Nara Fuchi-Kashira Set

[Itomagoi]

Hi, I need help from someone who is much more knowledgeable than me. Especially as I don't have any suitable books to compare the signature. I really like this Fuchi and Kashira set. The fuchi is signed Nara.  That's why I wanted to ask if someone could give me more information. Can you find this signature to compare? 

 

https://japaneseswor...kashira-signed-nara/

 

"This set is signed Nara. According to The Robert Haynes Index, “This group of artists signed only Nara without any other name, in most cases. They are thought of as the Ko-Nara school group, and they worked on both iron and soft metal plate. "

[Curran]

That is probably all the information you will be able to divine.

Yet, I've attached a scan of Markus Sesko's fine work on the school.

 

The fuchi-kashira looks like Nara work and is signed. The sort of design for which the school is often known.

 

Ko-Nara tends to be closer to the temple fittings and metalwork that they initially made before they evolved into the larger school of Nara fittings for which they are known.

I have one example, image attached. It can be very difficult to attribute to specific person.

 

 

[Itomagoi]

Thank you very much for your answer. It could have been that there are collected signatures in a book that can be assigned to a Nara artist. 

 

By the way. Very nice tsuba! 

[Mantis dude]

Figured I add a similar F/K but with a more specific signature: Nara Toshimitsu.  I recently acquired this in a lot and was happily surprised/enjoyed the detailed work.  Not sure if it is a gimei or not, but I think generally it certainly fits the school work.  Definitely made me aware of this Nara style.

 

all the best,

Ken 

[Mantis dude]

Sorry, I realized this was an old post which I replied to.  Came up in my search of something else but was just trying to catchup on my nmb reading and I didn't realize until after.  oh well, still a nice f/k set.

[Jake6500]

20 hours ago, Mantis dude said:

Figured I add a similar F/K but with a more specific signature: Nara Toshimitsu.  I recently acquired this in a lot and was happily surprised/enjoyed the detailed work.  Not sure if it is a gimei or not, but I think generally it certainly fits the school work.  Definitely made me aware of this Nara style.

 

all the best,

Ken 

 

Seeing as we've already bumped the thread anyway, the Mei looks pretty good to me... Another example:

 

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5498337

 

Seems like a plausible match. I will note a small inconsistency in the second kanji in which the stroke from your fuchi crosses over to form an x shape, unlike the linked example here in which the stroke appears slightly higher and does not cross over. The first kanji also appears slightly different but that could be put down to spacing.

 

I'm not sure whether the quality is quite up to standard however that can be hard to judge through pictures. It seems decent, not spectacular. You would probably have to submit for appraisal to know with any certainty but I think you have a nice piece there.

[Mantis dude]

Jake,

Appreciate the feedback.  As I said, it was a set that came with a lot I won.  Always good to get some decent quality pieces with the item you really wanted.   I had looked at the set but hadn't even tried to verify the mei until yesterday afternoon.   The mei seemed plausible but not exact-  this is where a lot of my signature's seem to lie.  Why can't they make this stuff easier!  All the best.  Thanks.

Ken

[Soshin]

Here is an orphan fuchi I have in my collection made by Tsuneshige (常重) who belonged to the Nara School during the late Edo Period. I have seen similar fuchi-gashira sets by him. All with similar signatures. I don't think he ever used (Nara 奈良) as part of his signature like the example provided by @Mantis dude, but I could be wrong.