Signed jumonji yari

[Sami-Jo]

 

 

I’m reaching out in hopes of learning more about a rare yari that has been in my family’s possession for many years.

 

This piece belonged to my late father and stood in the corner of my parents’ bedroom throughout my childhood and has now stood in the corner of my bedroom for over a decade. He received it as a young boy in the 70’s in upstate New York.

 

At the time of a prior appraisal, I was unable to remove the spearhead to reveal the tang. Only recently, I was able to disassemble it and found a clearly engraved mei. was told it was a piece made special for someone of high status like an emperor or his guards rather than for battlefield.

 

The yari itself is 7 feet in length, with an 8-inch spearhead. The shaft features several intricate details, including: 

 

• Gold lacquer inlays that appear to depict a Maru ni Mitsuba Aoi, a chrysanthemum-style flower with central dots and a dragon- or kirin-like creature with a long, curling snout.

• Heart-shaped cutouts in the metalwork fittings.

• Carved red grips beneath the fittings.

• Remnants of 3 paper labels or stamps one of which includes a partial number and another with a visible patterned design maybe from past log of auction or collection.

 

Would like to be connected with someone who can help me with the process of getting it authenticated, give me any info they may know about it and find any potential buyers.

 

[nulldevice]

I believe the translation you received is wrong. 

I'm seeing 奥州会津住下坂 - Oshu Aizu ju Shimosaka

 

There are quite a few yari that were signed this way. 

https://www.aoijapan.jp/槍：無銘-2/

https://www.touken-world.jp/search/19322/

https://www.choshuya.co.jp/senrigan-1/平三角直槍　銘　奥州会津住下坂/808

[Jussi Ekholm]

I believe the signature actually is 奥州会津住下坂 - Ōshū Aizu jū Shimosaka.

[Bugyotsuji]

The Shimosaka smiths moved to northern Kyushu in preparation for the invasion of Korea by Hideyoshi. Would this Mei indicate the Yari as being pre 1590?

 

Although one of these spears in full polish is potentially worth decent money, a polishing by a proper Japanese Togishi would be very expensive, even if you could find one willing to undertake such a difficult task as a Jumonji polish. And you would need to source an iron neck ring and appropriate saya sheath.

[Sami-Jo]

42 minutes ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

I believe the signature actually is 奥州会津住下坂 - Ōshū Aizu jū Shimosaka.

Thank you so much for this information. Greatly appreciated.

[Brian]

Unpolished Jumonji yari don't fetch big money, as the cost of polishing is prohibitive. This one is very rough. But they are popular, and most of us love them. Shipping is however always a hue problem. I'd have a wild guess at this being worth around $1000 to $1200 at a rough guess.

[Sansei]

6 hours ago, Sami-Jo said:

Thank you so much for this information. Greatly appreciated.

Samantha, 

 

It's to your credit that you contacted the experts on this forum to get an opinion. I think that a lot of people get misled into thinking they have found or inherited something worth much more than it really is; often by watching programs like Antiques Roadshow (not that you have, of course). I paid $4000 to have a sword polished recently. I was afraid that the sword was not worth that much, but afterwards an expert appraiser valued it at $25000 retail. So the restoration was worth it for me. Good luck.