Matsunoki

I love stories told like this. Can’t help with the Mei - but well done.

….autumn maples by Yabu Meizan https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/355854/a-Japanese-satsuma-baluster-vase-by-yabu-meizan

Hi David, your bowl is indeed “Satsuma” pottery (not porcelain as many think). It is very late Meiji, possibly Taisho and was manufactured in some quantity for the export market. The crackle glazing is deliberate. The use of autumn maples in overglaze decoration is a direct crib from the late works of the highly rated artist Yabu Meizan who utilised them in greatly simplified (and thus cheaper!) works later in his production. However I think you may have get the signature wrong….I believe it is Kozan (see attached image). There were several studios using the signature Kozan so not possible to be more precise. It would be the work of a small “factory” rather than by a single known artist. Best. Colin

Great to see you back Dale.

My incredibly tolerant wife has accepted all manner of “stuff” entering our abode over 40+ years but has definitely and consistently drawn the line at Samurai armour which is a great shame because I’d love a suit “to frighten off intruders”…..but she still won’t buy that as a reason. Any tips? 🙂 (I did get away with couple of Kabuto but they’ve found a new home recently)

I do believe so but this seller is usually trustworthy….I’m not accusing him of anything but yes Justin, you’ve got a point there, well spotted. But could be that the nakago ana has simply been enlarged…..it does look that way especially at the mune end.

A papered example!!! https://www.ebay.com/itm/276913371769?itmmeta=01JPHAMPW3RX3QWHTF3649PFKY&hash=item407952ba79:g:IJYAAOSwb1FnxAju

Just to illustrate why I tried to explain re Nagoya mono……..Someone is going to get caught. It is not shakudo, it is in terrible condition and it was not good to start with!! https://www.ebay.com/itm/276913371769?itmmeta=01JPHAMPW3RX3QWHTF3649PFKY&hash=item407952ba79:g:IJYAAOSwb1FnxAju

Piers, I hope I’m wrong as well. I just said what I saw without thinking. Feel a bit rotten now. Sorry.

…..in fact looking at the scroll I think you can see two pins that have been used to crudely attach it?

Maybe not often but I’ve seen a few. It’s a quick way to add visual impact without all the trouble of inlaying. Sometimes you find Kamon added this way or menuki adapted and added using this quick cheap method. The method was widely used during Meiji on metalwork, often it’s difficult to actually spot if it is done well but the quality of the “add on” can give a clue.

Piers, do you think that it is a tsuba that has had its shape severely altered?…..ie maybe it was larger, possibly square?

The figure does not look inlaid. It looks “stuck on” or sometimes referred to as onlaid often done with one or two short metal pins with a pitch like filler. Personally I think the figure has been added later to what was a plain iron tsuba.

Hmmmm. Don’t buy from him again! Glad you can get your money back.

As said above…..modern cast item. Whoever sold you this as 18thC clearly either hasn’t got a clue or is deliberately mis-describing things……in my opinion.

Can’t find anything similar on eBay which is a good sign! Usually if fake they crop up multiple times.

Tricky but I’d go Japanese.

Methinks we were vistited by a returning cuckoo

It’s old(ish) and genuine but not great quality. Subject is Kanzan and Jittoku. Google will tell you all about them. Can’t really tell but the white and green could just paint that someone has embellished them with?

Haven’t read it all but this topic has many promising links in it re Kabutowari

Difficult to tell exactly what has been done from these images or what the underlying work depicts but, iron fittings can be found lacquered for two fairly common reasons (and probably a few less common) 1. to prevent rusting or disguise rusting (many samurai were very impoverished) 2. to tone them down to a more shakudo type of finish perhaps to apparently match an odd shakudo fuchi. I have also seen hastily assembled “Satsuma Rebellion” swords with lacquered fittings including tsuba.

From these images it looks like a plastic/resin fake. The quality is nowhere near Japanese workmanship. Sorry! I doubt better images will improve its chances.

Can we please see the underside?

Imo…..Most likely an Ox given that they are a zodiac animal and often encountered in many Japanese art genres including sword fittings. Looks like it might have been given a “paint/lacquer coat” to imitate Shakudo and gold. Bit carelessly done when you look around the edges.

Hi Brian, genuinely honoured that you would even consider me for such a role having only been on here a short time. Trouble is I would not describe myself as being very moderate, I’d probably end up recommending myself to be banned. I would prefer to stick to participation and leave moderation to impartial level headed folk. Always happy to help in any informal way. Best. Colin…and of course good luck on the health front.