Curious about this Kozuka theme

[Deron Douglas]

Just curious, I see a lot of kozuka with this theme:

http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/500-549/05512.html

 

Same design, writing and layout... varying degrees of workmanship.

 

Anyone have an idea that this theme/design is about and why they are almost exactly the same?

 

Deron

[b.hennick]

Hi Deron:

I have several with the same theme. The maker usually worked in iron. He was identified in one Haynes catalogue - I can't remember the issue number. The seal character is his signature.

[Deron Douglas]

Hi Deron:

I have several with the same theme. The maker usually worked in iron. He was identified in one Haynes catalogue - I can't remember the issue number. The seal character is his signature.

 

Hi Barry,

Thanks. I was wondering because I have one in brass, and I seem to see them popping up all over the place. I thought maybe the characters were a prayer or something and the cicada had some meaning.

 

I think I remember reading about a "catalog" of sorts were craftsmen would "research" different designs and use it as a template. (trying to put it nicely... they copied the design).

 

Maybe that's why there are so many similar kozuka of this type.

 

BTW... I didn't get a chance to take a good look at your daisho at the time, but from what I could see I thought they were very beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

 

Cheers,

Deron

[Ford Hallam]

For what it's worth ( possibly only a couple of Yen), I'm not sure that seal could be accurately identified, it's that poorly "written". None of the characters really makes much sense to me. This, with the very poor quality of the workmanship ( I'm using the term loosely ) leads me to believe it's the work of a hobbyist working sometime in the last 50 years. I daresay there will be other opinions though :D

 

regards, Ford