Seiryuken Eiju tsuba - again

[Willowyck]

Dear members,

 

I have owned this tsuba for more than 40 years now and I would like to know your opinion on it. I've looked at the different posts here in the forum and I'm also unsure about an assessment because of this. The tsuba has mokko shape and has a size of 6.5 x 6.1 x 0.53 cm, weight 99 g. .

 

Kindest regards

[Brian]

It's a fairly common design by the Eiju group. Not sure what you are unsure of?
 

[Willowyck]

Hi Brian,

 

I am unsure why there are different kind of kao to find. 

 

[Spartancrest]

Thomas this from Mandarin Mansions -  https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/seiryuken-eiju-dragon-tsuba

 

Seiryūken Eiju

"Seiryūken Eiju (成竜軒栄寿) was the art name of Tetsugendo Toryuken, also known as Naofusa (尚房). He was active in Osaka, Kyoto and later Edo from circa 1775-1800. He was a student of Okamoto Harukuni and adopted son of master craftsman and founder of the Tetsugendo school; Okamoto Naoshige.

Tsuba carrying his name and signature vary considerably in style and quality, and many even exhibit different kao (personal seals). The most likely explanation is that he ran an atelier with several craftsmen, and was only involved in some of the pieces himself. Hirado Kunishige also worked like that.

A recurring trait of Seiryuken Eiju tsuba is that they have a discoid cross-section, with chiseled iron decor and bears the signature in beautiful cursive sosho (grass script), often with a golden inlaid seal."

 

Several different seals or kao were used because each student or master signed almost the same way and the seal was a way to separate the individual maker [That is my understanding of the 'system'] 

[Spartancrest]

 

Some of the seals/kao found on Seiryuken Eiju guards - I am sure there are others [I have three matching seals like the last example all in 'shippo' pattern.] Other guard designs such as Dragons may have seals matching depending on the artists speciality.

 

 

[Spartancrest]

A strange find tonight - there is a CAST Dragon by Seiryūken Eiju up for auction. The mei is wide and rounded and there is a casting flash/seam in one of the hitsu.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/j1042291577  They did not bother with a seal at all. It also shows plenty of casting bubbles on the ura side. I guess they have tried to fake most tsuba types. Thomas yours is pretty fine compared to this one! 

[Willowyck]

Thank you very much Dale. Now I understand!

[Spartancrest]

Thomas this is a strange one, to me at least, a totally undecorated tsuba but still signed and with a seal  - Seiryuken Eiju

a form of 'Branding' ? "I own a Seiryuken Eiju" even if it is just plain?  Or was it supposed to be decorated later?

[MauroP]

Another undecorated tsuba by Seiryuken Eiju. Actually I got this one just for the fancy signature and the kakihan.

[MauroP]

... and this one has just a kitame-ji as decoration.