Hamano Naonori

[Andi B.]

Hello,

 

I recently purchased a nice shakudo tsuba (thanks PK) and now I'm trying to read the kanji.

I was told it is signed Hamano Naonori and now I want to "verify" it - means try to find it out on my own to learn more about kanji.

 

I have some kanji tables from the net using computer fonts which looks often different to the carved ones.

But for me it's nearly impossible to decide, whether it is the same kanji in a different style or a completely different kanji...

 

That's what I found for Hamano Naonori:

 

濱 (looks similiar)

墅 (the right part of the kanji doesn't match...)

直 (in the square part there isn't a "T")

矩 (looks similiar)

Kao (?, under the yose-tagane)

 

Any input (also to the tsuba itself - and the strange spot behind the stones) is welcome!

[cabowen]

Written/chiseled kanji don't always match the printed versions. Artistic/personal liberties are often taken....I think you can trust the translation given on these.

[kaigunair]

Kanji's match. The differences you noticed are also kantei points which can help to verify whether the signature is legit or gimie. For that, you need examples or pictures of known works to compare to...

 

Welcome to the world of tosogu!

[kissakai]

Hi Andy

I've only been into tsuba for two years so I can understand the difficulty you are having

Books are a good bet especially the one below:

 

My latest publication is a classical meikan, a signature comparison, namely for sword fittings. It contains about 4,100 pictures of about 2,000 Japanese sword fittings artists. Its purpose is to serve as a reference for the

comparison of signatures on sword fittings and is thus practical for both the collector and for antique dealers

 

Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists by Marcus Sesko

 

Try not to get carried away with Sesko's books and he has a secrete desire to bankrupt all NMB members

 

As these are real images it is easier to compare actual examples

The classic reference book is the 3 book Haynes Index, I also use Robinsons 'The Arts of the Japanese Sword' and Yumoto's samurai sword. Yumoto's book is good for kanji that is not a smith's name such as numbers, descriptions etc.

If I can get Mr Haynes permission I am hoping to offer The Haynes Index in a searchable spreadsheet for NMB members

 

I am not very good with translation but have had a lot of help from the NMB

 

To show how little I know I will be posting a tsuba mei for translation later today

 

 

I hope this helps

Grev UK

[Ludolf Richter]

It's definitely not Hamano Yasuyuki (h11367,1763-1837),who used Naonori as an alternate Go,so it is probably-if not Gimei- Haynes h06750 Hamano Naonori,who is not to be found in the Tosogu-"Bible" "Toso Kinko Jiten" by Wakayama Takeshi.I have no examples of this artist in my database.Ludolf

[Andi B.]

Thanks, guys!

 

Yes Grev, (un?)fortunately Markus issued so many interesting books, so I spent much money in the Lulu Bar...

 

Ludolf,

can you exclude e.g. this mentioned Yasuyuki ( who is only a name in a book for me... ) due to the mei or the quality and style of the tsuba itself?

I assume you have images of Yasuyuki's work which shows you the differences?

 

There are so many different sources of information:

- one gives plain names

- one gives biographical data of artists / family trees

- then there are single photos of tsuba

- then only cropped images of mei

- and so one...

 

-> a single source from above doesn't help much but even if more sources are available, it's very hard to compile a matching overall picture...

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi Andi,here is a pic with some Hamano-Yasuyuki-examples.I have no examples with his alternate Go Naonori.Ludolf