Featured Need help with markings on Japanese Taisho Period Silver Daikoku Fortune Hammer

I was told that this item is Sterling Silver and was potentially created by Takehiko.

Any information is very much appreciated!

 

Picture of the item:

 

Another:

 

The first mark (top) does indeed say 'silver'. I'm out for a while but will try and reference the rest of the mark for you later.

 

Beautiful Daikokuten fortune hammer, PBrig, and welcome. The Japanese name for this magic hammer or mallet is 'uchide no kozuchi'. If you tap with it, anything you wish for will appear.

You probably know that Japanese silver fineness is likely to be higher than sterling, which is 925. Japanese silver is often 950 or over.

 

I need to get one of those!

 

Ok, so the mark appears to be 武大方 which is generally Takeshi - but it is very common for Japanese to find the same characters used for different names, so perfectly possible for it to be taken as Takehiko. There is also a Japanese silver smith Seki Takehiko who produces work in this style, so that is almost certainly it.

All the pieces I found were signed in the Westernised name Seki Takehiko, and two Japanese marks I found differed from the one on yours. The silver grades they worked in appear to be 960 and 999. Dates given are all over the place from 1900 onwards, the packing on some of the items (there are plaques in gift boxes) look later 20th century. A few pieces of this artist have gone through Catawiki, you can search them on their site.

 

Wow thank you all so very much
With this info, I'll do some more digging tonight!
Love and Light your Ways!

 

During this pandemic everyone should have one. Maybe we can get the WHO to hand them out worldwide.

 

Nice! Never even heard of these items before.

 

Should be “武比古” - TAKEHIKO (Seki Takehiko Born.1908)
Specialized in silver boats, fans and small decorations.

In addition, it is a mixed metal with gilt & enamel