Hakogaki

Hi all, I recently posted a new item on my blog

http://richardturner.wordpress.com/2009 ... o-tsurugi-草薙の剣/

One thing I have not been able to do is get a reading on the art name Dr. Torigoye uses on the hakogaki. Has anyone seen this variation before and have an idea what it reads ?.

Cheers

Rich

Rich,

First, a great fuchi-kashira, thanks for sharing.

I do not recall the art name associated with this kao, but I know Dr. Torigoye used a different hanko (seal) for hakogaki he wrote in Japan vs. out of country. I'm pretty sure that the round hanko was used only outside Japan.

I have two images of items sold long ago. The kao seems to be the same as on yours, but the hanko is the round one. I was told by Bob Haynes and/or Jim Gilbert that the single mark at one o'clock on the kao indicated a first-class item, two marks second-class. I have seen the kao with two marks.

Images are at: http://www.getdropbox.com/gallery/57317 ... s?h=8cbb88

I'll ask Bob when I next speak with him about the art name.

Craig

http://www.bridgeofdreams.com

Hi Craig, thanks for that. I will try and post some better images actually, the scans are not that good but they are rather interesting pieces with some nice kebori. I have heard about the seals and the kao also. I think there is some pretty good info in Haynes' auction catalogue (5 ???) on all the different Hakogaki. I have added a larger image so the signature can be seen better.

I appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

Rich