Katsujinken Posted July 3, 2020 Report Posted July 3, 2020 With thanks to Kelly Schmidt, this beautiful suzuri-bako arrived today from Japan. I know it is dated Meiji 40 (1907), but the rest is beyond me. Anyone want to take a crack? 1 Quote
SteveM Posted July 3, 2020 Report Posted July 3, 2020 The handwriting is an address in Yamagata Prefecture 吹浦村字宿町 山形縣平氏 渋谷三郎 明治四拾年旧五月六日 新調 Fukuramura Aza Shuku-chō Yamagata-ken, Taira-shi Shibuya Saburō Meiji 40, (old calendar) May 6th Newly made Made or bought for Mr. Taira (presumably) by Saburō SHIBUYA 3 Quote
Katsujinken Posted July 3, 2020 Author Report Posted July 3, 2020 Wow, wizardry. Many thanks. :-) Quote
SteveM Posted July 3, 2020 Report Posted July 3, 2020 The writing on the ink sticks are just brands of ink. One of the brands (金不換 - Kinfukan) is still around. The other one comes from Anhui province in China. The last one (looks like a seal) says 横一氏 Yokoichi (Mr.) 1 Quote
Nobody Posted July 4, 2020 Report Posted July 4, 2020 The handwriting is an address in Yamagata Prefecture 吹浦村字宿町 山形縣平氏 渋谷三郎 明治四拾年旧五月六日 新調 Fukuramura Aza Shuku-chō Yamagata-ken, Taira-shi Shibuya Saburō Meiji 40, (old calendar) May 6th Newly made Made or bought for Mr. Taira (presumably) by Saburō SHIBUYA Allow me a little correction. 山形縣平民 (Yamagata-ken, heimin) 渋谷三郎 → Shibuya Saburo who is a commoner in Yamagata-ken. So, I think that Shibuya Saburo had the box made for himself. 4 Quote
Katsujinken Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Posted July 4, 2020 The writing on the ink sticks are just brands of ink. One of the brands (金不換 - Kinfukan) is still around. The other one comes from Anhui province in China. The last one (looks like a seal) says 横一氏 Yokoichi (Mr.) All three of those photos of the ink stick are of one ink stick, so perhaps this one was made for that company in China. A special order with a seal, maybe? In any case, I love these little details. Thanks for the help. Quote
Brian Posted July 4, 2020 Report Posted July 4, 2020 I have to find a way to reward these folks who do so much for us! Quote
SteveM Posted July 4, 2020 Report Posted July 4, 2020 Some web-surfing turned up a bit more information regarding the ink stick. The manufacturer of the stick is Hu Kai Wen (胡開文), a firm that still exists, in the Huizhou District of Anhui. From reading about it, it seems it is a high-quality ink, and the owner must have been a serious student of calligraphy. Kinfukan (金不換), which I mistook for a Japanese brand, is a Chinese phrase that means precious (or, literally, "better than money", "non-exchangeable, even with money"). I don't think this was a special made-to-order ink, but it makes me curious as to the journey it took from China to Yamagata. Edit: 徽 instead of 微 Reading about this company, it seems to be really unique. I leave some links here because they talk a bit about the factory and the ink. https://www.chinadiscovery.com/anhui/huangshan/hu-kaiwen-ink-factory.html https://www.inkston.com/stories/people/hu-kai-wen/ For Brian, I can only speak for myself, but helping and being helped here on NMB is its own reward. If I can get occasional tips like the above from Moriyama-san, or Morita-san, it makes it all the more worthwhile. Viva NMB. 4 Quote
Katsujinken Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Posted July 4, 2020 Wow, this is so fantastic. Thank you so much! Quote
DoTanuki yokai Posted July 5, 2020 Report Posted July 5, 2020 I bought something with similar ink stick some weeks ago on amazon. Its a cheap chinese calligraphy set. Quote
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