Signed Fuchikashira

This is a Fig Ivy Fuchikashira I recently bought in order to mount with my first Nihonto. The signature is Hishashi Akira or Hitoshi Masa, but I can't read it. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to post some pics for those who are interested. My apologies for posting the seller's pics, but I will amend posting pictures of the whole project as soon as it is finished.

height: 3.3/3.8cm

width: 1.8/2.1cm

Thickness: 0.9/1.4cm

Weight: 15/28g

And some more pictures

And even more pictures.

Dear John,

Is that not MASATOSHI with kao? Haynes lists four artists of this name using the seven-stroke kanji for ‘toshi’, but none using this combination with the fourteen-stroke one. The Baur catalogue lists Tsuchiya Toshimasa, with the mei illustrated on #623, and notes that he sometimes reversed these kanji. But the illustrated kao is quite unlike that on yours.

Can one assume, therefore, that this is work by a skilful but unlisted artist of that name, working in the C19? Incidentally, is your fuchi nanako-ji?

Regards, John L.

My apologies for the poor quality pictures. I sent them to my mounter as soon as I got them, without taking pictures of my own. Both fuchi and kashira are made of shakudo and have a fine nanako texture.

At the sellers site it wrote 蔦図縁頭　銘　昌寿（花押）and I think it is Hitoshi, but my kanji reading is really bad.

I agree with Dr. John L.-

Masatoshi w/ kao.

I cannot see the kao very well. I see 4 listed with this Masa version. Process of elimination:

Haynes H04672.0 Signature example in Wakayama V.1 pg 328 ***Not a match to ref. sign.***

Haynes H04673.0 Student of Kikouoka Mitsumasa "Kao unrecorded"

Haynes H04674.0 Second son of 4th gen Yasuchika (Baur Catalog) *** Will look up, but Doc J. says not a match***

Haynes H04675.0 Haynes Auction (March 1983)- Presumably Book #5 a nananko f/k w/ gold inlay

Well, I just found that Catalog #5 of my Haynes Catalogs is missing. Someone is going to die. *Ahem*.

So #72 and presumably #74 are presumably out.

Notes: #72 Signed Masa Toshi with the more complex toshi. On NBTHK papers and Haynes, seems listed as simpler form.

#74 Seems this would most likely be our guy, but no reference signatures for him in Wakayama. Strange.

Will check Baur Book, but that is no gurantee of authenticity. Baur is great resource, but not unquestionable.

#73 Best you can do is look up Mitsumasa work and compare- not very accurate.

#75 Well, maybe someone with Haynes Catalog #5 can try and find and post the right image.

I'm off to find what the Hells happened to my copy and maybe will look up Mitsumasa work later.

Nice fuchi/kashira, but as John L implied: seems a talented unknown for now.

My thanks for the informative posts. In parallel I will try making my own study.

It mustn't be a leading artist, because the set was affordable by me, Japanese dealers ensure that you get what you pay for :D , It is of great quality nevertheless.