石黒東南 - Do you have him in your books?

[Kurikata]

Hi,

 

I have a kozuka signed : 

石黒東南

do you have such an artist in your books?

Thank you.

 

Edited June 9 by Kurikata

[Kurikata]

[CSM101]

This is the official school. From Ishiguro no sekai.

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

A Nanako-Shi from the Masatsune line is shown here, c. Ansei, Tōnan, 9 from right.

 

 

[Spartancrest]

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u1224612069

  

 

Comparing the two: very, very close but not identical as far as I can tell. 

 

The reverse side is markedly different with the striation marks all over the place on Bruno's

[Kurikata]

Thank you Piers and Dale.

A second league guy in the Ishiguro tradition I guess.

[GreyVR]

1 hour ago, Spartancrest said:

Comparing the two: very, very close but not identical as far as I can tell.

I have heard that there would be 'recognized themes' produced over and over, very close to each other. I found out asking about a few 'close but different' fuchi with a weasel or badger with a bird in it's mouth.

There was one at auction and another with different feathers on the bird on a website front page.


Not the same, but so very close. 

Edited June 10 by GreyVR

[Matsunoki]

Both of these kozuka look like shiremono ie the front plate is a hand finished pressing with some weak gilding etc that is joined to a more substantial back plate. Probably no true inlay. Many were given outright fake mei that deceive because the back plate looks “right” ie its thick and the Mei looks good.

The same “stamp” is reused for the front plate but minor imperfections or different degrees of finishing can create minor differences. 

Would need in hand to be sure.

 

[Matsunoki]

Eg……this blemish would not exist on a genuine Nanako front plate.

 

[Matsunoki]

5 hours ago, GreyVR said:

have heard that there would be 'recognized themes' produced over and over,

There are hundreds of designs, subjects and themes in Japanese Art that have been used repeatedly over hundreds of years by multiple artists and school, not just in sword fittings but lacquer, scrolls, ceramics, bronze etc etc

The book “legends in Japanese Art” by Joly would help you. 

[Kurikata]

Dear Colin,

 

If i fully agree with you on your comments regarding my kozuka, why a tsubako would sign a fake mei by an almost unknown nanako-shi ?

I would expect a gimei ishiguro Masatsune or Masayoshi?

Edited June 10 by Kurikata

[Matsunoki]

6 minutes ago, Kurikata said:

 

If i fully agree with you on your comments regarding my kozuka, why a tsubako would sign a fake mei by an almost unknown nanako-shi ?

We can only speculate…..but maybe the fact that it had ANY Mei on it was good enough to enhance its value.

If it carried a “big name” Mei then it would be an obvious “fake” 

If this is your kozuka and you know how to check you can confirm what it is??

[Matsunoki]

Have a look at these coming up for sale. They look spectacular but I suspect that most, if not all, are shiremono. Many were actually made to use as cutlery handles. These have never been used so the patinas look stunning. But look closely….they have put two of the same one into the set. I’ve also got an example of that one.

On some you can just see the silver plating wearing off to reveal the base metal underneath ie they are not true takazogan but coloured pressings. Some are signed. 
It is difficult to believe…..but the Japanese were incredibly good at finding short cuts that looked almost identical to the “real deal”

 

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/lawrences-auctioneers-of-crewkerne/catalogue-id-srlawre10247/lot-343d7a6c-fe00-4dcc-9a17-b45900d47764

[GreyVR]

5 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

There are hundreds of designs, subjects and themes in Japanese Art that have been used repeatedly over hundreds of years by multiple artists and school, not just in sword fittings but lacquer, scrolls, ceramics, bronze etc etc

The book “legends in Japanese Art” by Joly would help you. 

I ordered one off amazon. While on the topic... can anyone recommend a good translation (ideally with an audiobook edition) of the "Tale of Genji?" With fiction the skill of the translator is as important as the skill of the original author. Genji's themes are often found on fittings, or so the descriptions of those fittings tell me.