Goto Senjo / Goto School Fuchigashira

[Jake6500]

Hello forum members,

 

I recently acquired a few new fuchi / tsuba and wanted to get some information and maybe a few opinions about them.

This may be the first of a couple topics I start here in the Tosogu section in the coming days.

 

I recently acquired this fuchigashira apparently signed "Goto Senjo", along with another fuchi purportedly from another artist of the Goto lineage in separate auctions:

 

 

When I picked this up, I originally did so simply for the horse motif as well as the style/quality of the piece.

 

Here is an older thread about the same artist and the Goto school: 

 

 

Now I am curious as to the authenticity of the piece and its attribution as I also picked up this piece with a similar style signed Goto Kiyonobu (Having looked into it a bit I think this second one might not be authentic as it is the one on the left that is signed as "Goto" and the right one is signed Kinsha Tomotsune? The left one doesn't seem to match Goto work to me...)

 

 

The Goto Senjo piece appears to be of a similar style, has a neat, straight signature and features Nanako similar to other documented Goto school works, as does the fuchi on the right in the above picture although I have no information to go on regarding the artist Kinsha Tomotsune.

 

Thoughts?

 

[MauroP]

[SteveM]

This one should be Gotō Seijō (後藤清乗). But maybe not authentic, as you mention.

[Jake6500]

3 hours ago, MauroP said:

 

Thanks for providing this info, there is a clear match in the signature and a lineage to research!

 

 

 

[Jake6500]

3 hours ago, SteveM said:

This one should be Gotō Seijō (後藤清乗). But maybe not authentic, as you mention.

 

I am doubtful this one is authentic, however I am hopeful that the first one (signed Goto Senjo) is. The style is a closer match as is the mei and the overall quality. These 2 pieces signed "Goto" were bought in two separate auctions from two separate sellers so the authenticity of one should not affect the other.

 

I've taken a few new photos of the first one with the horses which I'm optimistic about, hopefully I can get some opinions on its authenticity!

 

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Hello Jake , as no one else has commented I will give you the bad news . There is no chance of these being Goto . The workmanship is just nowhere near good enough . You would expect the Shakudo to be a dark bluey black wheras yours are a coffee color . Sorry to ruin your day . Attached is one of my pieces signed Goto Deshi ( I forget the rest ) which will show you what the color should be like .

Ian Brooks

[Matsunoki]

Ditto to what Ian said. 

[Jake6500]

Hey Colin and Ian, thanks for your responses.

 

Don't worry about disappointing me, I certainly didn't pay an exceptional amount for these and originally bought them for the designs without a second though about the lineage of the artists which only piqued my curiosity later.

 

As I am new to Tosogu collection in general would you mind elaborating a little for me? All I know about Shakudo is that it is an alloy metal. Are we talking about the colour of the black nanako base of the fuchigashira? I should add that the last few photos are zoomed in by about x4 on a phone camera with flash photography and then compressed, so the quality of the work might not be fully represented by the photographs. 

 

Even if it's not authentic I think it's a pretty nice piece in hand so I am not disappointed!

 

EDIT: Nvm I think I was being stupid and now see what you guys mean! Thanks for the feedback and the new knowledge Ian, as well as the wonderful visual reference!

[Mantis dude]

Hi Jake,

 

Just a few simple things to look at- when you look at goto work you are usually looking at excellent and precise execution.  Look at the nanako on a verified goto piece.  Compare that with yours and you can see there is a big difference in execution and precision.   The precision of design and carving in any design a goto artist does is crisp and flows.  Look at your horses, they look a bit muddled in comparison.   Not trying to knock your piece, just pointing out a few things that caught my eye immediately.  I don't know lot about the Goto school but have overtime come across lots of pictures (wish more in hand).   You start to see what goes into a quality piece by breaking down the details.  There is a reason why the Goto school is so respected.  I am guilty as most, looking at the signature 1st.  But we always heard from the "older crowd" that the "workmanship confirms the signature " and I understand why now more than when I first started collecting.   Why is this so hard to accept?  Simply, it points out how much I don't know.  Lol.  Best of luck and I'm glad you are enjoying what you have.