Ron STL Posted July 12, 2014 Report Posted July 12, 2014 I am looking for a book example showing the mei of Naotsugu, said to be an early name of shodai Mishina Tango no kami Kanimichi. Info is in the Meikan p.656 (my edition) and in Fujishiro (translation page) p. 87...I don't recall the Japanese text page number at the moment. I have a beautiful ken signed: Kiishu ju Fujiwara Naotsugu, papered, Kanbun era. (once owned by Dean Hartley). Ubu ken still showing ubu-ba on both edges. Hamon begins yakiotoshi ~1.5 cm above machi. I've found only one Naotsugu from Kanbun listed, but have never found an example of his mei. Nor do I find any mention of his living in Kii Province. If anyone can post (or email) me copy of an example, that would be great! I've expired my personal references. Attached is a photo of my ken, along with a rubbing of the nakago. Sorry for the lack of better photos, but for now, the better ones are "lost" at the moment. What happens when you try to get too organized! Wonderful jigane in this ken. Ron STL Quote
Ron STL Posted July 13, 2014 Author Report Posted July 13, 2014 One correction to my description. The shinsa team dated the ken to TENWA 1681, not Kanbun as I wrote earlier. Ron STL Quote
Ron STL Posted July 15, 2014 Author Report Posted July 15, 2014 Thanks Chris, but this link shows the early mei (Naotsugu) of sandai Naomichi c.1864. The ken should be the early mei of shodai Mishina Naomichi, c.1681. Maybe another example of this mei will turn up one day. The hamon is so unlike what one would expect from Mishina school. It could be a totally different Naotsugu for all I know. I'll attach a copy of the origami. I don't think I'm missing anything on the origami and is clearly dates the ken at 1681. Ron STL 1 Naotsugu origami.doc Quote
DirkO Posted July 15, 2014 Report Posted July 15, 2014 Ron, Fujishiro's says that Naotsugu refers to Mishina Naomichi - this is in fact Naomichi Mishina (1716) where it is stated that he was called Naotsugu. This is the nidai Naomichi and not Kanemichi who signed Naomichi early in his career. The 1681 on this unfamiliar origami seems to be ok if the general working time was 1716 and he signed Naotsugu in his (very) early career. Kanemichi shodai, who also signed Naomichi in his early days, is list 1648 which is too early to be your Tenwa guy. Also see nihontocraft.com: Naomichi, 3rd generation, 1716, Settsu, Settsu ju Naomichi 摂州住直道, Oite Banshu Mishina Tango (no) Kami Fujiwara Naomichi 於播州 三品 丹後守藤原直道. Son of the nidai Tango (no) Kami Kanemichi, early name Naotsugu 直次. Lived in Osaka of Setsu and moved to Banshu. Worked in similar styles as his father. Quote
Ron STL Posted July 15, 2014 Author Report Posted July 15, 2014 Thanks Dirk. Checking Fujishiro, shodai in 1672, nine years before the ken was dated to. The origami was from the Toensha (Japan) headed by Kosuke Murakami, with Dr. Suiken Fukunaga. The NCJSC hosted in August the 1976 Token Taikai and shinsa. Ron STL Quote
cabowen Posted July 15, 2014 Report Posted July 15, 2014 Sorry Ron, I should have looked a bit closer... Quote
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