Japanese box w/ overlaid sterling cranes- Signature help please

[sonomabarn67]

I don't read Japanese, can anyone help me? The box measures about 8" long and the cranes are sterling I' m sure. Also, aprox age Meiji? Later? The greenish you see on the craneedges would be from the metals touching (brass/silver). Any help is greatly appreciated

[sonomabarn67]

Can anyone read Japanese? I know you are out there!

[sonomabarn67]

I'ts just two characters...Anyone? Jharv?

[patd3283]

Sonoma, you live in CA.  Why don't you take it to a Japanese restaurant, gallery or museum?

Patd

[sonomabarn67]

A good thought. There used to be quite a few on here that could read Japanese and Chinese. Is business that bad that they have all taken up jobs at restaurants and...?

Thanks.

[casey768]

they are just 2 kansii characters,unless you know the artist or the buyer looking for a particular artist,it really does not matter.

restauranteurs would not know,

[sarahd53]

That's not necessarily true. For some items it's true that buyers will find it, but for others it can make a huge difference. 

True story I had a Chinese silver vase that I listed. It sold the first time (without listing the artists name) for around $120. Because I had a discrepancy with the global shipping program I had to relist it. By the time I relisted I had gotten a response to a post telling me the artist's name. I relisted with the same title except I included the English and Chinese characters for the artist's name. The second time it sold for $900.  After that experience I always make an effort to figure out the mark. 

Sonoma, I made a post asking about this for you on Asianart. Hopefully, it may get a response in the next day or so. I will post back here if it does. 

[sonomabarn67]

So, they have no meaning at all? Just for fun, what do those two marks translate to? Thanks.

[sonomabarn67]

Thanks, that is what I was thinking given that it has the sterling overlay. Thanks for posting it on that other site!

[casey768]

these are KANSII CHARACTERs,they are his artist name,loosely meaning foturne and respect.'

Artist will choose a different name for trade and keep his personal name private/ 

there is Yahoo Japan,you may ask there , 

[sonomabarn67]

Thank you. 

"they are his artist name,loosely meaning foturne and respect.'"  But what is his artist name? The actual name, not what it means.

[maxine*j]

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@sonomabarn67 wrote:

Thank you. 

"they are his artist name,loosely meaning foturne and respect.'"  But what is his artist name? The actual name, not what it means.

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I think Casey is saying that these Kanji characters, in themselves, are not the artists's name and they only mean what they mean:  Fortune.  Respect.   Next comes the problem of discovering what Japanese artist used them as his "signature" on this kind of work. 

[sonomabarn67]

I understand that, but casey says: "they are his artist name, loosely meaning foturne and respect."  I tried to search that and came up with nothing. I like that the name means  "Fortune and respect". I guess my question really should be at this point "Who is the Japanese artist that signed his sterling/brass works ) fortune and respect?)"

I did come across a couple brass  sterling overlaid items that had Japanese sigs that were actually names which is why I persist.

[sonomabarn67]

Not to worry, sold it today to a gentleman whose name translates to "happy  may the fortune on this transaction  be upon your house."

Thanks everyone for your help.

[maxine*j]

Sugoi!