[Nathan Reed]

If you couldn't find a picture with the symbols I can give you a hand drawn sketch. However as you can see there is only half of the symbols visible, I've no idea what the bottom half looks like. Still a translation would be fantastic.

That was quick, Nathan. Well done!

Here is the whole image:




the photo was taken from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Im...se-madonna.jpg

[Nathan Reed]

Thanks! By the way, in that photo, the hand rail is right in front of the words. My sketch only has the top half because the rail covered the bottom.

Yes. You are correct. In the enlarged photo some of the letters are visible.

[effisk]

there you go

[effisk]

I guess it goes something like "Mother of God".

[effisk]

Originally Posted by effisk

I guess it goes something like "Mother of God".

華の聖母マ ? Our Lady of ...?

My Japanese level is near zero and I'm not sure of the last two characters.

[waimeamomi]

Our Japanese teacher who is also from Japan, (as opposed to our previous one who was named Timothy O'Connor) says it means "flowery sacred mother" in the literal translation. My guess is that would make it something like "madonna of the flowers."

[Heidi]

Originally Posted by waimeamomi

Our Japanese teacher who is also from Japan, (as opposed to our previous one who was named Timothy O'Connor) says it means "flowery sacred mother" in the literal translation. My guess is that would make it something like "madonna of the flowers."

Is this a case where "flower" may also be "rose?"

[CLICLASP]

It seems that infos still do not appear in front of name, again

CliClasp

http://www.versatile-jewellery.com
http://www.cliclasp.com/story_pearl_through_ages.html