good oshigata of.......

[Lindus]

Have just acquired a blade signed Shinano no Kami Minamoto Nobuyoshi,mei looks a little odd but have spent a couple of hours trying to find some oshi of the genuine without luck,link please folks. Blade is ubu and only 60.5cm,can I assume that this is uchi gatana?.

Roy

[george trotter]

Yes that fits into the uchigatana size of late Muromachi, early Momoyama....about 60.6 cm.

 

Regards,

[Lance]

Shinano no Kami Minamoto Nobuyoshio was used by 3 generations of Shinto smiths starting from around 1643 and were considered part of the Mishina School. (I believe there were supposed to be 3 generations with the 3rd signing Echizen Rai instead of Shinano no kami)

I used to have a Naginata by the first or second generation dated 1658 that I enjoyed a lot.

From Fujishiro's Shinto volume

NOBUYOSHI SHINANO NO KAMI SHODAI [sHÔHÔ 1644 YAMASHIRO] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU

He lived in Heianjô, and (blades in which he inscribed) KIKU MON are also seen. He was a smith

between the years of Kan'ei and Kanbun. (Wazamono)

Signatures: SHINANO NO KAMI FUJIWARA NOBUYOSHI

YAMASHIRO KUNI FUJIWARA NOBUYOSHI

Page 206

NOBUYOSHI SHINANO NO KAMI NIDAI [ENPÔ 1673 YAMASHIRO] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU

He is also called Takai Kinsaburô, and he also lived in Osaka. At first he called himself FUJIWARA, and

he later changed to MINAMOTO.

Signatures: RAKUYÔ JÛ SHINANO NO KAMI MINAMOTO NOBUYOSHI

SHINANO NO KAMI FUJIWARA NOBUYOSHI

 

Below are some links and a group of oshigata I had saved.

 

http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p1403.html

http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/Y2 ... _PUP_E.htm

 

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mishina.html (info towards bottom of page)

Regards,

Lance

[Lindus]

Thank you Lance,I would like to think that he signed this after an evening soaking back too much Sake....does not look so good, but will ask my old friend ,No1 UK polisher to work on it anyway.

Cheers

Roy

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Usage of rai was late is life

 

Are you sure ?

[Lance]

Hi,

 

Usage of rai was late is life

 

Are you sure ?

 

Hello,

Nope, I'm not sure. I have seen it mentioned numerous times while learning more about this group though. I did a quick web search and came up with the link below that contains the attached images from a Christie's auction mentioning the use of Rai later in life and a link to the source for these.

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Owazamono_N ... atana.html

 

I had other articles and references I gathered about this line of smiths I saved but passed them along with the naginata to the new owner when I traded it.

 

Regards,

Lance

[leo]

Dear Roy,

would be easier with a picture of the nakago. It does not seem to be Nobuyoshi III. The mei of the various generations are not so difficult to distinguish.

 

When we are talking about Nobuyoshi III, which is the one from the Christie´s auction, some info:

 

"The smiths of the Takai family are considered to be Yamashiro-Mishina-school, though they developed their own style which with many blades reminds us of Shinkai and Sukehiro. Known are 5 generations of Takai Nobuyoshi, shodai(I), nidai(II) und Nobuyoshi III.(It is not exactly known wether he is the 3rd son of the shodai or one of his younger brothers). After him came generations IV und V.

Rai Nobuyoshi was by far the best of the Takai-family. He was active from about 1655 to 1703. Signatures and workmanship show pretty exactly when they were made. On earlier works before 1670 the 16-petal chrysanthemum was chiseled in, while later it was engraved. The name "Rai" was not added before 1673. From 1688 frequently an "Ichi" was added under the kiku mon. Most swords, the earlier works in particular, were made with suguha, while a lot of later blades show the beautiful Toran Midare Hamon in the style of Sukehiro.

Though he was active for 50 years, his best works date between 1670 and 1700."

 

One of the German board members owns a Hozon papered katana made by this smith which was discussed here last year.

 

Best,