Possible signed Ōmori Teruhide fuchi-kashira with copper/gold ise-ebi

[MRDN]

I recently inherited this matching fuchi-kashira set decorated with spiny lobsters on shakudō nanako. The fuchi appears to be signed 大森英秀 with a kaō, which I understand reads Ōmori Teruhide.

 

I found the Walters Art Museum tsuba, accession 51.121, attributed to Teruhide (https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.121/). It uses a strikingly similar combination: one copper lobster and one gold lobster on shakudō. I realize similarity of subject and signature is not evidence of authenticity, and I am particularly interested in whether the carving, nanako, construction, mei and kaō appear consistent with genuine Ōmori-school work.

 

The pieces came to me through an inherited collection. They have not been cleaned or altered.

 

I would appreciate opinions on:

1. Whether the signature and kaō appear plausibly executed.
2. Whether the workmanship is consistent with Teruhide or another Ōmori-school artist.
3. Any signs of gimei, casting or later manufacture.
4. Whether the set appears worth submitting to NBTHK or NTHK shinsa.

 

 

[Bazza]

Rotated mei.

BaZZa.

[Jake6500]

Thanks Barry for rotating the image...

 

Sorry to disappoint Danny but I think the mei does not stand up to minimal scrutiny...

For comparison here is a verified example of Teruhide's mei and Kao:

 

The angle of the strokes in your piece lack the sharpness you would expect in a confidently cut mei and in the latter half the forger seems to have given up altogether!

The workmanship itself on the piece is a bit better (at least good enough to attempt to forge a mei on) but I couldn't confidently attribute it to the Omori school.

 

Save your money on the shinsa fee, there is a 0% chance this would paper to Teruhide and probably not much greater chance of attributing Omori den either.

 

It's a nice little piece provided you didn't pay too much for it.

Edited July 18 by Jake6500

[Brian]

Nice piece, but not nearly Turuhide's quality. 
Here's some info: 

 

[MRDN]

Ah well.  Seemed too exciting to be true.  Thanks for the fast reply and careful look!

[SteveM]

Not Ōmori Teruhide, but another signature from the Ōmori school. Maybe Ōmori Terufusa (大森英房).

 

But even the name of a lesser-known smith from a big (popular) school ought to be looked at with some suspicion.