Unknown makers

[kissakai]

I have quite a few tsuba makers where the maker is unknown

A resent one being:

Nobukuni Masatoshi 信國 正壽

I have quite a few reference books but found nothing

Apart from an internet search is there another resource I can use?

I know maker from say 1800+ can be problematic

 

[SteveM]

Do you use Wakayama's reference? I guess its the most comprehensive one around, but a bit user unfriendly for non-Japanese speakers.It sounds like two different art names. Nobukuni doesn't sound like a typical surname. 

[kissakai]

Thanks Steve

I do have the Wakayama book but it's not in there

I hadn't though about the name

[MauroP]

Markus Sesko's "Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists" lists 3 Nobukuni and 5 Masatoshi entrances, but never together...

[kissakai]

Mauro, I did see that in Sesko's book

So far a mystery

 

[Robert S]

I wonder if there was some collaboration there - two makers.

[kissakai]

I wondered about that

A knowledgeable friend did say the name could be correct but as yet unkown

 

[MauroP]

On 9/28/2025 at 4:10 AM, Robert S said:

I wonder if there was some collaboration there - two makers.

Usually the two collaborating artisans signed each on the opposite sides of the tsuba. What about your tsuba, Grev?

[kissakai]

I have tsuba that are signed both sides so I know what you mean