Just Acquired

[Yves55]

Went to an auction today... and had to buy these!

 

 

Any comment / information is most appreciated!

[Geraint]

Dear Yves.

 

Take a good look into the mouth of each, a lot of late kodzuka were made from thin metal pressings which you should be able to detect from the view inside the mouth.  One or two of these look a little doubtful but hopefully you will find them all good.

 

Enjoy.

 

All the best

[Yves55]

Dear Geraint,

 

Thank you for the reply!

 

As you asked, the mouths:

 

and the first picture turned (I hope):

[Geraint]

Dear Yves,

 

These images show that these kodzuka were mounted to European cutlery, the glue used is clearly visible towards the edges.  I have found that soaking them in  a jar of very hot water will degrade this glue and then it can be cleared.  

If you put your finger nail inside the lip of the front you will be able to tell if that part is thick metal or if it is very this and therefore a pressing.  

 

I don't think you have anything great but if I was to pick it would be the bottom one in your last image.  

 

All the best.

[Yves55]

Thank you Geraint,

I would pick the same one 

Grtz, Y.

[Yves55]

Found one of them on https://www.aoijapan.com/kozuka-mumeiunsigned-the-orge-with-a-dog 

[ROKUJURO]

Yves,

it is the same motive, but not the same KOZUKA!

[Yves55]

Yes Jean, it's not that one. Mine is less 'rubbed'. But I think its by the same maker / school / ... (?).

[ROKUJURO]

Yves,

compare the workmanship. They are not close.....

[Yves55]

Dear Jean,

You're completely right. Mine has less detail.

Other information is always welcome!

Thanks.

[Yves55]

Put my new glasses on, and...

Found a signature on the side of the kozuka with the fan-mask-box!

 

 

Strange place to put a mei.

[ROKUJURO]

Yves,

the first KANJI is of course MITSU, but the second eludes me. Perhaps TADA?

[Yves55]

Jean,

 

I read the first kanji as KŌ - or hika(ru) - as in nikkō , gekkō , ... (Kanji 1358 in the Nelson dictionary).

I did't find the second one for the moment.

Thanks for your reply! 

[Yves55]

Jean,

 

I just looked into 'Le petit Hara' (Robert Harawoy). There are more than 100 Mitsu... 

And no second kanji like the one on the kozuka 

[ROKUJURO]

光  Mitsu   Easy to find in the research section of NMB.

The second KANJI seems to contain the SHIN or kokoro radical 心, but I can't read the rest. Our experts will certainly know what it is. Please try in the 'TRANSLATION' section.

[Yves55]

Thx Jean    

[parfaitelumiere]

how is the back side?
These kozuka seem to be good, ost fo the times, low quality ones used for cutlery were identical on both sides.

[Yves55]

Patrice,

 

On your request, the back sides (in same order as the first picture above).

The signed one is the second from the left.

 

[Gunome]

Hello,

 

What about : 芯 (shin) ?!

[Yves55]

The answer about the 'mei' is here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29155-kozuka-mei-mitsu/?do=findComment&comment=295734

 

And now... some more information on the artist?

[parfaitelumiere]

good
For me it looks like six real kozuka have been used and mounted as dinner knives or forks.
 

[Yves55]

Cher Patrice,

 

I wouldn't know, I bought them at an auction like this. 

But the marks on the most of them let me think your way.