Matsunoki

Cancel that. I’ve amazed myself and found him. Miboku. Thanks for looking!

Please may I ask for your help on this…… Many thanks Colin

Finding something is always better than nothing🙂. Methinks you might have come home with treasure other than netsuke?

….and how was that luck?🙂

I agree Uwe……that one you show above is much closer. Where did you find it? I’m looking in the wrong place! (And I’m no tsuba expert)

Thanks Uwe, Some Umetada work have an unusual feature (see above) where the Hirazogan is allowed to casually drift into the seppadai….as it does on mine. I haven’t seen that feature on Kaga tsuba (yet🙂) I’m certainly not saying mine is an Umetada piece but maybe a gentle nod in that direction? Just musing….

A recent acquisition. I thought the gold hirazogan inlay was rather nice and reminded me of some of the work of Umetada Myoju (rightly or wrongly) and the Umetada school in general (but perhaps a bit “stiffer”?) The inlay is done with remarkable precision and has a bit of a katakiribori painterly style about it. It seems exceptionally heavy in hand for its size suggesting a good quality shakudo plate. Out of interest, if the gold content in the shakudo was just 5% that alone would be nearly £700 at todays values! The maker, Tohdo (Ozaki Tohdo) is an Edo period artist around 1775-1800 per Haynes and he had some obvious talent. Hirazogan is generally regarded as a more demanding technique than Takazogan. There is no room for even minor errors as they become clearly evident when the smooth flush surface receives its final polishing. Anyone else see Umetada influences?….or am I barking up the proverbial tree?

Bit more research……..I think it probably is silk dyeing in the moonlight. My kind of romantic subject! Just behind the hut can be seen what might be some sort of bamboo drying (?) frame…a bit dilapidated? Apart from admiring the actual craftmanship, there is much fun to be had in trying to figure the subjects, yes? Thanks to you all.

Recent acquisition, a shakudo piece with a tranquil design depicting what? I would guess something to do with textile dyeing/production….washing silk in the stream? but I cannot think of any specific “legend” or story that relates. Maybe for a posh silk merchant’s wakizashi? Very heavy for its size suggesting decent quality shakudo. Any other suggestions? Mei is “Shokodo Mitsuchika” and I’ve asked in translation section for help with the lid inscription.

Can anyone please help me with this inscription? (Recent acquisition) I believe the right hand column is the makers name ……”Shokodo Mitsuchika”…..(which matches the mei on the tsuba) but what does the rest of it say? Many thanks in advance for your time and expertise.

Indeed I wish you enormous luck, I also wish I was there! As I’m sure you know, here in the UK there are very few opportunities to go to decent fairs or markets and when you do go, like we did last week, with about 400 “dealers” (interpret that word loosely) there was nothing worth even picking up. Fake netsuke everywhere, fake chinese porcelain, one chap proudly showed me his 2 inro…..both fake! Let’s not even mention fake swords and tsuba. Arghhhhhhh!!!!

Hi Piers, I do envy you……being able to wander around and accumulate such charming authentic examples that illustrate a time and a lifestyle now somewhat lost.

Enryushi Kunihide in style of Ikkansai Yoshihiro

I also “saw” Kunimitsu. Very tricky.

Just a guess…..personal “pomander” ie fragrance container?