Kogatana

[Jean]

some kaji were specialized in the forge of Kogatana, here are two examples forged around 1680 : the lowest one has a masame hada

[shan]

Very Nice items Jean.

I can see the appeal of these little Gems.

Do you intend to sell these or are you just doing a "show and tell"? :lol:

[Ted Tenold]

Very nice Jean! I enjoy seeing these. Interesting that the nakago is signed on the upper one. Very unusual. The other has a quite nicely finished nakago too. There are so many that lack that kind attention to finishing that it illustrates the higher intentions of the smith to create a quality work.

[shan]

Hi

I have a blade by a smith named Kinkanzan Kiyonaga.

I am reliably informed that this smith produced swords as well as Kogatana and placed as much reverence on the small blades as he did the larger ones.There was an almost identical one for sale through Aoi Art a short while ago and its mei was almost identical to mine.

I have shown it for comparison.

I guess some where well made and others were not,some where gimei and some Shoshin?

regards

shan

[Brian]

As discussed before, most kogatana are gimei. That is not to say that there aren't smiths that signed shoshin (as demonstrated here) but in most, the attributions are wishful thinking and not too much emphasis is placed on them.

During times where sword production volumes weren't as demanding, I think many smiths did kogatana extensively, and nowdays smiths put a lot of work into them as they don't fall within the quantity restrictions of sword manufacture of course.

Not all are forged and quenched, but those that are show some nice work when properly polished.

 

Brian

[Jean]

Thanks Shan for the info. I got both of them on Aoi Art. The first one years ago. They are quite thick and you have a shave with them. As my scan is not a fantastic one, I'll post the one from Aoi Art sent me (the second one I bought from Auction).

 

Ted, the mei is on the blade itself, the inscription on the tang is to the Emperor/Japan glory

[Jean]

BTW, I am not a specialist of kogatana, like tsuba, I buy sometimes a piece I like. These Kogatana have the same kind of signature on the blades. If I come across others, depending on my finance, I shall probably buy them.

[shan]

"BTW, I am not a specialist of kogatana, like tsuba, I buy sometimes a piece I like."

 

Me Neither, But i know what i like and these are worth some consideration.

I understand that most are Gimei.....so about the same odds as swords... that some will be shoshin then i guess.

 

If i were to state my favourite part of a koshirae it would be the Menuki,I love the miniature characters and symbols.

second would be the Kogatana and Kozuka.

Whilst i can appreciate the rest...it does not inspire me so much.

 

shan

[loui]

Hi Guys, I have always loved these little things, although most of them have been abused beyond the point of restoration. I just got this one recently, it actually has a shinogiji as you can see in the last picture - most are flat on both sides. I'll probably polish it next week.

[Jean]

That's really a good one Louis and very uncommon

[loui]

Yes it is a nice little one, I also have this large one with the broken tip that I have to get around to fixing. Most of them are in the poor condition like the others in the photo. I have owned some very nice papered ones though.

 

I decided to work on the blade a little this morning. The blade is actually a greyish colour - not shiny like the picture shows from my flash. A shiny surface is not proper.

[shan]

Hi Louis,

That one with shinogiji is certainly well crafted from what i can see.

I look forward to seeing it when polished.

shan