Need help with a translation of an older kanteisho

[b.hennick]

This paper came with a koshirae I bought. It was supposed to be for the dragon menuki. Any help with translation would be apprecitated.

[Markus]

Hi Brian,

 

The kantei-sho reads:

 

 

kin-hairyû menuki (金這龍目貫, golden creeping dragon menuki)

saku Renjô (作廉乗, a work of [Gotô] Renjô)

daikin ni-mai (代金貮枚, worth 2 gold pieces)

Gotô Shirôbei (後藤四郎兵衛)

Tenmei go-nen (天明五年, 1785)

uzuki-nanoka (卯月七日, seventh day of the fouth month)

Mitsumori (光守) [kaô]

 

 

It would be nice if you could provide us with a picture of the menuki

(just for the archive called "brain").

[reinhard]

Origami says: (from right to left)

 

Menuki made of gold depicting dragon

 

made by RENJO

 

worth 2 pieces of gold

 

Goto shirobei (Goto mainline)

 

dated Tenmei 5th year...(1785)

 

Mitsumori + Kao

 

No idea wether it is genuine or not

 

reinhard

[reinhard]

Oops, didn't mean to compete Markus. Posted about the same time, which definitely is time to go to bed now for a central European .

 

reinhard

[Markus]

which definitely is time to go to bed now for a central European .

 

Not when waiting to do a phone-call to Japan (which is now done and bed is waiting)

[b.hennick]

Here is a photo of the menuki.

Do you think that they actually belong to the kanteisho? I ask because I am doubtful. I actually bought the koshirae because of the iron fuchi kashira. I will post those in the Tosogu section.

[John A Stuart]

I see why you might be suspicious as to whether these are mainline Goto work. Although they are perfectly competent work they seem to lack the fineness of detail one usually associates with Goto work. However, it could be a lesser work by Renjo since they fit the description given in the origami of hairyu. The usual male/female pairing. Of course, just my thought. John

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Barry,

 

Renjo's menuki are generally considered to be some of his best work, so much for lesser. It will take some doing to clean these dragons up in this condition to actually see what's what. Still, for those of us that like dragon menuki ......

[John A Stuart]

Hi Franco, I meant this particular pair, not, his work in general. Do you not see a lack of crispness and areas that are not as worked in detail? Maybe they have lost a bit of detail over time, but, this is just what I was noting. John

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Franco, I meant this particular pair, not, his work in general. Do you not see a lack of crispness and areas that are not as worked in detail? Maybe they have lost a bit of detail over time, but, this is just what I was noting. John

 

Good morning,

 

John, you're correct, unfortunately, wear and overall condition, plus presentation, do this pair of menuki no favor.

 

Do you think that they actually belong to the kanteisho?

 

yes, edit: 3/6/09 whether it is correct is another question. Examples in the Goto Book suggest the dragon scales are not cut in the same manner. Also, in the Bushido magazine article it talks about some of the issues with attributions.

[Markus]

I have to agree with John and Franco.

For Renjo menuki with an origami of 2 gold pieces, I honestly would have expected more.

Probably the condition is just too detrimental to a clear grasping of the workmanship, or the

origami does not belong to this pair of dragons ...

[reinhard]

It is going to be very tricky cleaning these menuki. Recently added red paint on tsuka-ito was spilt over the menuki as well as black paint in order to "improve" the same (ray-skin). Fortunately these menuki are probably not by RENJO.

 

reinhard