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Hello everyone,

I'm hoping the community can help me identify a maker's mark on a brass samurai sculpture I own. The mark is hand-incised directly into the metal (post-casting) and consists of three kanji characters arranged vertically, written in what appears to be a semi-cursive or fully cursive (gyōsho/sōsho) calligraphic style.

The sculpture itself depicts a samurai figure and appears consistent with Meiji-period (1868–1912) workmanship based on the casting quality, patination, and style. A comparable piece sold recently for over $1,000 on 1stDibs.

I've attached close-up photos of the mark. I believe the final character may be 造 (zo) or 作 (saku), suggesting an artist or studio attribution, but the first two characters are difficult for me to read due to the cursive style.

I have not been able to match this mark against the known signatures of Miyao, Genryusai Seiya, Yoshimitsu, or Gyoko. It may be a lesser-known personal studio mark.

Any help reading the characters or pointing me toward comparable signed pieces would be greatly appreciated. Happy to provide additional photos from different angles or with raking light if that would help.

Thank you in advance!

Reading of signature,
長一郎作　Chōichirō-saku Made by Chōichirō

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the name either in the relevant literature or online.

The AI suggested a metal artist named Yamazaki Chōichirō　(山崎長一郎)、 who was active from the Taishō era through the first half of the Shōwa era.　However, the information provided by AI sometimes leaves something to be desired.

With regards,
I.Nagy

I have a copy of this; cast iron; unsigned. Both yours and mine miss some weapon they used to hold in the left hand. I remember seeing several copies on different occasions. One I saw on ebay (holding a yari) was signed with a cast signature (see photo) which the seller read as Junichiro, which seems plausible.

PS
Search "Junichiro" bronze; you will find some with the cast signature. Identified as Hannya Junichiro.
See, e.g., https://antikvariat-japan.ru/katalog/bronza-latun-med-i-dr/yaponiya-vintazhnaya-antikvarnaya-kompozicziya-moritahe-tomonobu-mastera-hannya-junichiro.html

bearing the same carved signature as yours.
Moti

You are right,
It is 純一郎作　Junichiro-saku
In the link provided above, the reading of 純 in the signature is clear, whereas on your own okimono it is quite obscure.
It was misleading that in grass script, the characters for the 糸 radical and the 弓 radical are written identically, and the character mostly resembles 長.
The main thing is that we know the artist.

Regards,
I. Nagy

Correction、

.....and the 屯 character mostly resembles 長.

I.Nagy

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