Gunome

Hello, I am quite lost with your comments. I understood that NBTHK papers guaranteed the mei when the item is signed and given an attribution when it is mumei. Here there is a seal with kanji inside, they said signed with seal without detailing the name in the seal. If they are not able to read the mei, how they can issue a certificated and guarantee the mei whereas they cannot read it ?! gimei exist, why not false seals ?! thanks

You could also ask to Massimo Rossi in italia.

Could the first one be Toshi 俊 ?

Bruno, The seal seems to be 2 stylized kanji. I cannot decipher it but should be great if someone could read it. Sébastien

I learned this sad new this morning with an email from Jean. Like him I am still under the shock. That was very unexpected, I saw 2 week ago during our last sword meeting. I always take pleasure to discuss with Thierry. He was very nice and kind guy with a strong kwnowledge on tsuba. A big loss for Nihonto world....

Hello, Did you try to Google "Nambu", the name of this Japanese gun ? You may find more information about it and maybe a translation.

Hello, Yes this is a real Japanese sword and not a copy. The mei read Kanenori, on the other side, the date read showa 18th year, 8th month (1944). I also head about plastic same and that it has been used late in the war, so if your blade is from 1944, that could match. However I am far to be a specialist of Gunto, so do not hesitate to post in the dedicated Board section.

Hello, Mei read Bungo Takada ju Nobuyuki 豊後高田住信行 shinto sword

Hello It is signed yoshihara Kuniie 吉原國家 Would be good to rotate the pics in the correct sense

Hello I read mori mune and not kunimune, but may I do not see all the "kuni" kanji stokes. This sword is in very bad condition. IMHO it would be a gamble to send it to a polisher.

Hello Joe, Darcy have a nice example of a hitatsura hamon on a sue bizen sword: http://www.nihonto.ca/yosozaemon-sukesada-3/index.html

Hello, I think that Derek point out the fact that this sword has a Tokubetsu Hozon and is listed at $3400.

here are the kanji: 河内大掾藤原義植 forgot to includ them this morning

Kawachi daijo fujiwara yoshitane A shinto smith

Would be good to see the rest of the blade

Nio kyiosada saku

You like this kozuka, so in my opinion, this is the most important thing !

Never deal with him, and never heard good or negative feedback on him. However, if I were you, as the seller seem to do not have a good behaviour, I would pass and not insist to buy this sword.

this kozuka looks like to have loss his patina. Too shiny. Quality is average.

Hello, I cannot translate what is wrotten, but this woodblock looks like Toyokuni 3 works. maybe a hind to find information ?

Thanks to all for the info and also for this nice discussion

For sure, it is hard, or impossible, to compare and tell that van Gogh is better than Cezanne, or Picasso better than Vermeer, even only juging on technical skills. My great aunt was contemporary with van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and her hobby was paint. For sure she does not have same skill level and is totally unknow and not recognized as top level of 20th Century painters. Why do you quoted Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso Vermeer ... and not my great aunt ? Because are recognized as top level painters on their group/style/time period. I am not looking for a ranking: first, second, third, ... just want to know if there is a publication or a list, like the Fujishiro for sword, that identify the top level / recognized tsuba artists. Sorry if my English make missunderstanding in my request. However, interesting discussion.

Also to precise my initial question about the ranking. So, maybe "ranking" is not the good word. I would like to know if there a list of a group of artist recognized as top level ? when we said Nobuye, Kaneiye, Yasuchika, Goto ichijo, .... all are considered as top level, but is there other one ? Does someone make a ranking/group/list of such artists recognized as talentuous ?

Not totally subjective. In my mind, the technical level used could at least be taken into account as an objective criteria to assess the quality of the work. Also, on sword, the ranking is based, except if I am wrong, on (technical) ability of the Smith.

Thanks all for your reply. By chance do you know if there is a website with the list of tosogu artists by level ?