Mei info

[John A Stuart]

Hello All, I have this fuchigashira on the way and have been only able to crop the stock pics so they are not very good, but, if anyone can decipher the mei and give me some info please let me know. I can't make it out. The set itself is nice but, the mei looks fresh, the pics are deceiving perhaps. John

[Nobody]

Though I cannot read clearly, the Kanji could be as follows;

1st) 清 (kiyo)

2nd) 監 or 竪 or 堅

3rd) 根 (moto or ne)

4th) 朋 (tomo) or 明 (aki)

 

Especially 2nd and 3rd Kanji are by guesswork.

BTW, the photos are upside down.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Nobody, Thanks. I completely fogot to rotate them when I cropped them, sorry. John

[Curran]

John,

 

If possible, provide a better image.

 

We will translate it, try and confirm the signature as authentic (or not?), and give you some history on the guy.

 

Curran

[John A Stuart]

Hi Curran, Nobody, I have tried to clean up the pic of the best shot. It is in transit still and will post better when I get them. The first kanji I thought was michi but kiyo looks good too. Can't get a handle on the other three. It looks to be a nice set, which is why I bought them. Thanks for the help. John

[Curran]

John-

 

I'd have to agree on Nobody's expert reading of the 1st and 4th character. I think he is probably right on the 3rd character, but not sure what to make of the 2nd character.

 

I looked up 'Motoaki' (and other variations) in Haynes and didn't get a match. I think we will hafta wait until you receive it and post a better image. Then we will help as best as we can.

 

Let me know when you have a better picture.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Curran, Yes the pics are poor. Thanks, John

[John A Stuart]

Hi Guys, Well they finally arrived by post. A very dark patina on shakudo with gilding on an axis. Line carving of a tiger. Pretty nice. I took some new pics and I think the mei is legible now. I can never make out mei on kodougu for some reason, even with the art signature reference and these are simple kanji. Go figure. Help needed here to attribute school/smith. Thanks, John

 

PS I should add that the tail of the tiger and most of the torso is on the fuchi whereas the kashira has the head and forward quarter. I found that interesting. The kashira has slight damage from some tsuka waza right at the tigers head.

 

PPS #1 Kanji-Sei or Shi (ON), Kiyo (KUN)

#2 '' -Ya (ON), Tsuke (KUN)

#3 '' -Kon (ON), Ne (KUN)

#4 '' - ?

I can not find a smith either sei or kiyo that uses the following kanji. John