Mark S.

I’m sorry! I did run through the thread quickly, but missed the smaller pics. Didn’t mean to re-post.

Currently on EBay

Maybe something ‘flushable’??? The gold highlights indicating corn have probably long since disappeared. Once you see it, you’ll never unsee it…

I would use 9 months as a start, but I really hate to speak for Woody or his schedule. It also really depends on what else is going on… shows, demonstrations, etc. He gets pulled in lots of different directions.

Can’t wait to see the finished product! His work is great. I’ve had a couple done before and currently have a blade in the queue.

I would agree older, but I also agree it looks to have had an acid etching and the nakago has been sanded down or something else to try to expose mei. Unfortunately there are a couple eBay sellers who are notorious for both these practices. I can ‘almost’ understand MINOR cleaning up RED rust (only) on nakago to view mei, but there are few blades that exhibit that type of activity without some serious acid help.

Pictures are getting better

I know everyone would love to do their best… but unfortunately, it will be difficult to give you any type of attribution by the pics provided. Very difficult to see hamon, activity in steel, hamon shape in boshi, file marks on nakago, etc. All of these are important for any type of attribution. Edo period is an acceptable first call, but that is a wide attribution. More pics showing as much detail as possible and I recommend you switch to a solid background. The picture of the blade underneath is a bit distracting. Take a look at some of the other posts showing pictures that highlight activity. It is NOT easy to take good pictures of blades, so don’t be discouraged. Try different lighting and at different angles. I find a single light sources in a dark room sometimes helps. Best of luck!

Last two Hirosada 廣 貞. ??? Not based so much on what I can see, but more on reference I could find and one or two strokes on the last character that is difficult to see.

Just adding mine to the mix.

I’ve only owned iron tsuba so this is my first soft metal (brass and other alloy mix?). I have left it alone since buying and only handle with a cloth until I learn more about proper care and feeding. Wasn’t sure how patina reacts to washing or handling. Any advice? Will also add to discussion in Tosogu section.

Maybe a few other questions. Why did you buy it? What did you see that made you like it? What do you think it is? What do you feel you can learn from it? Is it what you expected? Are you happy with it? Why or why not?

My following comments may seem harsh and I really don’t want to be that way because I want NMB to be friendly and inviting. My advice would be to wait and study until you can at least tell real from replica. Asking afterwards can be very disappointing. You state shop has a good reputation, and then you ask if it is real? If you have to ask if it is real afterward, why would you buy? My opinion is that it is ‘real’. As to what it is, or if it is a blade worth owning, I will leave that to others. Condition is really an issue and it will be difficult to tell much based on what can be seen, or more to the point what can’t be seen.

Next time you have a chance, I would appreciate pics of the tsuba(s) I just picked one up with the hawk and plover design, and would like to compare. I know mine is probably a common copy, but like the design nonetheless. Great story on the set!

The second blade (Utsuri) makes me think Aoe school… but you wouldn’t give answer away in your opening description of the “blind kantei expert”. I’m still trying to decipher what you really mean by “unseen kantei point”.

Suriage and a pretty substantial machi-okuri?

Extremely grateful to you all!

Most definitely did a lot of that

Moriyama-san… thank you so much! Then I assume the information on the bottom left corner is also Yoneyama zo and seal is Yoneyama and the Beizan info provided by seller and info I found is something completely different? The bowl was not that expensive and I bought it because I liked it, not based on the box info, so I have no concerns there. Just like learning more.

Now I feel like a knucklehead… I did a search for Ishime and didn’t find it. Looked again and there isn’t much, but it does make sense! Thank you for the help!

Also, regarding the two kanji I could not identify, I found two terms that had one kanji in each, but when the characters are combined it doesn’t make sense. The first kanji is “Ishi”, the first kanji in “Ishihaze” which roughly means ‘stone explosion’ in the finish of the bowl. The second kanji is “me”, the last kanji in “Hakeme” which denotes a design of white slip that is applied with a stiff brush. Bowl has both these features, but kanji combined, “Ishime” doesn’t make sense?

A bit off-topic, but wondering if I could ask for some assistance. Purchased a chawan that was labeled as Beizan (potter or kiln) Irabo-ware. I would just like a confirmation of lid translations and some help with the red ?? Seems like it should be easy, but I just couldn’t find the two kanji together!!! I also included a picture of the stamp that is on the cloth that wraps the bowl while in box, a reference I found on line that confirmed Beizan, and the paperwork that was in box. I am in no way asking for a detailed translation of the paperwork, but figured it would help for those of you who can easily read it. If there is a one or two sentence ‘executive summary’ you could give (date made, potter, kiln, location, etc) of anything interesting, it would be a bonus and extremely appreciated, but I don’t want to over-extend this request. Thank you in advance! Mark S.

ALBATROSS!!!