Matsunoki Posted March 13, 2023 Report Posted March 13, 2023 Hello from the UK Posting this pretty (imo) Tanto Mei Sendai ju Kunikane dated Tenmei 4 (1784) possibly 10th generation? It has attractive silver Omori style f/k and a lovely unusual kurigata of Buddhist precious objects, but the thing that really hits you is the hada. Surely this is showing a laminate of different steels rather than a “normal” masame hada? It is densely packed at the mune but becomes increasingly more spaced towards the ha. Looks spectacular but slightly strange. The hamon has glittering koi nie sprinkled along it (difficult to image) and what could be interpreted as a heck of a lot of sunagashi…..or is it? All guidance, comments and opinions always most welcome. Many thanks. (Nagasa 23.7cm) All the best.Colin 4 2 Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 13, 2023 Report Posted March 13, 2023 Tagging @Peter Bleedhere for visibility. 1 1 Quote
Rivkin Posted March 13, 2023 Report Posted March 13, 2023 I don't know anything about his signatures, but the work of shinshinto generation indeed can look like it. A number of smiths, Naotane included, did Hosho masame with different steels. 1 Quote
Toryu2020 Posted March 14, 2023 Report Posted March 14, 2023 Looking at the Sendai Han Toko Meikan this signature does not compare well with the examples in the book. 10th generation would be right and there are examples of Tenmei 4 dates. That being said the work looks spot on suggesting to me this may have been mumei and a signature was added... -t 1 Quote
Rivkin Posted March 14, 2023 Report Posted March 14, 2023 4 hours ago, Toryu2020 said: Looking at the Sendai Han Toko Meikan this signature does not compare well with the examples in the book. 10th generation would be right and there are examples of Tenmei 4 dates. That being said the work looks spot on suggesting to me this may have been mumei and a signature was added... I would also argue its later than 1784. 1825-1850 is the peak of such "shinshinto" look, 1784 is just a bit too early. That's ofcoarse with the usual warnings about photograph quality could be a factor, but still it is shinshinto proper blades which are that high contrast and do not have proper chikei. But its a good blade. Quote
Matsunoki Posted March 17, 2023 Author Report Posted March 17, 2023 @Rivkin @Toryu2020 Many thanks for looking and commenting. I was really hoping someone would clarify my confusion re the hada/steel structure ie am I looking at a differential steel effect or true “hada”?. To me it looks like laminations of different steels. Also, I believe this school suffered many premature deaths among the lineage of smiths and that creates a degree of confusion regarding who signed what? Anyway, thanks again. All the best. Colin Quote
Peter Bleed Posted March 17, 2023 Report Posted March 17, 2023 Well, gee, another Tenmei dated Kunikane. I suppose some people like them, and I'd take it if you were going to drop it off at the Goodwill..... But seriously, ... a very nice, shinshinto tanto by the guy who was setting out to revitalize the Kunikane line. The "line" had been maintained between the 5th and 9th generations, but without leadership or - I think - actually continuity. It was officially recognized and everybody knew how to do masame. Number 10 started an apprenticeship in Sendai but then went down to Edo is like 1778 or so and started work with Masahide. He actually ko-signed at least one blade with Masahide so there were no flies on him, BUT he died in Tenmei 6, which is like 1786 when he was 29. The Kunikane line just couldn't catch a break. Tom's assessment is perceptive and interesting. There certainly were lots of re-signed blades created with, for, and about Kunikane. There were guys in Edo who made high-contrast masame during the shin-shinto era. Whoever made it (and I'd bet on KK 10) this looks like classic, late Edo period carry sword - flashy, famous, and real good. Kind of over the top. Peter 3 Quote
Matsunoki Posted March 17, 2023 Author Report Posted March 17, 2023 41 minutes ago, Peter Bleed said: Well, gee, another Tenmei dated Kunikane. Peter, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and for your time. Very much appreciated. I will continue to dig around for comparisons etc. it is such a distinctive Tanto…..never seen anything like it before. All the best.Colin Quote
Matsunoki Posted March 19, 2023 Author Report Posted March 19, 2023 Just found this example. Workmanship and detail in the blade is pretty similar to the one I post above…..out of interest. Obviously my koshirae are nowhere near as good. https://nihontoart.com/shop/precious-date-family-tanto-by-sendai-kunikane/ Quote
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