Murakami School - Resources or Identifying Features

[Jake6500]

Hi forum members,

 

I have recently taken an interest in tsuba from the Murakami school and have had a look through some of the old threads about the Murakami school or Murakami artists to gain some insight. I am wondering if anybody on the forum might have some resources about this school or if they could share some identifying features of Murakami school works generally.

 

I have seen a lot about Murakami Jochiku in particular (his works are all masterpieces) and noticed some similarities between some of his works and this fuchi kashira piece supposedly by Murakami Noritaka: https://www.jauce.com/auction/f1108873810

 

The insect themes seem to be quite common (I've seen a number of dragonfly and butterfly works) but I'd like to know how to identify Murakami works with different themes through artistic style.

 

Thanks to any and all contributors, all information welcome!

 

 

[DirkO]

Hi Jake, 

 

There's articles in some books, but nothing too elaborate AFAIK.

 

Please read this article by the late (and dearly missed) Ford Hallam:

 

https://followingthe...nd-artistic.html?m=1

 

One of the hallmarks besides the theme and the large interpretation of the inlay, would be that chirimen ground.

 

The auction you're referring to would be 'in the style of' at best, I'm afraid. This is also reflected in the price.

[DirkO]

For reference here's my Murakami F/K set:

 

[DirkO]

From "Tosogu - Treasure of the Samurai" a very understated book imo:

 

BORN Murakami Nakanori at some time during the early eighteenth century, this artist is something of a mystery. It is known that he changed his name at various stages of his career, first to Seijiro and then eventually to Jochiku, and that he worked in Shiba in Edo but his lineage as a craftsman is unclear. Robinson states in the Baur Collection catalogue that he began his career inlaying stirrups, a craft he learned from his father. However, Ogawa in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts catalogue doubos this interpretation and considers that this commonly held fallacy derives from the fact that Jochiku's technique of flat inlaying resembles that used extensively by stirrup makers and the wrongful assumption has been perpetuated by uncritical repetition. It does seem something of a quantum leap from the heavy, rather crude inlay found on abumi to the intricate and delicate work found on much of Jochiku's output. According to inscribed worka of his he lived to at least the age of 65 years, but as there is no precise date of birth this is no great help. Hara, however, records a tsuba by him which is signed and dated 1739 in the Staatliche Museen in Berlin. It might be safe to assume, therefore, that he was born not much later than 1720 and died not much later than 1790 His earlier works, usually signed Nakanori, show a preference for the Umetada derived flat-inlaid coloured metals style of decoration. The present piece is a superbly refined example of this style of his, possibly made before he moved on to the type of sword-fittings for which he is better known which utilize large size patterns of fish, shellfish, butterflies and other insects, often with the use of mother-of-pearl and enamels. He had a considerable number of pupils who continued the Murakami School very much in the manner that he initiated. Not least amongst his pupils was Jotetsu, his daughter, whose work was certainly the equal of her father's. It is said that she recruited quite a number of other female artists into the school.

[Jake6500]

1 hour ago, DirkO said:

For reference here's my Murakami F/K set:

 

 

Hi Dirk,

 

Thanks for your helpful response.

 

I have done my best to read as much as I could on this topic over the past few weeks. I'll definitely read the article you sent through and some of the older threads and Ford's posts have been very helpful.

 

With regards to the auction, no stress as I was not actually planning on bidding on this particular item. I love the Murakami style, but I am not a huge fan of insects as theme for my own personal collection (although some of the Murakami Jochiku works I have seen have ALMOST changed my mind!) 

 

The reason I made this thread is to search for help in identifying other, non-insect themed Murakami works. What I have read thus far is that the Murakami school was one of only a couple that featured embedded stones, and that inlay level with the base was a common feature of Murakami works.

 

I read a lot about the history and the artisans of the school already also. It is actually the works of Jochiku's daughters, Jotetsu and Josui that I am more interested in (but appraised examples are a bit harder to find).

 

Thanks again for the article,

Jake