Help With Box Label Please

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

I can make out Higo and I'm sure I'll make a mess of the rest.  Help please.

Thank you,  Grey

[SteveM]

肥後

勘四郎初代

真鍮地

？？彫

 

Higo

Kanshiro, the first (shodai)

Shinchū-ji

?? hori (bori)

 

The two with the question marks are killing me. Can't figure out what they could be. I thought the first one was 鹿 or 唐 but neither of those fit with the final 彫 (I think). 

Usually we see something like 高彫 or some such.... driving me nuts. 

 

edit: maybe 唐草彫

but... feels weird to me. 

[k morita]

Steve,

 

Yes,it's "karakusa-bori" 唐草彫

[SteveM]

Whew - from looking at Kanshiro's other works, which feature a lot of karakusa, I felt I was close... but I was expecting karakusa-no-zu or something like that. 

[Grey Doffin]

Thanks guys,

I never would have gotten that on my own.

Grey