Nara School Kozuka of Deer

[Babu]

Hello I'm not sure if anyone has any interest but I've decided to move on a few oddments and I'm open to trades or offers.

Kozuka: 9.7 x 1.4cm

On a chocolate brown polished shibuichi base, a low relief carving of a deer (Doe) and its Fawn with raised carving of the heads and ear of both to give a 3 Dimensional aspect. The image extends on to the mune-gata. The deer has Gold antlers, both have gold eyes and delicately textured coats and markings . The reverse is of polished Shibuichi.

Possible it is made by Sugiura Joi (1701 - 1761) who specialised in Kozuka in this style or another of the very few Nara craftsmen.

The school geniology is the last image.

Came out of Japan late 1800's to early 1900 as part of the WA Young collection. Passed on to John in 1955.

Never been to shinsa so worth considering.

 

Also accompanied by a tempered midare based on suguba polished kogatana, quite heavy when compared to others I have and with kiku mon by the smith Yasutsugu.YAS984 康繼 Musashi, Ansei (1854-1860)(11th Generation) This lineage of swordsmiths were patronised by the Tokugawa clan ergo the permitted use of tokugawa ieyasu kanji for Yasu 康 and the Aoi Mon. Hawleys designated this smith as Chu jo Saku.

Whilst many kogatana "mei" are fantasy and unlikely Smith made and signed, this mei seems quite accurate for the 11th generation of swordsmith (Middle row bottom) . The Nakago is finished in Kesho Yasuri.

I would appreciate any opinions on this please.

 

Both items are certainly of excellent quality in my opinion although the images don't do them justice. I admit the kozuka has a certain nieve approach.

Thank you Adam

PS I hope this is within the rules.

[Surfson]

Hi Adam, are these for sale?  If so, please include your asking price.  Cheers, bob

[Babu]

No not really I'm looking to trade for something, is this allowed? regards Adam

I wouldn't have a clue about values.

[b.hennick]

If I know what you value something at, then I can offer something of equivalent value of more value of I really want the offering. Whether for sale or trade we need a price.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Brian's rules require a price to post  in this section, Adam, but having a section for "trades" might be a good idea. Mods?

[Brian]

Like FB groups, I have no problem with trades. But agree, we need some sort of value. So even an arbitrary "trade value = xxx" would suffice.
On some groups, people list an item for sale or trade, and say trade value = $200, sale value = $180 if someone wants to offer cash.

[Babu]

Thank you.

NARA kozuka trade value £600 purchase £500.

Kogatana trade value £475 purchase £400?

If these are ridiculous then let me know.

I could do with perhaps some advice on if the mei does conform to the 11th Generation sample I showed middle row bottom.

This is where I might come unstuck I may have overpaid for them.

Offers of trades is so much easier for me.

Regards Adam

[Babu]

I think a swapshop thread would be fantastic. Show your items and state what you're after specifically or open trade whatever you have "WHY".Not everyone wants money, I just like to move things around the collecting circles. Of course both parties need to be very open on potential returns out of respect and state location. Brian will this just give you a headache?

Thank you Adam

[Bazza]

Babu/Adam,

 

You have given me a little thrill tonight.  I was delighted to see your kogatana with a YASUTSUGU mei and aoi mon.  I have a very similar, but not identical piece.  Here's mine alongside yours for comparison - I offer two pictures.  There are clear differences in the mei, but if they were made some years apart that would explain it.  Oh, I would like to buy  yours, but I'm financially hors de combat at present!

 

Best regards,

BaZZa.

 

     

[Surfson]

BaZZa, wanting to add to your thrill, here is the page in a book on Kokatana that I have.  There are two Yasutsugu pieces.  Cheers, bob

[Babu]

Bazza could I suggest that your mei might be the ninth Generation YAS982 Musashi Bunka (1804-1818) the determining factor for this lineage is not in the Yasa so much, but in the tsugu kanji execution. Just a thought. This smith also used the art name Mototsugu 元繼.

Regards Adam

[Babu]

Bump

[Babu]

Both items have been withdrawn from sale for now.

Thank you Adam

[Bazza]

Forgive me for being so rude as not to acknowledge and give thanks to Robert Surfson for his pointer to the Yasutsugu kogatana in a book, and thanks to Adam H for his suggestion that the mei on my kogatana could be the Ninth Generation Yasutsugu YAS982.  I also apologise for being slack in my reply.  There are many straws on an Auld Bloke's back...

 

BaZZa.

[Surfson]

As you folks in Oz say, no worries BaZZa!

[Babu]

Still a Smith made Kogatana Bazza without a doubt.

Regards Adam