Small Reputation - No Masterpiece

[BIG]

Hi

 

Barry ( Bazza ) Showed us his Shinshinto Nagashige masterwork. His polisher Andrew wrote,

 

it's seldom that a small Reputation Smith like Nagashige made such a very high quality blade.

 

Is this an only shinshinto example, more than koto or shinto blades?

 

Best Regards

[paulb]

Hi peter

It is often said that all schools and smiths have their masterpieces and certainly I have seen a number of blades that seem a level above what you might expect from a given school or smith. I think you see it more often in Shinto and shinshinto work simply becasue there are more of them around in good condition. Lesser koto work was either destroyed in use or worn away. so relatively speaking only the better work was cherished and preserved in really good condition.

[nagamaki - Franco]

 

It is often said that all schools and smiths have their masterpieces and certainly I have seen a number of blades that seem a level above what you might expect from a given school or smith. 

 

A great reason not to be a mei collector, attend sword shows etc. to look at as many examples as possible, plus carefully read the kantei descriptions. This holds true for the better smiths as well, one might have to look at half a dozen blades or more before seeing one that stands above the rest. But then the trick becomes knowing when you're seeing the better example. 

[paulb]

Franco

you are absolutely right. I confess I have seen blades attributed to top smiths that I found as appealing as a yard of pump water. I am still not sure whether it was simply my lack of understanding or the smith having an off day. But I have then seen work by the same man that I believed absolutely fabulous.

As an example I remember seeing an o-suriage Juyo Rai Kunitoshi wakazashi at a well known saleroom some years ago that seemed devoid of any activity. Soon after I bought an o-suriage Enju piece that I still have and which I regard as absolutely stunning. Of the two I know which I would prefer to have and it wasnt the famous smith's work.

. Each sword has to be judged on its merits and against your own personal preferences.

(BTW I have since seen several Rai Kunitoshi works that confirmed my original high opinion of this master smith)