Can you see,let alone translate this mei?

[shan]

Hi,

I have had this Tsuba for ages now and whilst looking at in in an Odd light saw what appears to be a feint Mei.

I honestly cannot see this if i looked at it head on so i have used my thumb and a little soap to gently rub the area.

Its still very feint but you may be able to see and translate it for me.

I hope you can help.

regards

shan

 

 

 

 

[Bungo]

is that a challenge ?

 

Myochin X mune................ still working on it

p.s. Shan, a smaller pic actually helps in this case. When trying to " read ' fade kanji/Chinese characters, first impression that spring to mind is usually the correct one. Don't ask me why but that's the way it is for us that grow up and have to momorize those stuff.

 

milt

[IanB]

Shan, The Miochin normally used Ki after their name and most were called Mune.. something. I agree with Milt its starts with Miochin and has Mune.. in it but it does not look like Ki to me. I think the last kanji is too far gone to ever read it.

Ian bottomley

[DanielLee]

Hi Shan,

 

Could it be Myochin Fujiwara (珍藤原) ?

 

Regards,

[shan]

Hi Guys,

Well thats a lot further than i got.Brilliant work guys!!

So it says Myochin Mune XX does it?

Are these Myochin school works considered good or just ordinary?

Any known Myochin worker that had Mune as his name

If you wish to see the images smaller then drag and drop the pic to your desktop and reduce or enhance as you see fit.

You have me permission if that is whats needed.

Its a plain Mokku Gata tsuba with a textured surface and a part of the bottom of the "moon" in silver colour on the top?

Its on both sides anyway,the silvered bit.

Needs a good clean i would guess.

 

Regards

Shan

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

 

Any known Myochin worker that had Mune as his name

 

Munesuke, Munehira, Muneharu etc...

[Bungo]

with the condition, I think it's being Myochin school is the best you can get.............

 

milt

[shan]

Hi Guys,

I think we are getting there.

I have had another look at the Mei and i can see the Myo chin characters and then another character then mune then something that looks alot like Suke.

So i now have

Myo-chin-(something) Mune-Suke.

Can anyone shed any light on the middle Kanji?

I think this is a 5 kanji Mei.

regards

shan

sharp.jpg]

[Bungo]

http://www.esnips.com/web/tsuba?docsPage=8#files

 

may be this will help ?

 

 

milt

[shan]

Hi Milt,

Thanks,very nice collection you have there.

Couldn`t see anything like the 3 rd Kanji but a lovely mix of periods and styles.

Many thanks

Shan

[IanB]

Shan, If you can see Munesuke, he is supposed to have lived 1642 - 1735. He was one of the Miochins who established their fake genealogy stretching back to 'times immoral' and issuing certificates of authenticity for pieces of armour supposedly made by his distant ancestors. In fairness he did some good work, being especially noted for his embossing of pieces of armour. Whether he made tsuba is open to question.

Ian Bottomley

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

If you can see Munesuke, he is supposed to have lived 1642 - 1735

 

Munesuke died in 1725 (Kyôhô ju nen sichi gatsu) at the age of 84 years.

 

there is a tsuba signed Ki Munesuke Gyônen nanajû kyûnen in the Nihonto Koza (kodogu part 1 page 116

[shan]

Thankyou all for your help with this item.

as usual you have excelled yourselves.

 

all the best shan

[reinhard]

I agree with Daniel Lee. The mei reads "(Myo)chin Fujiwara (no)....(illegible)." Proportion and setting of the mei make this judgement reasonable as well.

 

reinhard

[shan]

Hi Reinhard,

Could you possibly tell me what Knaji the translation relates to?

There is a character before the Chin that is barely discernable but is there that is Myo.

so thats Myo-Chin,then Fuji wara according to you(thats the first 4 Kanji then)

then there is another character a bit like this

 

Then another one that i as yet cannot see very well.

Does that make any sense at all?

regards

shan

[reinhard]

The "chin" kanji (in "myochin") is a rare one and hardly ever used but in the context of the name "myochin". "Fujiwara" is quite obvious, but I don't intend to speculate about the other indiscernible remnants of the mei. Maybe you should focus more on the quality of the tsuba itself.

 

reinhard

[shan]

Thankyou very much for the assistance and taking the time to respond.

I will do some more checking

regards

shan