help with red lacquer

[Mark]

I have a wakizashi with a red lacquer writing. It is a bit worn and i can not read it... can anyone make anything from it? maybe there is a date on the right of the first picture, Meiji 22 ?? and a name on the left? the other side is maybe the person doing the writing?

 

 

Thanks in advance

[Surfson]

On the right it looks like a Meiji date - Meiji ____nen, go getsu? followed by two other kanji. I'm guessing the left side is a cutting test result. On the other side I'm guessing was the name of the tester, but this is pure speculation on my part.

[Surfson]

Maybe Meiji nijusan nen? 1891?

[k morita]

Hi,

The shu-mei(red lacquer mei) says "Honami Choshiki" on the left .

[Mark]

Thank you Morita-san, i can work through the date and now i have the other line. Maybe someone can give me a pointer on the other side. Interesting

[Mark]

looking at the second side i think i can make out a little, i think it is 5 kanji and probably a plave/name it looks like ___ ___ Ju ___ Nao

 

can anyone offer any suggestions?

[Mark]

the following picture was emailed to me as a suggestion, any thoughts?

[reinhard]

Difficult to tell, for there's not enough left of the red lacquer; but even if this attribution is by Hon'ami Choshiki, and Meiji date seems to confirm this assumption, it doesn't really matter. Choshiki wasn't free in his judgement anymore. Unlike his early predecessors, he was forced to make a living by delivering commissioned "expertise". It wasn't his fault. Times were like that. - On the other hand, his attributions aren't outlandish or very far from the real thing. After all he was a Hon'ami.

 

For Hon'ami Choshiki see also:

 

Japanese Swords and Sword Fittings from the Collection of Dr. Walter Ames Compton

Christies NY 1992, Part I, Lot no. 270

 

reinhard

[Mark]

reinhard,

 

Thanks! I agree the attribution (if i read it right) is highly optimistic, probably something done to please the owner. Still an interesting insite into the time