potential Gassan Sadakazu

[b.hennick]

I was sent images of 7 swords. This one appears to be signed Gassan Sadakzu. I would appreciate help with a full translation. I am sorry that one of the images I was given is not all that clear. I cropped and did what I could with them.

Thanks!

[John A Stuart]

1) a lucky day in the 5th month of Meiji 41, 1908.

2) Gassan Sadakazu at 71st year, his age. 月山貞一七十一歳 (kao)

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Mei reads Teishitsu gigein Gassan Sadakazu Nana ju sai 帝室技芸員月山貞一七十歳 + kao

 

If i'm not wrong Teishitsu gigein means imperial art expert.

[John A Stuart]

帝室技芸員 I left that off. It mentions his being an Imperial Family Artist. John

I see you already mentioned it, Jacques. 員 Member 技芸 arts, crafts, handicrafts, 帝室 Imperial family or household.

[Toryu2020]

Lucky Barry!

Teishitsu Gigeiin is the Meiji equivalent of Living National Treasure, I would research the mei carefully. Do post some photos of the blade if you get the chance.

-t

[Mark]

looks to me like hs says he is 73, not 71... maybe i am seeing double

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

You are right Mark age is nana ju san sai (need new glasses) 73 years old.

 

I'm not sure mei is legit.

[cabowen]

gimei.....

[Ford Hallam]

I'm with Jacques on the mei, sorry.

 

Compare to the confidence of this example;

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/sadakatsu-3/index.html

[cabowen]

  Ford Hallam said:

I'm with Jacques on the mei, sorry.

 

Compare to the confidence of this example;

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/sadakatsu-3/index.html

 

 

Well, of course it is different! you are comparing two different smiths!

[drbvac]

I believe that is the point he is making - it is different - one smith OK , another who made and signed the gimei one.

[cabowen]

The blade in question is signed Gassan Sadakazu. The blade Ford cites is signed Gassan Sadakatsu. Father and son. Why would you say the Sadakazu signature looks like it lacks confidence in comparison to a signature by Sadakatsu, his son???? Wouldn't it make more sense to compare the Sadakazu signature to a valid Sadakazu signature?

[drbvac]

I stand corrected and should have deferred to one who not only knows better but reads better than I - but its still gimei right

[cabowen]

  drbvac said:

but its still gimei right

 

Still gimei......note how crowded and cramped the kanji are compared to valid signatures, especially the Teishitsu Gigei'in and the date...the signature as a whole lacks the fluidity and grace of Sadakazu....

 

Some genuine signatures to compare:

[drbvac]

Thanks Chris - thats why one reads all posts - comments when appropriate - well usually - and learns

[reinhard]

The gimei is quite obvious, isn't it? Well, it should be.

 

reinhard

[cabowen]

  reinhard said:

The gimei is quite obvious, isn't it? Well, it should be.

 

reinhard

 

That is the gist of it...

[Ford Hallam]

Sorry...my bad. I knew what I was looking for as an example of what Gassan school mei look like but didn't check closely enough....It was late

 

The point I wanted to make was that Gassan school mei are particularly well written whereas the example Barry showed is quite weak by comparison.

[Bob M.]

Regarding the maker/signatory of Sadakazu blades , nearly all manufactured after Sadakazu's appointment to the imperial household ranks were at best dai-saku works with his son. There is little doubt that most were also signed by Sadakatsu on his behalf . The comparison of a Sadakatsu mei to a Sadakazu signature , at least in terms of style and execution, is therefore a valid one.

 

Also one should look behind the signature at the quality of the filing marks - I suggest that this does not come up to standard on the blade in question.

 

Regards

[kusunokimasahige]

It is always very interesting to see when mei are compared, and this one with all the pics posted looks indeed gimei.

 

I always keep having this nagging idea in the back of my head, what happens if a smith, age 73, does not feel well and makes a mei which is less ok than his earlier work. Of course in the case of Sadakazu, Sadakatsu has signed some of his swords for him as was said in a previous post. But have there ever been any serious investigations into blades definitively attested to one smith with slight but clear differences in ways of signing ?

 

I know from my studies of papyrology, a totally different thing alltogether, that we sometimes come across writing in several hands on one papyrus, and when comparing handwriting on varied papyri we can sometimes attest them to one scribe by using paleography.

 

KM