Menpo Inscription

[Edward G]

Good Evening to all:

 

Need some help.   Please tell me what you think might be the inscription on this Menpo.  Possible signature (Naga ???)  Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

Edward G

[John A Stuart]

I can't get over the second kanji, but, would have thought Nagatomo, 長友 Th extra stroke worry me. John

[IanB]

I am also surprised the kanji are written side by side - there is plenty of space to have written them in a more conventional column. There is no Nagatomo listed in Shin Katchushi Meikan either. Rather a puzzle this one.

Ian Bottomley

[Bazza]

... and why left-to-right and not right-to-left???  Would this not be read TOMONAGA???  Why not vertical - there is plenty of room.

 

BaZZa.

[uwe]

Still no clue (although sure, that I’ve seen it before...).

May we have some pictures of the menpo itself Edward?

[Edward G]

Thank You John, Ian, Bazza, and Uwe for the comments......   Attached are additional photos...A puzzling inscription.  Additional opinions would be helpful.

 

Thanks Again

 

Edward G

[uwe]

Thanks for the pictures Edward!

There is a guy "Tomoyoshi", mentioned in the Meikan, who chiselled his nijimei characters so close, that the two kanji apearing as one for the untrained beholder......
Furthermore one can find some more similarities with the mei in question.....have a look at page 133!

 

Here is another example:

 

 

[uwe]

.....tend to agree with John!

[IanB]

I think you have cracked this one Uwe. The spirals on the cheeks are distinctive and I know I have seen another somewhere but the old brain has let me down.

Ian Bottomley

[uwe]

I think you have cracked this one Uwe. The spirals on the cheeks are distinctive and I know I have seen another somewhere but the old brain has let me down.

Ian Bottomley

I feel the same Ian.....saw it somewhere, but where?? Ok, back to the books....

[Shogun8]

The orekugi are also concerning.

[IanB]

The one on the right in the above photo looks like a working replacement. Notice how the flower-shaped washer is thicker and does not sit against the mask as well as the other.

Ian B

[Shogun8]

Ian,

 

Are you referring to the odayori-kugi (the pegs on the chin)? If so, I hadn't noticed that, but you're right about the one on the right not sitting correctly.

 

I was referring to the orekugi (the bent hooks on the cheeks) only because they seem to be made of bent flat bar which is not what I would expect from a proper period piece.

 

NB. Please note that my words in parentheses were to clarify orekugi vs. odayori-kugi because these are often confused and I often have to remind myself which is which. I certainly didn't mean to imply that you didn't know the difference.

[uwe]

You both are right. I was so focused on the mei......

 

BTW, found a men with a similar (spiral) feature Ian! Will have a look next month, when I´m in Berlin again for a little "menpo project".....

[Edward G]

Thank you againn for this information, I could not have found it on my own.   I appreciate it very much.

 

Edward G  

[DaveT]

Peter has one in the museum. 

[uwe]

As promised...

 

This piece is, however, signed "Myôchin Shinpachirô Ki no Muneyuki"!