Would the 'real' Bairyūken Kiyotatsu please stand up.

[Spartancrest]

I am intrigued by four 'identical' tsuba held in three separate museums all claiming their pieces are signed by Bairyūken Kiyotatsu. 

From what I see there are four distinct mei some with 'kao' or seals, some with totally different styles of kanji but the design of the guard is almost a carbon copy.

Did this maker change his signature when he changed his underwear? 

 

Make that Five - this image from a now deleted Wikipedia post. 

Edited September 3, 2022 by Spartancrest
new data

[Brian]

I really get the feeling some of these signatures were really the names of studios or groups. Working together, a bunch of artisans signing the same name or sometimes different.
Makes sense from a commercial pov and was extremely likely with some makers.

[MauroP]

... he was so bored making the same tsuba again ang again... let him changing at least his signature!
... or there are at least two guys with very close names:
梅龍軒清辰  Bairyūken Kiyotatsu
梅龍軒清長  Bairyūken Kiyonaga

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Well Mauro - we know not to accept any signed cheques with that set of signatures - he could be anyone! 

What is really annoying is these major museums don't give any lineage or real dates, I suppose they accept what the gift giver says and leave it at that. 

You are probably correct thinking they must have got bored doing the same design over and over - still they are pretty nice work and imagine the fights if there was only one to choose from. 

[Kurikata]

Another Kyiotatsu from a French auction some years ago....

[Spartancrest]

Bruno, I might have to go into collecting just the signatures! I don't think I have seen the same one twice!