Here is a piece for you machibori fans. The piece is only signed with a kao (and there’s something some of you budding book writers might take on – some kind of kao reference). I had narrowed it down to one tanaka artisan, but came across a posting by Eric Molinier selling a piece by the same maker that actually had a mei. It was signed Toshikage Seiryusai Hidetoshi in addition to the kao which was a lay down for the one on my piece.
I snarfed the images of the excellent piece Eric had, but they aren’t mine to share, so they aren’t included here. As an aside, I wish my example was in as good a condition as his was.
But back to this piece. Looking in Haynes, I believe this Hidetoshi is H 01184.0. He died circa 1850. He studied under several important artisans (Omori Teruhide, Hidetomo), and was associated with the Tanaka guys, notably the Tanaka Kiyotoshi group, and worked with Hayakawa Fun’unsai decorating an inro with metal inlay.