vajo Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 I'm finished and my eyes burning. Today i worked on my inventar list and try to decipher some signatures of my tsuba. These hopefully last 12 brings me near to the end. I hope you can help me with some of these to read. The result of help: 1. Gotō Mitsu (Kao) 後藤光 花押 17th Generation 十七?代 2. Kōfu-jū Nara Toshimitsu 江府住奈良利光 3. Kazutsugu sei 一次制 4.Ichijōsai Hirotoshi 一乗斎弘寿 5. Miboku 味墨 6. Naomasa 直政 7. Hirochika 弘隣 8. Ishiguro Masatsune 石黒政常 9. Nagatsune 長常 10. Yasunori 安則 11. Edo-jū Nara Toshimitsu 江戸住 奈良利光 12. Ichijōsai Hirotoshi 一乗斎弘寿 Thanks a lot Chris 2 Quote
kissakai Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 Normally mei are translated before I can look at my books! I'll jump in (too quickly) with No 12 as Otaka Hironage. Needs confirming I'll slowly look at the other mei but expect othhers will be much quicker than me 2 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 No. 6 is NAOMASA, No. 8 looks like MASATSUNE, 2 Quote
Curran Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 No. 4 and 12 are Ichijosai Hirotoshi + [Kao]. Founder of the Uchikoshi school (spelling?). I believe it falls under the Mito umbrella, in late Edo. He was a popular target for gimei. Design is often that from "Journey to the West". At first glance, #4 feels right. I'd have to check the books. 3 Quote
Curran Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 #8 is Masatsune. #11 looks like Toshimitsu? Not sure on the Toshi. 2 Quote
DRDave Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 I'll try 2 and 11 in hope of getting one of them right. Muramitsu? 1 Quote
Ron STL Posted January 30, 2019 Report Posted January 30, 2019 Question on #3 - is that shakudo plug with the mei on one side of the tsuba, or is plugging a hole throught the tsuba? Ron STL 1 Quote
vajo Posted January 31, 2019 Author Report Posted January 31, 2019 Thanks for the input so far. Ron that shakudo plug is only on one side. Curran thanks a lot. 1. 2. Muramitsu 3. 4. Ichijosai Hirotoshi 5. 6. Naomasa 7. 8. Masatsune 9. 10. 11. Toshimitsu 12. Ichijosai Hirotoshi Quote
Higo-san Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 No. 1 is a tough one... my best guess: 後藤光?（花押) = Gotō Mitsu? (Kao) 十七?代 = 17th ? generation As the 17 seems to be a reference to some kind of genealogy, the Mei could read Gotō Mitsuhira. Best, Chris 1 Quote
Higo-san Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 No. 8 reads Ishiguro Masatsune (石黒政常). 1 Quote
SteveM Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 Almost all accounted for. I put in one place for reference 1. right: 後藤光？ （乗 was my first impression, but I have no confidence) left: 十七 2. 江府住奈良利光 Kōfu-jū Nara Toshimitsu (Dave was close...) 3. 一次制 Kazutsugu sei 4. As Curran says, Ichijōsai Hirotoshi 一乗斎弘寿 5. 味墨 Miboku 6. As Jean says Naomasa 直政 7. Looks to me like 弘隣 (Hirochika) but I can find no such smith in my reference. 8. As Jean says Ishiguro Masatsune 石黒政常 9. 長常 (suggested with some hesitation and lack of confidence) 10. 安則 Yasunori 11. 江戸住 奈良利光 Edo-jū Nara Toshimitsu 12. as Curran says, Hirotoshi (same as #4 above) 4 Quote
vajo Posted January 31, 2019 Author Report Posted January 31, 2019 Wow, what a great help. Thank you very much. Quote
kissakai Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 I think this was a well presented question All images in FOCUS Labled for easy reference The final results can be used as a reference for further study into the makers 3 Quote
Bazza Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 Chris and all, that was very interesting indeed. Can we see the tsuba as well??? I'm a little concerned that many of the mei seem to have been "over polished", suggesting the tsuba have seen better days. BaZZa. 1 Quote
vajo Posted January 31, 2019 Author Report Posted January 31, 2019 Bazza, i was able to buy a complete collection some years ago from a old lady from hamburg. Her father was in Japan as part of the german legation around 1900 for some years and collect a lot if things like furniture and others, not only tsuba and some swords and sent it home. She said the family cared for the pieces over a long time (i think she meants cleaning ). Yes a lot of pieces of the collection is very clean. But nothing that takes me wrong with them. I must say i was a little lucky with the tsuba collection, because she wants me to buy all or nothing. And i must promise her if i ever want to sell i must sell it complete. A little overview of the signed ones. I don't want to show the big pictures at the moment because i will made a complete inventory catalogue with descriptions on every piece (mostly for me not to forget anything). This needs time. 1 Quote
Ed Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 Kind of late now, but I had looked at several of these last night, but forgot to post my results. #2 Kofu Ju Toshimitsu #8 Ishiguro Masatsune #11 Edo Ju Nara Toshimitsu Glad to see the others that I didn't recognize. #6 I thought Naomasa, but wasn't sure. Pretty sure #9 is Nagatsune 1 Quote
vajo Posted January 31, 2019 Author Report Posted January 31, 2019 Such a great help. You are all gorgeous. So this is the result from your help: 1. Gotō Mitsu (Kao) 後藤光 花押 17th Generation 十七?代 2. Kōfu-jū Nara Toshimitsu 江府住奈良利光 3. Kazutsugu sei 一次制 4.Ichijōsai Hirotoshi 一乗斎弘寿 5. Miboku 味墨 6. Naomasa 直政 7. Hirochika 弘隣 8. Ishiguro Masatsune 石黒政常 9. Nagatsune 長常 10. Yasunori 安則 11. Edo-jū Nara Toshimitsu 江戸住 奈良利光 12. Ichijōsai Hirotoshi 一乗斎弘寿 I updated the initial post. Quote
vajo Posted January 31, 2019 Author Report Posted January 31, 2019 I made a little donation to the board for the great help. This is the best community (with a happy tear in my eye). 4 Quote
SteveM Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 Looks good. Just remember my caveat that #7 Hirochika is a guess that is unsupported by any reference. So if anybody has any other ideas we should take a look at them. I expect Hiro is wrong (while I am sure chika is right). I also wonder about the pronunciation of 制 (sei) after Kazutsugu in #7. The meaning is "made" (as in "Kazutsugu made this"). So it is just like the 作 and 造 we see on swords and tsuba. In fact, the intended pronunciation of 制 might also be tsukuru. 1 Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted January 31, 2019 Report Posted January 31, 2019 Steve, I believe "tsukuru" IS the preferred reading for this application. -S- 2 Quote
Blazeaglory Posted February 1, 2019 Report Posted February 1, 2019 Wow. Very nice collection! And God bless that old woman's husband for having such a great eye for detail! Well done to both of them for being, what looks to be, awesome caretakers of the many wonderful tsuba! 1 Quote
Brian Posted February 1, 2019 Report Posted February 1, 2019 Wow..when I first saw the request I was going to post that this was quite a feat, and maybe not to ask so much of the members as it was a big job.But as always, the members have outdone themselves, and gone the extra mile to help fast, free and graciously. You guys remind me why I do this, and my sincere thanks.And thank you Chris for the donation. You guys all rock. Quote
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