As promised for Geraint Shin Shinto smith - Inaba Toshizane

[Chriso]

Hi Geraint and all. As promised, a bit of info on my Toshizane katana that i acquired a number of years back.

The sword has been polished and re-mounted, I can provide additional picks if you wish.

 

I had some discussion with members of the board back in Mar 09 as to the text on the papers that came with the piece and it was suggested that I get off my #&$# and work it out, which in time I did. Thanks guys your not too subtle suggestion started me off on a great learning journey.

 

The info regarding the Smith, that i have been provided with follows and I would be grateful for any comments or additional info from members.

 

Hawleys 35 points Ref TOS354

 

Connoisseur’s Book P295 – Minryusho Toshizane

 

(From the previous minder) Now I'm working on your research and starting to feel a little coy that I sold that blade! One thing you should know is that he was the teacher of both Kiyomaro and Masao, you should know these guys right? A Kiyomaro sword sword a few years ago for $2million.

 

INABA TOSHIZANE

 

The Meikan states that he worked from around Bunsei 1804 to 1818 in Inaba. He is called Hanabe Gihachiro. Signatures include “Minryushi Toshizane”, “Toshizane” “Inaba kuni Hamabe Minryushi Toshizane” “Inshu Tottori ju Fujiwara Toshizane” , “Toshikuni” , known also to use a Kiku on his mei.

 

First known as Toshikuni, Toshizane was a student of Jukaku Toshinori who was also master to Kiyomaro and Masao. Fujishiro ranks him at Josaku , Hawleys ranks him at 35 points. His style of hamon is uniform ko-gonome ha , “Mt Fuji” stlye and uniform suguha. His jihada is a tight and clear ko-itame rivaling the best of hizento.

 

Two reference examples of his swords are available from the Christies catalougues from the sale of the Dr Walter Compton collection. Toshizane died 15th November 1846

 

As for the smith: KIYOMARO and SANEO were trained by Kawamura TOSHITAKA of Hamabe school. A native of Inaba province, he later moved to Shinano province and worked there for the Ueda family. Your sword is signed: TOSHIZANE. He was also a master of Hamabe school, but remained in Inaba province and took the name Minryushi. He was not connected to Yamaura-school as far as I know. Always suggested that it is this TOSHIZANE meant here.

 

Regards and best Chris O

[Toryu2020]

Chris -

Check my website for an article on th Hamabe school.

-t

[Chriso]

Many thanks for the info Thomas, A bit overwhelming at this stage. I'll go through it and see if i can absorb it.

 

Regards

 

Chris O

[Brian]

Beautiful hada on that sword. Almost looks nashiji.

 

Brian

[Geraint]

Thank you for the pictures Chris, and Thomas thank you for the link to your article which is very informative. Two reasons for my interest; the first is that some years ago a good friend lent me an Hamabe sword to do an oshigata, it was in the JSS/US journal but I can't recall exactly when. I will attach it. From my notes it is signed by Kunitake who I managed to trace as one of the pupils of Takenaka Kunihiko who was a pupil of Toshiyuki, the third generation. All this was done with what I had available at the time and may well need correction now.

 

The second reason is that I have a shinshinto katana by a later generation Inshu Kanesaki and information on the school seems hard to come by though the two schools appear to have connections with each other down the years.

 

Enjoy.

[Eric H]

I would be grateful for any comments or additional info from members.

 

 

Thanks for posting this article on Toshizane. Because it needs a lot of imagination what is meant under „Mt Fuji style“ hamon... I add a picture, this hamon is called Fujimi Saigyo.

Eric