Old and older flute hanks!

Hi, Chuck...

I'm not sure about the bottom hanko, but the top appears to be a Gyokusui Kono. I have the exact same stamp on mine, which looks a little different from the normal Kono stamp. Mine was purchased from Stan Richardson, who bought it through Ronnie Seldin some 25 years ago. Ronnie is extremely familiar with most/all of the Gyokusui stamps, so I have little doubt that is what it is. Maybe it was a worn stamp used at that time, or whatever, but one blow affirms the maker. I have owned many Kono's, and this one is far and above the best.

If the price is right, buy it!

I have bought the flute at a good price. it's in amazing condition, it's been sitting in a closet for the last ~25years. Bore is shiny as a new flute. What made convinced me to buy it was how it played. When I tested the flute I had not even warmed up and it played amazing! I've been playing it everyday now and it's great. The only work I did on it was a thin application of hard lacquer on the joint and now it's perfect.

Great find! Should really be a keeper. Happy blowing.

Interesting, I had these two flutes in the shop once.



The bottom stamp is like a family crest I was told. They're both the same. The top individual names are Gyokusan (left) and Gyokusui (right). I was told Gyokusui was Gyokusan's brother. Does anyone know differently?
- Perry

Bas has some general info from Ronnie on his site at http://shakuhachibas.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-sale-18-kono-gyokusui.html

I would love to know the exact Gyokusui father/son/brother contribution for this particular stamp (mine is attached, same as the two above):

Your bottom Kanji reads san or zan - mountain. As does Chuck's.

Hmmm... I'm still confused About half way down Monty's page at http://www.shakuhachi.com/i-News.html he references:

"Restoration of Gyokusan 1.8' - The Travels and Journeys and Near-Death Experience of a Kono Gyokusan Shakuhachi... " Same stamp as mine/Chuck's, and the one you had.

I've only heard "Kono" Gyokusui referenced, but I am guessing Kono Gyokusan/zan IS the brother?

Perry, you mention in your first post: "The bottom stamp is like a family crest I was told. They're both the same." But then above you reference: "Your bottom Kanji reads san or zan". So, the square is the family crest, which includes Gyokusui Kono, Gyokuzan/san Kono, Getsudo, etc., yet it still has Zan/San mixed in there?

Please forgive my inability to fully understand the kanji vs. intricate family lineage. Just trying to grasp the full body of their stamps, relative to each maker, as I know a few other people would like to (I have been asked before).

Sorry for the confusion. The family crest I am referring to is the bottom square shaped design that both hanko share. It's probably more like a family Inkan or stamp.
The Kanji are the individual Japanese characters above the squares. Each has two kanji above the square. In my photo above, the one on the right reads Gyoku sui and the one on the left reads Gyoku san (or Zan). Of those two Kanji, the one below reads Zan. Hope this is clear...at least at far as my posting is concerned