Tsuba mei

[Steve Waszak]

Greetings gentlemen,

 

I would very much appreciate assistance in reading the mei on this tsuba. The second ji may read "Nobu"(?), but I cannot make it out for sure. The first ji I cannot manage to read clearly at all. Thanks for any help...

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[CSM101]

Hi Steve,

 

I tried to make the signature more "readable". Maybe someone can give you the right answer. Or you post a new photo only the signature.

 

Greetings

 

Uwe G.

[Steve Waszak]

Thanks, Uwe. Much appreciated. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the tsuba to try to post a better photo of the mei. Hopefully, your efforts here will help a lot. Thanks again.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[christianmalterre]

puzzeled indeed here!

No help from "motherland"(Morita-san/Moriyama-san) maybe?

Edit:

(an request about how(?) to propperly read this/these punched "signature"/"mei" marks...certainly no distinct reg./attr. about authenticity will ben set-Of course!)

 

Christian

[Stephen]

may be a neg image, i cant tell that far or that close

[Markus]

I might read "Tetsunin"

 

鉄仁

[christianmalterre]

Herzlichen Dank an Dich Markus! :D

 

unknown to me...

may this be read/understood as an probable reference to the used iron eventually?

Tetsu...(Nanban)Tetsu used...????????????

 

Christian

[Markus]

I was only able to find one reference, namely in Haynes, stating that

"Tetsunin" was the pseudonym of Yukimori (H 12426.0), who made

tsuba in the Saga Kaneie school style. Also Haynes writes: "His relationship

to artists who signed Tetsunin (鉄人) is not known."

 

But in the entry for Tetsunin (鉄人, H 09683.0) he writes: "Later some of this group

signed Testunin (鉄仁) ... There were also other variations on this style of signature."

[Pete Klein]

From Wakayama II, vol. 285:

 

[christianmalterre]

GREAT

Thank you both a very much!

 

 

Christian

[Steve Waszak]

Yes, many thanks to Markus and Pete... Much appreciated.

[k morita]

Hi,

You are great!

Since the attached pic of Mr.Pete-san was very informational,so I translated it. Thank you.

[John A Stuart]

Good name for a metal worker and kenjutsuka. Iron Man. John

[christianmalterre]

aringato gosaimass Morita-san

 

Christian

[lotus]

Found this thread while researching a Tsuba I just won on auction. A nice little Tosho Tsuba signed "Tetsujin". I found some more info thanks to the previous posters in this thread.

 

There is mention of him and his family in the following book :

 

Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts

By Serge Mol

 

His family were not only skilled martial artists but also iron craftsman, producing swords, swordguards and son. It appears that Aoki "Tetsujin" Kanesada and his brother both signed there work "Tetsujin". It goes on to say they posessed metal-working skill of the highest order and that objects made by them were of exceptional quality.

 

The Aoki family also continued the line of Enmei Ryu (a style of martial arts) which was also known as Enmei Jitte Ryu, Tetsujin Jitte Ryu, Tetsujin Nito Ryu, and Tetsujin Jitte Ryu. And by the way, Enmei Ryu was the style originally studied by Myamoto Musashi, the style founded by his grandfather.

 

Also, we have a date of 1643 as to when Aoki "Tetsujin" Kanesada wrote some illustrated manuscripts. So, we have a good date for when these may have been made. Interesting stuff.

[Steve Waszak]

Nice tsuba, Patrick.  Well done on the acquisition and linking it to an old thread.    Good information on the artist, too.  

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[lotus]

Yeah, it was an impulse buy. I had a bit of buyer's remorse because I had not done my research on it.

 

Now, after I have done so, I am quite happy. An early Edo piece and it even has Amida Yasuri...

 

Steve, do you still have your "Tetsujin" Tsuba?