水府住 重親 彫之 - ShigeChika tsuba

[Kurikata]

Hi Tosogu friends

 

I recently purchased this tsuba signed 水府住  重親  彫之 - Mito  school Shigechika. I do not find any shigechika in mito school from Haynes but one living in "Fujiwara" and web sources are scarce. Does someone  know if there is a Fujuwara place in Mito ?

 

Thank you

[Spartancrest]

Fujiwara-kyo was located in Yamato province (present-day Kashihara in Nara Prefecture) it was burnt to the ground in 711 -  I don't think that is it. 

Fujiwara (藤原町, Fujiwara-chō) was a town located in Inabe District, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

On December 1, 2003, Fujiwara, along with the towns of Inabe (former), Hokusei and Daian (all from Inabe District), was merged to create the city of Inabe.

There is also mention of the Fujiwara clan - could that be a reference to look into?

[terminus]

I quite like this tsuba, I like the theme and the ura side, those branches on top are very delicately carved. 

[SteveM]

I'm not convinced the first kanji is 重. I was thinking the first one looks more like 実. Did it come with papers?   

[Kurikata]

Steve, here it is.....

[SteveM]

OK, well for sure they think its 重親. I just wonder if they think its one of the guys listed in Wakayama, or if they think its a different smith, or... It just feels funny that there should be no record of this one from 水府. 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Agreeing with Steve here. Corrupt kanji. A mystery.

 

Not that it helps much, but there was a 重親 living in 江戸, described as 奈良一派. (Nara School branch)

 

Perhaps he lived and worked in more than one place?

 

[Kurikata]

Dear Piers and Steve.  Thank you for your interest and your proposals. Another enigma (I like those) to be investigated.