Fuchi

[Henry Wilson]

Hi all

 

I found this mei on a fuchi. I think it reads Sho Zui　or Masayuki　　政随

 

Can anyone guess whether it is shoshin or not based on the work of the design. The fuchi is in the shape of a basket with Ebisu's hat and fishing rod beside it. The detail is good, with a small chin strap on the hat, nicely detailed nodes on the bamboo rod and a little knot where the string is attached to the rod.

 

 

Also on a koji there is a character. Is it a KAO or possible an old sanskrit character?

 

The design refers to Hotei and depicts his bag and fan.

 

Thanks all

[docliss]

Dear Henry

 

A comparison of your mei with those on pp. 439a-d to 441a-d of Kinko Meikan looks quite encouraging but, without a detailed examination of the pieces, I would hate to commit myself on a judgement. The character on the kashira looks very much like a kao, but I have been unable to find one used by this artist. Does any member have access to such a kao?

 

Regards, John L.

[Henry Wilson]

Hi John

 

Thank you for the reply. The following kashira is from the koshirae. Very nice detail and maybe made by the same hand.

 

If possible could you attach a scan / pic of the said mei for comparison?

 

Regards

 

Henry

[Brian]

Henry,

That is a very nice koshirae indeed, and I am glad you did decide to purchase it.

Search the forum for "shozui" as there have been quite a few posts on him and some shoshin examples posted. Whether by him or not, (and with this maker we would likely assume gimei unless proven otherwise) the fittings are very nice indeed.

Good purchase imho.

 

Brian

 

(You think it would survive the boat trip if you were to bring it with on Fri?)

[sencho]

Grrrrrr

 

Hate you Henry!!!! Next time I am in town, I am going to get you drunk and nick it off of you!!

 

 

by the way it looks good to me.... PK put some examples up on another thread the other week... very nice...

[docliss]

Henry, I am afraid that my attempts to scan the relevant pages in Kinko Meikan have produced very poor images. Perhaps another member can provide you with more acceptable ones?

 

John L.

[IanB]

Henry, I may be pointing out the obvious, but as a total ignoramous on fittings I was impressed by the quality. At first glance the mounts look rather eclectic but then it dawned on me that they all depict attributes: for Ebisu, Daikoku and Hotei. Very nice.

Ian Bottomley

[Henry Wilson]

Why thank you all!! I am very pleased that you like it. For your pleasure and amusement more pics. Could do with a lacquer job sometime, but not urgent. I want to get a kozula that has a biwa on it as the theme of the koshirae is the seven lucky gods (shichikukujin)

 

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/seven.shtml

 

And Benzaiten is missing. She is sometimes represented with water and I found a nice kozuka of a boat full of people at the DTI (thanks Guido) which will do but might not be the best.

 

I will search Shozui soon.

[docliss]

Henry, I stupidly thought that the kojiri that you posted was a pair to the signed fuchi; hence my mistaken assumption that it was, also, possible Shōzui work. This does appear to bear a gold lacquer shumei, and the closest match to it that I can find is illustrated as a kao of Yasuchika IV on Y10 of Joly’s Shōsankenshu. Not, you understand, that I am offering this as an attribution!

 

Regards, John L.