Shinsa Games

[Timur]

Tokubetsu Hozon shinsa results will be ready soon. 

 

I decided to entertain you and show one of the pieces I applied for TH. It is signed Goto Mitsutaka (光貨) - which was one of the early go of Goto Ichijo. This kozuka was published in Tanyu Kai Zuroku book described as Goto Ichijo and curio. 

 

I am curious to get your opinion on: What will be the decision of shinsa team?

 

And I will let you know the results.

 

 

 

 

 

[Pete Klein]

HI Val - having a bit of sport, are we?  LOL!  OK then, I'll bite.

 

This kozuka has very good craftsmanship and could very well be early work.  The mei, Goto Mitsutaka is '最初期銘' earliest signature - but has only two examples in, 'Toso Kodogu Meiji Taikei and only one of the two is in this writing form (the other from menuki is more cursive).  The one  found in, 'Shinsen Kinko Meikan' is the cursive form from Wakayama and none found in, 'Studies in Kyo Goto'. The problem I find is that the kozuka mei does not match the one in Wakayama.  Ichijo's mei were very fine line where this one is a bit blunt and, shall we say, 'uncertain' in it's execution.  If we compare it to the next Ichijo mei which is Mitsuyuki there is more similarity but still lacks the refinement of the recorded mei.  My feeling is that it may not pass shinsa but if it is recognized as shoshin then it would be a 'very' important addition to canon as a transition mei between Mitsutake and Mitsuyuki, which of course I would applaud.

 

Pete 

 

From Wakayama:  

 

[Timur]

Thank you Pete! It was a good bite! 

So, by now:

Gimei - 1, Horyu - 0, Shoshin - 0

[Brian]

Going on the signature alone and not the work (something we shouldn't do) I had also concluded gimei.
But the work is very nice indeed. Nanako maybe not quite as refined as I would have expected. My vote also goes to a fail, although I would not be terribly surprised if it passed.

[Pete Klein]

BTW - Val. just curious.  Where did you find the Tanyu Kai first volume?  'Very rare' item!

 

Pete

[Timur]

  On 9/21/2018 at 2:25 PM, Pete Klein said:

BTW - Val. just curious.  Where did you find the Tanyu Kai first volume?  'Very rare' item!

 

Pete

Pete, it was from Japan. Will let you know if come across another one.

[Pete Klein]

OK - thanks!

 

Pete

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Valery,

 

My vote is negative on work and mei being genuine. 

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

p.s. If it had been unsigned I might bend to den/school work. But as it stands it's trying to be something more, imo, which raises questions.

Edited September 21, 2018 by nagamaki - Franco

[Bob M.]

If waiting for decision on TH , has it not already passed at Hozon ?

[Gunome]

Unless I mistaken, you could apply for hozon and TH in the same session.

 

Regarding the kozuka, the works look goto : the horse, the nanako and the scratches on the back. I cannot said if gimei or not but at least, for me, it is a goto school item.

[nagamaki - Franco]

  On 9/21/2018 at 9:06 PM, Gunome said:

Unless I mistaken, you could apply for hozon and TH in the same session.

 

That has been my experience in the past.

[Timur]

Thank you for your opinions guys! So we'll see what shinsa team will tell. 

I myself quite pessimistic here but decided to give it a try. 

[Vermithrax16]

Was this for the July Shinsa? 

 

No opinion on the mei, work looks great. Goto mei are not a Friday night type of effort, they take a while

[Pete Klein]

I have to wonder if a fail could be considered as an income tax deduction as a chaitable contribution?  ROFLMAO!!!

 

Good luck Bud!

[Bazza]

Hmmm, I'm the first to admit I "know nuuuthing" about kodogu/tosogu apart from liking them all...  BUT..  I would opine for fail simply on the appearance of the mei.  Having seen a bit of GOTO work, without even going to the books the mei seems right upfront strange to me.  As Pete Klein said "My feeling is that it may not pass shinsa but if it is recognized as shoshin then it would be a 'very' important addition to canon".

 

As for the work I think its very good and I would love to have it in my collection.  Looking forward to the result.

 

BaZZa.

[mareo1912]

One more going in here with smaller knowledge on kodogu, so just my simple opinion.

The workmanship is nice, I did not focus on Goto and therefore cannot state that much from the piece itself, but design and carving are of nice quality. 

 

For the signature: We have here two Signatures of how many after all? In my opinion especially later Kinko artist liked to vary their signature from time to time, as for them directly selling to the customer, these didn't need the signature as authentication. Of course presuming the signature was not added later. The signature was somehow a trademark for the client and the signature became important for us as the direct line to the artist faded over time. Of course the evaluation and comparison of mei and workmanship is hard to balance and it is also about including/excluding unsure pieces from the papered rank.

My vote for shoshin having a chance

[Timur]

So, you were right guys - shinsa says gimei...

But as usually, the devil is in the details.

One of the shinsa team gave his private comments:

- They liked the signature a lot

- They liked the quality

- They do not recognize in it the style of Goto Ichijo.

 

So, I leave it for a future investigation

[Curran]

Valery,

 

I really am not fond of the current NBTHK shinsa team at the Hozon level.

My opinions on it are well known, but I am glad you could get some private feedback.

 

I felt that [these days] if the signature is not a nigh perfect lay down match for Wakayama, the results all seem to be 'Horyu' or failed as gimei.

You saying, "-they liked the signature a lot, they liked the quality, but did not recognize it in the style of Goto Ichijo"

implies to me that at least they are looking beyond straight checking Wakayama these days.

[Vermithrax16]

Well Valery you and me both got bad news from the July shinsa, so no worries.