a kojiri to take a stab at...

[Darcy]

A bit of background, the koshirae these are mounted on are Juyo ensuite with a sword which is something that happens rarely. The sword went on to pass Tokubetsu Juyo. I have no information about the elements of the koshirae other than what is signed. The tsuba is first generation Ishiguro Masatsune and the Fuchi/Kashira is third generation Omori Teruhide.

 

The koshirae was put together by a Count in the Meiji period for his favorite sword it would seem, having pieced together some of the history.

 

So based on the tsuba and fuchi/kashira being heavy heavy dudes, my assumption is that the menuki and kojiri are in an equivalent (or near) arena.

 

I never studied much of kodogu, I appreciate these things and my talents are pretty much limited to "ooooo, I really like that".

 

To me this look Goto.... ish. Any thoughts? Very highly raised.

 

High res is here (not super highest quality but maybe good enough):

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/kojiri-l.jpg

 

 

The rest is porn for your enjoyment. Please don't be getting the slobber on anything. The peony on this is also exceptionally raised though it is hard to tell from this.

 

 

High res of the koshirae:

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/koshirae-l.jpg

 

[Justin]

Is it OK to swear on this forum?!?? A very nice koshirae Darcy.

[Lance]

Wow, amazing!!......I'll take a shot (and hopefully not embarrass myself too much in the process, added some links and pics below)

 

Most Goto ShiShi I've seen seem to be in more "formalized" or stiff pose, with tight curls in the tail (3 balls) and mane, my impression is one of the key points to appreciating their work is the the precision involved, not just in the nanako but the figures themselves too.

 

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/9965

 

The ShiShi on your kojiri looks to be in a more wil, natural pose, more character in the facial details and the tail and mane are more free-flowing, similar to Yokoya or High level Mito school, both who were good with nanako as well?

 

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/18661

 

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/9973

 

 

Thanks for posting these, really amazing work.

 

(please be kind when correcting me!)

 

Regards,

Lance

[Darcy]

Oh cool find... the Yokoya school item definitely looks like it's in the same family as this theme and construction wise. I'll dig into that, thanks!

[Darcy]

Took about 10 minutes to find this at Bonhams by Yokoya Soyo. Might it be a house design then? This came from a set though where some components are made by Yanagawa Naomitsu. The kozuka looks a bit different style and the fuchi/kashira and menuki match but the only signed item is the tsuba.

 

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18823/lot/1/

 

 

 

here is some slight difference at the upper right and left but the main elements of the pose and construction are the same.

[cabowen]

There seems to be a large and fundamental difference in how the nanako was applied. Not quite sure what that means but it bears noting.

[Pete Klein]

I would go with Yokoya school, possibly Somin or Soyo, or a later generation. Work is top notch. Chris is right about the nanako and the straight form is used by Yokoya. Menuki are kirin and probably also from this school. Definitely not Goto work.

[Darcy]

There seems to be a large and fundamental difference in how the nanako was applied. Not quite sure what that means but it bears noting.

 

Yeah it doesn't strike me as a dead ringer for manufacture just that whomever has made it seems to have been referring to the same design and I thought within the school but I don't know enough to make this kind of judgment. Pose, number of spots, the position and type of swirls, all the same. Differences around the edges and the pattern of nanako as you point out. There is more depth on the gold one as well and the eyes are different.

 

To me at my level it means someone in the school with access to the designs making something similar either up or down the lineage.

 

Going back to the auction above the items actually were attributed to two smiths but not clear where the distinction is, the only signed item is the tsuba which is Soyo.

 

Kozuka looks a bit different from the rest but could belong with the menuki and kojiri with the tsuba being the odd man out, so that would make the example I posted maybe Yanagawa school and both being a copy of something else or one being a copy of the other or maybe it's a very common pose.

 

Would like to hear more opinions.

[Bob M.]

Hi Darcy,

 

Are you referring to an associated set of fittings in Bonhams from May 2011 ?

 

Sale 18823 , Lot No. 1 ?

[Darcy]

I would go with Yokoya school, possibly Somin or Soyo, or a later generation. Work is top notch. Chris is right about the nanako and the straight form is used by Yokoya. Menuki are kirin and probably also from this school. Definitely not Goto work.

 

Thanks Pete for the info...

 

I didn't get a close look previously but the kashira also is in this same theme and pose but different hand, this is Teruhide. Nanako follow the round pattern in the Bonham's example. So possibly this is three schools working this pose and it is more common than I thought. Slightly different takes on it every time.

 

John Stuart had flown Yokoya school on the menuki the first time I posted them a few weeks ago so it seems now like it may all tie together.

 

This is the kashira which can't be seen in the other photos. The fuchi is signed.

 

I can't post photos of the sword or talk about it but it is pretty nice too heh.

 

[Darcy]

Hi Darcy,

 

Are you referring to an associated set of fittings in Bonhams from May 2011 ?

 

Sale 18823 , Lot No. 1 ?

 

Yes I think that is it:

 

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18823/lot/1/

 

The tsuba is signed Soyo but the rest I think is maybe by Yanagawa Naomitsu. The listing doesn't say where the overlap is but the tsuba is the furthest out in style from the rest.

[Pete Klein]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was ensuite by Soyo.

 

Edit -- I didn't see DB's post. Not ensuite.

[Brian]

On stuff like this, I happily go with Pete's opinion, and John has a good background in this too. Yokoya is a good call I think. Mike Y. would also be able to give a good opinion.

Lovely work on all of it of course. That kashira is

 

Brian

[Pete Klein]

Mike Y. would also be able to give a god opinion.

 

Good way of putting it Brian...

[Ian]

These look like they may go well?

[Pete Klein]

A little off topic but I'm reading the book commentary that the shishi, "are not very different from those made by Yujo, except in minute details". To me the only thing in common is the theme. Goto Yujo would never have made shishi like those. These are from Fukushi sensei's book on Goto:

 

[Brian]

Mike Y. would also be able to give a god opinion.

 

Good way of putting it Brian...

Oh grief! Edited. If he sees that, I'll never live it down.

 

Brian

[John A Stuart]

Yokoya or Yanagawa would be extremely hard to differentiate, the subtleties so similar. After all Naomasa was deshi to Somin. Soyo's carving of the botan exactly as Somin would carve it, at least until Somin refused to carve botan anymore. Teruhide also owed a lot of inspiration to Somin. It all carries Somin's indelible stamp and likely Soyo's work. John

[Darcy]

I've been informed by someone who saw that set from Bonhams that it was all Soyo with the exception of the menuki. So, interesting indeed in terms of figuring out this kojiri and the style.

 

Thanks everyone for the help on this, it's interesting to go back to the beginning on the NMB from first principles.