Menpo mei

[YOJIMBO]

Dear members
Shoult be myochin ?

[Nobody]

明珍 - Myochin

紀宗賢 - Ki no Soken/Munemasa (reading?)

[IanB]

Reads Myochin Ki Munekata - Two such smiths are listed by Sasama in Shin Katchushi meikan. The second sounds most likely as he was reputed to be skilled in embossing and there is a known somen (complete mask) by him. He is thought to be late Edo period. The other is early Edo period living in Hirosaki who was the son of a swordsmith called Jirobei and became armourer of Tsugaru Etchu no Kami. There follows a lot of confusing quotations about his lineage which is probably all concocted. 

Ian Bottomley

[YOJIMBO]

thank you

 

after comparison, it is the second one, around 1850 +-

[Shogun8]

Hi Simon,

 

Do you have pictures of the menpo itself? I rather thought that Munekata was from the mid-Edo as per the Chappelear, but the Shin Katchushi Meikan lists him as late Edo. Menpo by Munekata are quite unique, sharing a very distinctive expression. There's a beautiful somen by this master at the Met, often displayed with the examples by Muneakira.

[uwe]

There are dated examples of "宗賢" as also of "宗功" extant, which put both in the middle of the 19th century.....