Double-signed tsuba confusion

[Deez77]

Happy new year!!

 

After getting some help in the translation section, I'm here to ask your opinions on a peculiar piece.

 

I picked up this Echizen Myochin Yoshihisa tsuba

which is also signed on the other side: "水戸士 Mito shi (Retainer of the Mito clan)" and

"高山千□造 Takayama...zo". Although the characters are not easy to read and not definitive, it seems to allude to a samurai from the Mito clan having/making/reworking it.

 

The question is why the second signature? I'm not sure I've seen a piece signed this way before, so I'm wondering if this indicates:

- a collaboration piece

- a case of signing to show ownership

- gimei signature(s)

- something else

 

If both signatures are legitimate, then this seems (to me) like a special piece given the rarity to find similarly double-signed pieces. I'm really curious and interested to hear from those with much more experience than me. Appreciate any input you have.

 

Damon

[Spartancrest]

Damon I have seen a few "collaborative" decorated tsuba - But not signed in this way. The ones I have seen have had inlay work with a signed plaque beside each piece of inlay. Would you believe there is a collaboration of SEVEN artist on one tsuba? Walters Art Museum 51.410   https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.410/  There was another collaborative tsuba here: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2005/Japanese-and-korean-works-of-art-l05860/lot.852.html

[Deez77]

11 minutes ago, Spartancrest said:

Would you believe there is a collaboration of SEVEN artist on one tsuba? Walters Art Museum 51.410   https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.410/

Happy new year Dale! Thanks for sharing. That 7-artist piece is really amazing. I love the little signed plaques. And the father-son collab makes sense.

 

As for my Myochin Yoshihisa, if you've not seen anything signed in a similar way, that is saying a lot. Not sure if that's good or bad at the moment. But I'll continue to research and do some light cleaning to see if the signature can come through more clearly. 

 

Damon