Motoshige

元重

1 ranked works

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JūyōVol. 16, No. 131 · Tantō

Overview

This Motoshige is known from a single designated at the 16th session, signed Bishu Motoshige in rather elongated characters cut with a fine chisel, the last character cut off midway where the tang was shortened. The published sources observe that its manner of signature is entirely different from that of the Motoshige blades dated Karyaku, Kenmu and . They nonetheless find that its workmanship can at a glance be appraised as Motoshige.

From the style of the calligraphy the published sources place the blade close to the Oei era. Although the do not state it explicitly, they write, it should be appraised as the work of the so-called second-generation Motoshige. The attribution therefore rests on the signature's hand and on the workmanship, not on a date or on a generation recorded in the reference works.

The is with a , somewhat wide, with , 26.9 cm long. The is tending slightly to stand, and a rises along the edge. The is a small mixed with , with and , and the is bright and clear. The runs in and becomes pointed, with a somewhat long turn-back. A is carved on the and on the . The tang is almost , cut down at the tip to a shallow , with file marks and one .

The published sources regret that the blade lacks a date but count it a valuable piece of reference material. No provenance is recorded for it.

Historical importance

Where Motoshige stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.

随一
Foremost
屈指
Leading
有数
Major
著名
Notable

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Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin—
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken1

Elite Standing

Other artisans of the Motoshige school

  1. 1.Motoshige元重3 for sale153designated
  2. 2.Motoshige元重1designated
  3. 3.Motoyuki元行1designated

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