Looking for translation on a few museum pieces

[Spartancrest]

A museum collection has a sample of tsuba that have no translations - I was hoping to send that information so it might be available for the future. Any assistance is very welcome.

 

 

[uwe]

Let’s begin…

 

4 “忠時作” (Tadatoki saku, Akasaka school)

5 “就信” + kao (Narinobu, late Umetada school)

 

1, 2 and 3 I can partly read, but struggling with one kanji on each at the moment…

 

[Spartancrest]

Uwe, I think 3 is "Soju Chokumura" Soten school?

 

Number 6 - could it be Kamiyoshi school? One like it in the Compton Collection.

Edited January 3, 2025 by Spartancrest
More history

[uwe]

Seems so “植村宗壽口“. But can’t get the rest…

 

For 2. I have “会陽正阿弥藤助信忠” (Aiyo Shōami Tousuke Nobutada). The first kanji has a different writing! 

[Bugyotsuji]

會津 is the old way of writing 会津 as in Aizu Wakamatsu. 會陽 may refer to the general area, (although there are other places in Japan which used these Kanji ‘Kaiyo’ or ‘Aiyo’). But Aizu Shoami are well-known.

[Shugyosha]

1 hour ago, Spartancrest said:

 

 

Number 6 - could it be Kamiyoshi school? One like it in the Compton Collection.

 

Looks like it starts with 城州 Joshu or maybe 武州 Bushu.

 

Good Spot Piers, I couldn't sort out that first kanji. I agree with Uwe for the remainder.

[uwe]

Hi John, 

I agree with 城州 about the 6. but still no success with the rest of the inscription. I can make out single characters, but can’t get them together…

 

What you guys think about 1. “江戸住重行作” ?? I have strong doubts about the red one….

[Shugyosha]

Hi Uwe,

I'm honestly struggling with the first one. Edo seems more plausible than anything I've come up with, definitely Shige, but the final kanji is a mystery to me. Back to number 6:

 

城州愛宕郡 – Jōshu Otagi gun

口口住保高

 

I think the artist's name is Yasutaka but I'm not confident about the "taka" and the first two kanji on the left have me beaten for now.

[uwe]

Yes, well spotted -Otagi gun- 👍

 

About the craftsman, I’ve played with “保慶” (Yasuyoshi) with little conviction, though…

BTW, the character above 住 might be 束…?

[Shugyosha]

Yes, I hesitated as I couldn’t see the top cross stroke but there are villages with that kanji in Otagi gun. I’ll have another look on a while with fresh eyes and see what leaps out. 

[Shugyosha]

Actually there aren't: I was confusing this kanji 京 with higashi and now I look at it again, I think you are right - if I blow the picture right up I can just see where the top cross stroke cuts the centre vertical stroke, so we need something to go with 束. Straining my eyes and imagination I think I can see 各 as the right part of the kanji and 洛東 Sakutou pops up in a search related to Kyoto tourism, so maybe that's the top part of this side? I've tried googling the signature as a whole but nothing popped up so I'm not overly confident...

 

[uwe]

Guess we getting closer…me and my eyes are tired. Next try tomorrow…🥱

[SteveM]

3 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

洛東 Sakutou

Rakutō (East Kyōto). 

So Kyōto is the right location 城州愛宕郡洛東住 (Jōshū Otagi-gun, Rakutō-jū) but I can't find the smith. 

I also suppose its Yasutaka 保高, but Wakayama is a bit inconclusive on it. He lists two smiths using those kanji, but doesn't mention location for either, or typical mei styles. He just notes that both are late Edo. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Quick note that Jōshū 城州 here refers to 山城 Yamashiro in Kyōto.

 

No. 6 may be 保高 Yasutaka.(?)

No. 3 The last Kanji must be the old word for sei in sakusei.

製　作製　(作成) made by

[Spartancrest]

You guys do this for FUN?   - [I am totally in awe - I am also totally dyslexic when it comes to reading Japanese!]

Thank you all so much for the effort! 

[Nobody]

No. 6

It looks 保廣 - Yasuhiro to me. (???)

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Agreeing now with Koichi San! 

[uwe]

4 hours ago, Nobody said:

No. 6

It looks 保廣 - Yasuhiro to me. (???)

 

It’s like with the forest and the trees….if you stare too long at something 🤓

 

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Dale,

That was fun - got any more?