Kuniyoshi

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi,

 

I just wondered if anyone out there had heard of a late Edo-period fittings maker named Kuniyoshi?

 

I have just bought a beautiful set of shakudo fuchi kashira (signed Kuniyoshi with a kao) from an antique market at the Yasukuni Jinja and I'm trying to find a reference to this maker. However, when I search the net for "Kuniyoshi" I simply end up with dozens of hits directing me to the famous ukiyo-e artist of the same name!

 

As John Stuart of this forum knows, I am experiencing beginners difficulties in loading pictures onto this site but I'll rectify this as soon as I can and will post some photos of the fuchi kashira.

 

In the mean time, the best way to describe them is as depicting a fish (probably a salmon) with a pearl(?) in it's mouth and various symbols (possibly buddhist) surrounding it. Very vague I know but I'll sort out the pictures as soon as possible!

 

As you've probably guessed by now, blades, rather than tosugu, are my main area of expertise and so I'd be very grateful for any clues or leads as to this craftsman.

 

Many thanks,

 

Simon

[Brian]

Hi Simon,

 

Welcome to the forum. The best advice I can give you is to go to the How-To forums..as there are detailed explanations on posting pics there. The only things that will stop you posting pics is if they are too big (over 1 meg) and that is huge anyways. There is a link there to a free image resizer too. Or use the info there to host them on imageshack. Best size for pics is max 800x600..and reduce the resolution to around 120...some cameras capture at 300 or more which makes for a massive file size.

Let me know if I can help further.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Many thanks, Brian, for both your welcome and the very useful advice!

 

I am sure I will work out the pictures soon. My inabilty so far stems from my total technophobia rather than any problems with your site.

I only purchased my first PC at the ripe old age of 42 and so any new function takes me a while to master!

When my contemporaries at school were buying the latest electronic gadgets, I was buying OLD things (like swords) so I'm a bit behind the times I'm afraid.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on this site. I have far more amazing Nihonto to look at now that I have moved permanently to Japan but far fewer people to discuss them with so your wonderful forum is a real boon to me!

 

Happy New Year and best wishes,

Simon

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Well, I've finally managed to attach some pics of my mystery "Kuniyoshi" fuchi-kashira.

Trouble is they're so blurred that it makes the "salmon catching a gold ball" motif look more like a kipper chasing a Werther's Original sweet!

 

Oh well, if anyone has any ideas (apart from me getting a decent camera or taking photography lessons) I'd be very grateful.

 

Simon

[Marc BROQUIN]

Hello Simon,

I pass a part of my summertime to review the old discussions of the NMB I had not the time before to look at.

I have cheked in the Haynes with these specific kanjis. The only one described with a recorded Kao is not this one. Apart this particular one, there are 6 other Kuniyoshi :

1°) one is a Tosa Myochin, ca. 1800, no Kao described, but worked in the style of Tosa Myochin.

2°) one is the 6th master of SUWA family school, ca. 1800, Higo, Kumamoto, no Kao described.

3°) one is JUSABURO KUNIYOSHI, ca. 1800, from Sekishu, Hamada (Iwami Province), no Kao described

4°) one is ca. 1700, from Karatsu in Hizen Province, follower of Masakuni

5°) one is ca. 1800, from Raku, Kyoto in Yamashiro province

6°) One is from Sendai in Rikuzen Province

 

From my point of vue, it seems not to neither Tosa Myochin work nor Suwa Higo nor Sendai, nor Hizen.

Remain Iwami and Kyoto. Difficult to say but I would bet for Yamashiro Kyoto.

I have one FK from the Kuniyoshi with the recorded kao and it is not the same as yours definitely.

 

Best regards

Marc

[Lorenzo]

I have a set in kuroshibuichi with gold and copper inlays made by hirado kunishige nidai (Hizen). The style is somehow similar, showing a kind of "framing" of the images.

[WalterS]

Well, I've finally managed to attach some pics of my mystery "Kuniyoshi" fuchi-kashira.

Trouble is they're so blurred that it makes the "salmon catching a gold ball" motif look more like a kipper chasing a Werther's Original sweet!

 

Oh well, if anyone has any ideas (apart from me getting a decent camera or taking photography lessons) I'd be very grateful.

 

Simon

Just about photos... Most digital cameras take pictures at very high resolution compared to what can be displayed on a computer screen. So this might work better:

1) Make sure the picture is in focus. The thing you are photographing might look small, but make sure it is in focus.

2) Get a jpeg editing program like Irfanview. (Irfanview is free. Irfanview.com)

3) Load in your photo and crop it to show just the item of interest.

4) Resize the photo to match the forum requirements.

5) Save and upload!

[Curran]

Without even going to the books, I was thinking almost exactly what Lorenzo said.

The design reminded me of Hirado Kunishige work.

 

Kuniyoshi a student?

 

Curran

[Curran]

FYI: Example page of Kunishige work

 

http://www.choshuya.co.jp/tsuba/21_40/30namban.htm

 

See the fuchi/kashira towards the end.

[docliss]

Oh dear, I think I am losing the plot! Apart from the treatment of the tama jewel, I just cannot see any similarity between the f-g of Simon and the work of the Hirado Kunishige school. Surely the organisation and simplicity of Simon’s image is completely lacking in the ‘fussiness’ normally associated with Kunishige work. I think I’ll go with Marc’s suggestion of H 03697.0 as the possible maker of this pair.

 

John L.