Help with signature on sword Tsuba

[Geoff Ward]

Hello all I was hoping to get some help with the signature on this older sword Tsuba.It is an interesting piece and I am curious to learn more about it.

Regards,Geoff

[Robin]

Hi

I think Leeds amours will identify the sword smith for you if you send them a rubbing of the signature. They will tell you how old it is and were in japan it was made . Its a nice peace its got that elegant yet simple look that Japanese do so well.
If that's any help

[Robin]

Hi just seen your from Louisiana so i should say that's The Royal Armouries in Leeds in the UK

[ghp95134]

甫掃
Hosō

Phew! That was a tough one. Found him in Markus Sesko's book, p.136: Genealogies of Japanese Tsuba and Tôsô-kinkô Artists. (Edit Note: you might have to click and expand the GoogleBook link for p.137 to fully open.)

Hopefully one of the WR members can tell you more, now that the maker is identified. I can't find anything else about him on Google.


--Guy

[Geoff Ward]

Thank you very much ghp95134 and Robin these give me a starting point perhaps some of the more knowledgeable Nihonto collectors will have some additional information on this Artist Hoso.... and his style of work.

[ghp95134]

Looking around some more ... the people at Nihonto Message Board say that 甫掃 is pronounced "Masanobu". [Note: not to be confused with 正信 "Masanobu"]
Here's a fuchi with his signature and kao:

Hoso is read as Masanobu (Matsumoto Masanobu). 松本 甫掃
Edo period artist in Shinshu province.

According to that image clip, his civil name was:
松本喜兵衛
Matsumoto Kihei
(1780)


--Guy

[Geoff Ward]

Thank you very much! your help is always greatly appreciated! Geoff

[BOB COLEMAN]

Signatures of kodogu artisans are written and pronounced differently than kanji used by swordsmiths. Congratulations to Guy on getting this mei correct.

[ghp95134]

Bob,

I have a hard enough time with swordsmiths .... dunno if I wish to venture into the kodogu field.



--Guy