Between The Lines

[BIG]

Hi, looking for "terms" or "special marks" on papers. Lower Juyo, midlevel hozon or high end TH ?

 

Best Regards

[Jean]

Peter,

 

No comments/terms or special marks on TH or H. Some comments on Juyo zufu but nothing indicating lower juyo.

[BIG]

May be not lower but cheaper ...

 

Best Regards

[Jean]

No, the market and dealers decide and the criteria are easy as for all antiques. What is the school, What is the smith rating, how rare are his work, is the sword signed, how is its "wealth". In which session did it pass, a hard one or an easy one...

[Darcy]

Only minor comments go on NBTHK lower-level papers.

 

1. Den (2 billion words on this elsewhere)

 

2. To mei ga aru (there is a signature: this means that it is not gimei, but the period is right and the style is outside known documented examples)

 

3. Direct attribution... for instance, after the confirming a mei of Bizen no Kuni ju Osafune Sukesada they may elect to write (Yosozaemon) after this though his personal mei is not on this. Other examples would be (Nosada) after Kanesada or (Magaroku) after Kanemoto. 

 

4. notes about what kind of mei it is (gakumei, orikaeshimei, shumei etc.)

 

5. if an attribution and they know who did it then it might say whom, like if it says Honami (kao) it might say (Koson) after this if it is Koson's signature. 

 

6. if there is an additional origami from old times then this will also be listed in the paper if it is significant (i.e. Honami or Goto)... this prevents a paper from being added after and also substitutes if some dumbass loses the old paper (it happens, sadly)

 

I think if it has an old shirasaya with a very old sayagaki on it this will be listed as well. The sayagaki would have to be significant. For example I had a Yukimitsu with Honami Kojo sayagaki, this is ancient. Kojo also stated it was a gift from the Shogun to a daimyo. So something like this would go onto the paper because of the judge and the historical significance. 

 

7. in some occasions they might add that the blade is daimei or daisaku but this is not guaranteed and in some cases though it obviously is it is not even noted at the Juyo level. A candidate for this might be Gassan Sadakazu substituting for Gassan Sadayoshi or Shinkai substituting for Oya Kunisada.

[BIG]

Thank you Darcy, on high level papers ( sayagaki ) is the term " Kenzen " used for special swords with special ages ?

 

Best Regards