Kamakura Bori Hakogaki

[Chris Colman]

I recently bought a Kamakura Bori tsuba with a hakogaki, my skills with kanji are extremely limited, any help would be much appreciated.

regards

chris

[Rich T]

but it is signed by Dr. Torigoye Kazutaro. It looks to be dated Show Yon ju Nen ju gatsu ju hi (I think) Is starts with Testu Ji, then it talks about the work, I see Taka bori and Koniku-kakumimi, The middle talks mostly about the design and I see Ko Sukashi and that it states that is genuine.

 

It's a start. I picture of the tsuba would be cool. I like Kamakura.

 

Hopefully someone will fill in all my blanks

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Chris Colman]

Thanks Rich,

A couple of photos as requested.

regards

chris

[myochin]

Nice tsuba Chris!

The design at the top is a manji (卍文) mon. The bottom design is a suhama (sand bar), I understand that it was used by the Sanada family.

 

Paul

[John A Stuart]

I only have one Kamakura tsuba and I have always appreciated the light bori it/they have. A smooth tactile surface. This one has a nice theme to it and looks nice. The raised rim around the hitsuana does not appear on mine though I see lots of examples with it. John

[Nobody]

I will present those kanji for now.

 

鉄地 無銘

隅入角形 角耳小肉

卍字洲浜小透

軍配彫上

竪 弐寸五分五厘

右鎌倉鐔ト鑑

昭和四十年十月吉日

碧堂 (I could be wrong in reading this art name)

[Nobody]

This is my reading.

 

鉄地 無銘 (tetsu-ji, mumei) – iron ground, unsigned

隅入角形 角耳小肉 (sumiiri-kakugata, kakumimi-koniku)

卍字洲浜小透 (manji suhama ko-sukashi)

軍配彫上 (gumbai horiage) – war fan in relief

竪 弐寸五分五厘 (tate: 2 sun 5 bu 5 rin) – longitude: 7.73 cm

右鎌倉鐔ト鑑 (migi Kamakura-tsuba to miru) – the right item is appraised as a Kamakura-tsuba.

昭和四十年十月吉日 (Showa yon-ju nen ju gatsu kichijitsu) – a lucky day in October of 1965

碧堂 (Hekido - I could be wrong in identifying this art name)

[Chris Colman]

Moriyama san, thank you very much for your translation.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Since buying this tsuba I have gone through all of my books, including Dr Torigoe, googled and not come up with any other Kamakura tsuba quite like this one.

 

Apparently it is ex Alan Harvie collection, he wrote an article or two for the NCJSC several years ago on Kamakura tsuba, I don't have a copy of the articles so don't know if this tsuba was featured.

 

regards

chris

[Pete Klein]

The art name is 'Kodo' and the stamp was one used on his American journeys from what I have been told. If you have the Haynes #7 catalogue he shows a number of hakogaki and identifies Torigoye's signitures.

[Rich T]

Pete is correct. This is the Kodo, but the later version of Kodo. Dr. Torigoye had 2 or 3 art names, starting with

Kodo 光堂

 

from the 1940's (his earliest art name)

 

Then kodo from the 50's and 60's as it appears on this hakogaki

Kodo 在堂

 

And then Saro later on ion the late 60's

 

Saro 在耶

 

This is an example of the earlier Kodo signature.

 

 

I wondered about this Hakogaki when I first looked at it as the later Kodo signatures have a different Kao. The earlier ones appear as I have linked above. Chris's signature should have the rounder version of the kao. My question now concerns the Kao (sorry I have not posted an example). Did Torigoye sign like this, I have no examples of the signature ?. This kao appears on old boxes with a richer, deeper tone to the wood. I have not seen this Kodo signature with this Kao. Has any one else seen it ?, is there one listed ?.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Pete Klein]

If you go to the Haynes Catalogue #7, page 55, # 44 there is an example of a hakogaki from 1963 with these kanji for the mei and this kao. The use of the circular stamp was apparently because it was done in the US on one of Torigoye's trips here to visit Haynes and others. This mei/kao was for 'first grade' work as per Mr. Haynes description.

I have not been able to upload this example from my files.

[Rich T]

got it now. Here is Pete's example.

 

Rich

[myochin]

For those interested, this tsuba was part of the Alan Harvie collection that was offered for sale by Sotheby's in London on July 14th 2005. This tsuba was lot 705 (unsold).

 

Paul.

 

PS: there was a typo in the catalogue as under the picture they state lot 703 but the description is lot 705.

[Nobody]

got it now. Here is Pete's example.

 

Rich

Are the kanji for "Kodo" 杏堂 ?

They can be read as Kodo or Kyodo.

[Pete Klein]

Chris -- being a very nosey chap I am curious on how you happened upon

this tsuba? Perhaps you could fill in the blanks on it's travels? It has wandered about the world a bit I think. In any case it's a wonderful piece and I am envious!

Have a good holiday season,

Pete Klein

 

PS: The Alan Harvie sale in London was interesting as Alan, being an avid American collector for decades, was well know here but Sotheby's decided to hold the auction in London which prevented many American collectors from attending. If memory serves it was also the week after London saw terrorist bombings which kept some from traveling there. The sale saw some excellent examples left unsold and I have to wonder if it had been held in New York it might have done better? Of course we will never know but the auction catalogue should be on the shelf of anyone who collects tsuba IMHO.

[Rich T]

got it now. Here is Pete's example.

 

Rich

Are the kanji for "Kodo" 杏堂 ?

They can be read as Kodo or Kyodo.

 

Hi Koichi. I think in this case it is

 

在 and not 杏

 

This is the reading I have recorded for this version of Kodo. I cannot find it this kanji for Ko in my regular sources and I wondered if it is an old reading.

 

I might be wrong but I think Torigoye had only the 3 art names. As far as I am aware anyway.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[Pete Klein]

Rich -- I believe this is the kanji on your box: 去

 

去 = Japanese On - KYO KO

Japanese Kun - SARU

[Rich T]

thanks for that Pete. I think then as you have noted off line Koichi might be right, as you are. seem to collected the wrong characters for these over time. I can correct them now which is good of course.

 

Rich

[Chris Colman]

Hi Pete,

 

I was in London recently and bought the tsuba from Don Baney. I don't know how he came by it.

I agree it is a wonderful piece.

regards

chris

[myochin]

Hello All,

 

Could someone sum up Torigoye San's art names over the years as there seems to be a little confusion (for me anyway!!).

 

Thanks,

Paul.

[myochin]

Hello,

 

I got in contact with Mr Haynes to gather his input on seal's, go's and kao's used by Torigoe San throughout his life. Here is what he said.

 

GO:

His earliest version was copied from someone else (don't know who): 光堂

He then adopted his own GO: 香堂 (read Kodo - Kô meaning incense/fragrance) (Edit: thanks Nobody for the correction)

In his later years he used 在耶 (Saro)

 

SEAL:

The red round "bird" (TORI) seal was used when he "flew away" abroad (either in the USA or in the UK) - placed in the upper-left hand corner of the box.

On the right side of the box there is sometimes a round red seal used when authenticating an item in Japan.

Also on the right you may sometimes find a red oblong seal which was used for Masterpieces when authenticating an item in Japan (rare).

 

KAO:

There are two types of kao: "bird" shape and "round" shape.

The "bird" shape was used for pre-edo items: 1 dash for 1st class, 2 dashes for 2nd class (see attached picture)

The "round" shape was used for Edo items: 1 dash for 1st class, 2 dashes for 2nd class (see attached picture)

 

Hope this helps.

Paul.

[Nobody]

He then adopted his own GO: 杏堂 (read Kôdo - Kô meaning incense/fragrance)

Thanks for the information.

There is one point that is not clear for me. Which is correct for the quoted GO?

 

杏堂 (Kôdô or Kyôdô) - 杏 means apricot.

香堂 (Kôdô) - 香 means incense/fragrance.

[myochin]

Dear Nobody,

 

Many thanks for that. I admit that I was having trouble reading Haynes hand written fax.

The correct reading is: 香堂 (Kôdô) - 香 means incense/fragrance. (edit: Haynes did insist on the "incense/fragrance" association)

 

At least someone reads my ravings :lol:

 

Paul.

[Brian]

Ravings? Far from it Paul!

That is excellent work, and a great summary. I know that it will be referenced often every time someone searches the NMB for Torigoe San.

These kind of posts accumulate to become the online Nihonto encyclopedia for years to come

 

Brian

[myochin]

Thanks Brian.

What is fantastic about the NMB is TEAMWORK.

We all chip in and end up with a rather interesting conclusion.

 

Thanks to all everywhere.

Paul.

[yogoro]

Here next example hakogaki by dr. Torigoye Kazutaro .

Could anybody help me translate this inscription ?

 

Mikolaj

[k morita]

Hi, yogoro,

 

What the motif of your Tsuba do you think(or feel) ?

[yogoro]

I think that is mist on the moon theme.

[Nobody]

This is the motif of the tsuba according to the hakogaki.

[k morita]

Nice photo!!

 

yogoro,

According to the Hakogaki, the theme is "Floating cloud at daybreak".

Pls waite i will translate it.