Specialist
(Member JSS/US | NBTHK Japan)

MY INTEREST IN JAPANESE SWORDS

I have been collecting and studying the Japanese Art Sword for over thirty years, acquiring my first Samurai Sword in October, 1975. 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.

My Sword Related Publications:

   Books:

	Buck, T. L. (2002) Across the Spectrum: Historical Trends in Japanese Lacquer-ware. Portland: Lloyd Publishing, Ltd. ISBN: 0-9843779-1-3 (soon to be republished in ebook format)
	Buck, T. L. (1998) Ancient Japanese Swords and Fittings: A Collection of Restored and Translated Nineteenth Century Woodblock Prints. Portland: Lloyd Publishing, Ltd. ISBN: 0-9843779-0-5 (soon to be republished in ebook format)

   Articles:

Buck, Thomas (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 (1983). The Historical Classification and General Construction of the Samurai Sword. The Middle States Historical Journal, v32 (Apr. 1983), 341-352.

Other "About Me" Links:

• My Professional Profile Page
• My Personal Homepage
• My Other Sword Page

My Professional Affiliations:

• American Educational Research Association
• American Historical Association
• Asian Art Council of Oregon
• Colorado Token Kai - Japanese Art Object Study Group
• The Council for Exceptional Children
• Denver Art Museum
• International Society for Technology in Education
• Japanese Art Sword Society of the United States, Inc.
• Midwest Regional Conservation Guild
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai
• Oregon Art Institute
• Phi Alpha Theta - The History Honor Society, Gamma Theta Chapter
• Phi Delta Kappa