Meiji vase signature translation

[Kurikata]

Hi,

 

I appreciate your help in translating this meiji vase signature

[SteveM]

龍谷造？　Ryūtani-zō

[k morita]

Hi,

 

熊谷造　( made  by   Kumagai  )

[Kurikata]

As usual both of you are a great help to me ! Very deep thank you to you! I join a picture of the vase....

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Nice vase!

(Twice this Kumagaya name has popped up in the last couple of days!)

[John C]

There is a Kumagai Co. LTD. pottery manufacturing in Kyoto. Could that be it?

 

John C.

[Kurikata]

Hi,

 

Having a look at some websites, I would consider two different companies or workshops, one dedicated to metal artefacts and the other one to pottery. But I might be wrong.

[Matsunoki]

This is more likely to be the signature of an actual artist working for one of the many metalwork studios that emerged during Meiji to satisfy the massive demand for such products. The main studios for this particular type of work were Nogawa, Atsuyoshi  and  Kuroda (amongst others) and their output varied from totally exquisite items to more basic “lookalike” pieces that were aimed at the less discerning eyes of the times. Different techniques (ie quicker and cheaper than full inlay) were skilfully employed and sometimes we have to look hard to spot the differences between pressings that were multipatinated and basically stuck on and those where true mixed metal inlay was utilised. 
 

It is not unusual to just have an artists signature without the studio mark….and vice versa. Many records have been lost to the various natural disasters that befall Japan and alas many of the actual artists are untraceable.