(Another) Reference F/K for Nara Toshinaga sought

[Higo-san]

Dear all

 

I am looking for reference material on F/K by Nara Toshinaga which do either show monkeys/eagles or which are signed on the right side of the fuchi.

 

Let me explain the background of my somehow strange request. I have in my collection a wakizashi koshirae which has formerly been owned by the now closed Tosogu Museum in Tokyo (sold via Christies in the early 2000s). The koshirae has undergone a restoration in the second half of the 20th century. As part of this restoration process, a new saya was made, the original menuki were removed AND the fuchi/kashira WERE REPATINATED. As a result, they look rather new but could in fact be much older.

 

As the fuchi is signed "Toshinaga Kao" and we all know that his mei was very often faked, I had dismissed them as gimei ever since the koshirae came into my possession. I still consider the mei to be at least critical BUT after studying the workmanship for a while I must say that they are really well done. In particular, the ishime ground is very appealing (I tried to focus on this feature in my pictures). The easiest way would of course be to submit them for shinsa. However, the NBTHK has become very hesitant in the last year and when it comes to one of the big names, I guess that my best result could be horyu. And that does not help me at all.

 

That means that I have to trust my own (and maybe your) judgement and would be gratefull for reference material on F/K by Toshinaga (ideally from the book on the Nara San Saku).

 

Kind regards and a big thanks

 

Chris

[Spartancrest]

I am no expert on signatures or F/K 

This one is signed on the left https://ginza.choshu...j/r5/008/00_riju.htm     

 

 

https://www.zacke.at...th-kanzan/?lot=21438  This one on the right, image is pretty dirty. 

 

   

 

An ebay one signed on the left https://www.ebay.com/itm/276165246574

 

The Walters has a fuchi signed on the left. https://art.thewalte...or/nara-toshinaga-i/   and other examples of his work.

 

I can't find any Monkey or Eagle - Sorry.

 

 

[Higo-san]

Thank you, Dale! The first one seems to be authentic. I think that we can consider the other two as Gimei.

 

Kind regards

 

Chris

[Higo-san]

Dear all

 

thanks to a friend of mine, I had the opportunity to check the reference pieces in the Nara San Saku book. I came to the conclusion that my fuchi is unfortunately gimei.

 

First of all, a mei on the right side SEEMS possible - there are reference pieces for the second generation Toshinaga (if it has ever existed) with a mei on the right side. It would be highly unlikely for a first generation Toshinaga but still possible.

 

However: whereas the first kanji is typical for the first generation Toshinaga, the second kanji differs at the vertical strokes from important reference pieces. At this point, the only valid conclusion is that it must be considered gimei.

 

So what do we have? We have a typical Nara fuchi which shows some features which can be also found on Toshinaga pieces (dimensions, surface structure and the dispersion on the seppa area). Unfortunately someone decided to put a mei on it which does not belong there.

 

Best

 

Chris