Translation needed (tsuba mei)

[fritaly]

Hello,

 

I bought this tsuba some weeks ago and I'd like to know the name of the maker and any information on him (if any).

 

Many thanks.

 

François

 

[John A Stuart]

Jumyo 壽命 John

[fritaly]

Thank you John for your reply.

 

According to JSSUS's Kanji Pages, your suggestion is: TOSHI NAGA. Am I correct ? On the other side, the second kanji also looks like KANE (according to the same page).

 

I don't get "Jumyo John". What does it mean ? Sorry for the probably dump question, just trying to learn.

 

Many thanks

[Brian]

In this case, the kanji are read as "Jumyo"

Do a Google search or search the forum for lots of info about this prolific group, who were also swordsmiths.

 

Regards,

Brian

[fritaly]

OK, thanks Brian

[John A Stuart]

Jumyo sword smiths used 壽命, they made plate for other artists to work on or their own Tosho tsuba. Haynes lists these smiths as 寿命 which I consider incorrect. Now as you noted 壽命 this can be read as Toshinaga , but, there are no Toshinaga tsubako using these kanji. John

[Grey Doffin]

I first thought of Jumyo also, but I'm not sure the 2nd Kanji is 命; I think it might be something else.

Grey

[Pete Klein]

It's quite possible that this is an unknown maker. I couldn't find any references to these kanji in the Kinko Meikan, Wakayama' Toso Kodogu Meiji Taikei or Haynes volumes.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Grey, I was thinking the same originally, but, no kanji is this form that I can find other than 'myo' or whatever reading you prefer. To be sure I checked all combo's I could imagine, Hisa, Toshi, Hisashi, Ju and could not find any other likely kanji to combine to a known smith. Other than the Jumyo sword smiths Haynes lists two others using 寿. One Nomura Jumyo (Goshu Hikone ju) and the other Ochi Jumyo a kinko artist. I have no examples to see if they may have really signed using 壽 instead. Doesn't mean I'm right though!! John

[Pete Klein]

Grey -- look up 'Teimei' / 'Sadanaga' in the meikan. The 'naga' is cut in similar manner.