Authentic 1St Gen Tadayoshi Mei On Hizen Shobu-Zukuri Wakizashi

[teddf98]

Shobu-zukuri wakizashi with mei: Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi

 

I've studied this and I believe it is real. It has passed shinsa many years ago

I understand there was many variations to his signature.

Would like to share and hear others opinions. Roger and I spoke about this item briefly

But I have not asked him his thoughts on the validity of the signature.

Maybe he will stop by with this luring topic title. Thanks everyone! Enjoy the upcoming

Holiday season!

 

I apologize to some whom have seen this item before.

 

Tedd

[seattle1]

Hello:

It would be foolish to be too affirmative on such an important smith, but from the mei it appears to be arguably correct. The signature is very close to that shown in Fujishiro's Shinto-hen, p. 117. Aside from the particular right or wrong of this example I think we should be very cautious to dismiss a NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho paper simply because a few rotten apples are known to have gotten into the barrel under quite restrictive circumstances that were hardly general. I don't think it unreasonable to take such papers as right as a first approximation, subject to rejection after study, rather than the other way around.

Season's Greetings to all,

Arnold F.

[teddf98]

My issue is when it was purchased the signature was claimed as unreliable, from a respectable seller. Aoi arts.

I understood and respected that opinion. I heard the saying of what was papered yesterday may not paper today. But I've spent

Many hours referencing signatures and blade characteristics to almost convince myself it is authentic. I understand a five kanji mei from 1st gen is rare and I am not a lucky enough of a guy to truly believe it is real. Either way it is a lovely wakizashi in beautiful koshirae which is also papered.

 

Tedd

[Geraint]

Dear Ted,

 

I have noted a significant number of blades sold by Aoi Arts which have two sets of papers; one the older papers that yours has and a second, more modern paper, which none the less arrives at the same conclusion.  I think Arnold has a valid point, equally I think Aoi Art were being careful when they suggested that the signature was unreliable, especially for a first generation mei of a highly regarded smith.  

 

Would it change the way you appreciate the sword to have a new paper?  Financially it might change the market value.  It's hard to resist the lure of having a blade by a famous smith, it's also hard to resit the urge to prove that you have scored by snapping up an unregarded treasure, that's how we work as humans for some reason.  Does the sword, as a blade and setting aside the mei,  shout, "Quality!"   You have it in hand and will see much more than we can even given Tsuruta san's oshigata.

 

By the way am I the only one who would like to see the koshirae?

 

All the best.

[Brian]

Aoi is clever. They would have gotten a professional opinion before claiming unreliable. I know they even refer to Roger sometimes.
Doesn't make it a bad sword...look really good. But i suspect they were told it is gimei before selling.

[Mark]

Takes 5 mins to walk from NBTHK to Aoi's shop (at least it did before NBTHK moves), so i figure Mr Tsuruta has a great resource.   If he thought it would pass he would have submitted, it is easy for him and would have made a big difference in price/value and he is in business to make money. Everyone makes mistakes but doubt it in this case

 

that being said, it is a nice shape (i like that type) and looks like a nice sword to enjoy

[paulb]

There are always different ways of looking at this.

I think Tsuruta san is a very able judge of a mei,especially one as well known as shodai Tadayoshi. Therefore there are two possiblilities

a) If he thought there was any possibility of it being right he would submit it for papers and aim to realise its full market potential.

 b ) If timing was against him with the increasing delay in swords waiting for shinsa, but he was confident it was right he would, as done with other blades guarantee it would paper.

The fact that he did neither and said it was unreliable suggest he had little doubt.

Of course he could be wrong, like all of us he's human. But I think based on what he said when selling it he believed it wasn't worth submitting or it had been resubmitted and failed.

[Kronos]

Paul are you aware of what the current shinsa delays are like by any chance?

[paulb]

sorry James no. About a year ago I think they had got to 3 months but that is not based on any personal experience just hearsay

[Jean]

Nobody really knows at the time being, James. I have sent a sword for shinsa through Paul Martin and he will advise me as soon as he has news.

[seattle1]

Hello:

 Of course Tsuruta san is a good judge and maximizing income is a goal, though not always the only goal of every business, however do we know that the Tadayoshi was his property, or that if on consignment the cash out time horizon of the owner might not have allowed time for a lengthy shinsa process? There have been a number of nice blades go through Aoi that would seem to warrant TH but only have an older paper or a Hozon. Go figure!

 Arnold F.

[Jimmy R]

Is this for sale by any chance? If so send me a PM. I will gladly take the chance on shinsa.

[teddf98]

I've only recently acquired the item. So not for sale at the moment. here is a photo of the koshirae. Thanks everyone for the comments.

[Greg F]

Nice Waki Tedd, congrats. Any chance of more Tsuba pics? Cheers.

 

Greg