Netsuke Mei 高次?

[Bugyotsuji]

Does this look like Takatsugu/Kōji?

 

Thanks in advance.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

よろしくお願いします！

[TETSUGENDO]

Piers,

 

To put things in context, would some pictures of the piece be possible?

 

-S-

[Bugyotsuji]

Steven, in this case I do not think context will help. Cockerel on a drum, a fairly popular theme in J art around Bakumatsu and early Meiji. Black wood with silver fittings, rather worn and difficult to shoot.

 

Just trying to track down the Netsuke-Shi, who may not actually be recorded.

[TETSUGENDO]

Thanks for the Pics.   Actually Piers, context is always important, after a direct listing becomes elusive.  We should always remember that many artist used contracted signatures, even though a record may not exist.   Considering style, age, material, can help us eliminate, or entertain the aforementioned possibilities.  Nice piece BTW.

 

-S-

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks, Steve, yes, and many artists had two or three signatures. This one does have something about it, but I am floundering at the moment. I gave this a whirl about six months ago and gave up, but second time lucky? The answer may lie in carving school and signature style.

[Bugyotsuji]

Bonhams has this one by Tametaka. Proportions and concept somewhat similar.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19253/lot/2060/

[Bugyotsuji]

And the image of Kankodori (cockerel/rooster & drum) was given wings by Tokugawa Hidetada after the two great Osaka Castle battles ended in 1615.

http://www.tokyo-jinjacho.or.jp/goshahou/諫鼓鶏/

[TETSUGENDO]

Piers, let's hope he lands here and brings news on this perplexing signature.

 

-S-

[SteveM]

I think you nailed it with Takatsugu 高次. 

[Bugyotsuji]

I see K Morita has liked your post, Steve, so now I can rest a little easier. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Piers,

 

I recall INS (netsuke not immigration) wasn't very helpful, If you haven't tried already enter...netsukeonline.org...in your browser.   It would be nice to add some biographical info to that name, maybe they can help.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks Steve, I’ll have a look.

[Tanto54]

Hi Piers,

 

Looks like the same Netsuke-Shi that Meinertzhagen has listed as "Takaharu (?)" (he also mentions that the signature was misread at Yamanaka's as "Takatsugu").  Here's the entry no. 1212A from the Meinertzhagen Card Index

 

. 

[TETSUGENDO]

Good find George,  a shame the listing is so vague.  Seems FM didn't know anything about this carver either.   Wonder what our Japanese language scholars will make of Takaharu?.

 

-S-

[Bugyotsuji]

Interesting find, George. Thank you.

On the plus side is the similar dark wood material, but detracting from that are signature problems. If it is the same artist, why would he use two different forms of Taka-, ie 高 and 髙？Did he switch to 高 later in life?

[Bugyotsuji]

Just posted this over on the INS forum:

 

“Trying to get my thoughts in order here.

Just had a sort of potential follow-up breakthrough on this, thanks to ‘George’ on another site. Lazarnick mentions a ‘Takaharu’ skull, which the MCI actually illustrates, in some kind of dark word, but it notes that the reading might be a mistake, that ‘Takatsugu’ might be correct.

 

Looking through Lazarnick under both 高 and 髙 (different versions of the same kanji) we can see a school of Netsuké artists such as Takaaki, student of Masaaki (Ishiguro), working in both gold and silver, and in a mixture of metal and wood/antler etc. Takaaki and Masaaki also sometimes used a similar-looking seal form of signature.”

[Bugyotsuji]

Two artists who may be in the same area.

[SteveM]

I'm pretty sure the first one is Takatsugu.