Fionda

OP Herr adding another comment / thought, I suppose it could be a very stylized version of this Fudo kanman?

This is from sunnobi tantō attributed to Nobukuni, likely Oei, likely Saemon no Jo Nobukuni. I'm an curious if anyone can help me figure out the bonji, which are carved along a ken (the two bits at the top of the frame which the frame cuts off are the continuation of the ken shape, not part of the bonji). The top part of the bonji seems to be a stylized fudo-myoo, it looks similar to one on a yari posted on this forum from 14 years ago. But what about the bottom part? I'm assuming it's two characters stacked, fudo-myoo on the top and then the bottom one but not sure if them being put together changes the entire meaning? Thanks for the help.

14 Years later I found this whole trying to determine the bonji on a nanbokucho or oei tantō i just picked up and it's so similar! Guessing mine is also a stylized fudo-myoo but mine also has a second bonji below it or some sort of continuation.

I've seen references to rubbings and now I know what they mean, thanks Ray! (And thanks for the link Oli!)

Pardon the image I just grabbed the first one I could find off Google, I'm a photographer and understand how to photograph things that may be difficult to photograph (accurately reproducing daguerreotypes digitlaly is weirdly difficult for example) but I'm fascinated by the high contrast images that are almost illustration like that really show the mei and hamon as can be seen in the lowest third of the attached image. Is there a name for that type of photo/scan, and how is it achieved?

Hello everyone, this forum has already proved to be an excellent resource and I'm excited to have found it and now joined! I'm an artist who works in a variety of two-dimensional media and teacher among other things from the Boston, Massachusetts, area. I spent a lot of time in my youth at the MFA Boston which has an excellent collection of nihontō and katchu, which are unfortunately no longer on display save for one daisho, and I think those many visits planted the seed for my now voracious appetite for learning everything I can about nihontō. Besides nihontō I have also begun collecting ukiyo-e prints, and am learning the ukiyo-e process to incorporate in my own work. I also collect art in general and have always had an interest in history. Thanks for having me, Dan