Ronin 47

Hi was just wondering if anyone knew if there was a oshigata,or has a oshigata, of the famous Takemata Kanemitsu that went missing during the US ocupation of Japan. Thanks for any help Austin

Well I won't name names (no not because I'm secretive, but for other obvious reasons) but needless to say this tsuba was part of a lot of three Nobuie tsuba that most likely came from a pretty well know Asian art dealer/collector who was according to the consensus of me and others at the time selling off the remainder of the Mosle collection and other pieces that could not be sold privately, it was found out later the reason the remainder of these lots could not be sold privately was proably because they were most likely very well made later copies of very famous kinko smiths. Me and others came to this conclusion after the sale took place because we noticed a lot of the better stuff in the Mosle catalog was absent from the sale. A friend and teacher turned me on to the sale and I bought a couple of pieces including the three Nobuie which at that time of the sale were considered to be composed of two later copies and one very well made Azuchi-Momoyama Period tsuba in the style of Nobuie or maybe one of the later smiths. Well as we all now know this tsuba must have slipped pass said dealer/collector and many others because no one (including me) noticed it was illustrated in both the 1914 Mosle catalog and in Dr.Torigoye 'Tsuba Kanshoki'. I bought it simple because I'm fond of old iron tsuba and I thought the one in question and the other two were very well made examples, but I did not know at the time or immediately after that it was possible a real Nobuie until I decided to post it on the board for fun. Austin

I might send it to Shinsa in the future, but at the moment I'm quiet content that Dr.Torigoye considered it a good enough example to include it in his book. By the way does anyone have the description of the tsuba from the 1914 Mosle catalog, also does anyone know out of the four Nobuie tsuba in the catalog is this the only one to appear in a Japanese reference? Austin

Yes Pete the tsuba belongs to me. I heard that the tsuba was possibly part of the Mosle collection, but I had no idea it was published in the 1914 Mosle catalog and in Dr.Torigoye 'Tsuba Kanshoki'. This is quit the revelation, my sincerest thanks to Pete and everybody else for their help in identifying this tsuba. Austin

Here is a close up of the mei. I'm afraid it wont be of much help do to the corrosion.

Hi can anyone give me any info on this nobuie style tsuba, such as age etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks. Austin

All give this a shot. period Nambokucho - tradition Soshu - school O-SA - smith Sa Yukihiro? That's my best guess. Austin

Hi, I posted this on the old board but the picture was not very good quality, and some people where having a hard time seeing the characters. I finally got the papers today and took some betters shots and was wondering if someone could please tell me if the papers give the name or school of the smith, and the length of the blade. Thanks for any help Austin

Thanks for that info guys, that is very interesting about Horii Hideaki's students signing with a code of sorts. I suppose it's possible that this blade could be by a student who hasn't yet gained the right to sign his own name? or has not yet chosen an art name so instead he signed with a code of sorts so his teacher can tell that this is his work, but of course IM just guessing. Any thoughts on that theory? P. s The blade is not a post Meiji piece but appears to be at least ÅŒei and possible as old as late Kamakura. Austin

I was having trouble getting a clear shot of the symbol, and I thought the drawing would be easier to see and Identify. But anyway I have finally got a pretty good shot of the symbol so I hope this makes it easier for someone to identify.

Thanks for the help with the picture Brian, and I will try to save my images as a JPEG next time. Concerning the symbol, somebody definitely put this on the nakago-mune of this tanto intentionally, but the question is why? Could it be a family Mon?

This shape is called Katakiriha-zukuri: one side being hira-zukuri (like this piece is I believe) or shinogi-zukuri while the other is kiriha-zukuri. I believe its a rather rare construction style, and one usually sees it in older blades, but it is also seen in newer blades recreating the older styles. One famous example of this style in the Shinogi-zukuri-kiriha-zukuri form is a sadamune in the Tokyo National Museum. Its unfortunate that this blade is in such bad condition or it might have been an interesting piece to study. Note you can find more information on this construction style in Kokan Nagayama's book.

Sorry, I tried to post the picture directly to the board but it doesn't seem to work, if somebody would like to give me some pointers on how to get them directly on the board I'm all ears. The symbol is on the nakago-mune of a tanto, and I'm trying to figure out what it means if anything.

Here try this http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... bolhd6.png

Does anybody recognize this symbol? Thanks for any help. Austin http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... bolim1.png

I too would like to thank Mr.Moriyama for all his help. Austin

I think it's signed shi mada ju kuni hisa But I'm not sure about the first two kanji. Judging from the shape it looks like it might be from the Muromachi period. Hope that helps. Austin

Thanks for everyone's help. Does anyone have any oshigata of the this smith that I could see?

I think the first character is Mune? Any idea what the second one is? Thanks for any help Austin http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... chihd5.png

I see. Thanks again for the info, this has been most helpful. :D

Once again thank you Mr. Moriyama for the translation. So if I'm understanding this correctly this a prayer paper to help prevent robbery of (in this case) a sword?

All I know is that it came with the other paperwork, but I have no idea what it is. If you could please let me know what it says I would be most grateful. Also when I opened it this was inside, looks like Sanskrit? Is it of possible religious origin? http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paper3rn9.png

Thank you Mr. Moriyama for the specific descriptions on the paper. This has been most helpful

Thank you Jos for the translation, and thank you Mr. Moriyama for the information about the papers. Any idea's about what the origami says.

Thanks for any help. Austin http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paperzy7.png http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paper1ow3.png