Mei on tsuba

[LeonKr]

Can anyone translate the mei on this tsuba.

Thanks in advance.

 

Regards Leon.

[ROKUJURO]

Leon,

it is a KAO. Difficult to read.

[SteveM]

Not a kaō, but a kin'in (gold seal). This one says 敏 (toshi). Maybe indicative of an artist called Tetsugendō Masaraku, who used a similar motif?

[uwe]

I have my difficulties with the “kin’in”. But the same was used by “Tetsugendō Naofusa” (鉄元堂尚房)!

[ROKUJURO]

Steve,

I always thought a KAO was a general term for a seal. What is the difference between a KAO and a KIN'IN - except the material?

[vajo]

Kao is not a seal Jean. Kao is a single sign what i learned. 

[Brian]

Kokuin?

[SteveM]

Kao is a signature. A calligraphic rendering of a kanji, individual to the writer. 

Kin'in is a gold seal. Normally it refers to a physical chop or block (made of gold). The characters for the word "kin'in" are literally gold (or golden) seal - 金印. The gold chop is pressed into ink or vermilion, and then pressed on to the document requiring the seal. In tosogu, it refers to this gold-inlay made to look like a seal impression. 

Kokuin (刻印) is a carved seal that is used to make an impression or an embossed mark. We call it a "hot seal" on this board.

[ROKUJURO]

Thank you for the clarification, Steve!

[LeonKr]

Thanks gents for your input on this one.

 

Leon.

[Peter Bleed]

This was, indeed, a useful discussion. Thank you all!

Peter