Japanese iron inlaid pricket candle holders

I picked this set up from another dealer a few days ago. Inlaid silver, I think gold, and copper on three footed holders. Overall length is roughly 11”, width foot tip to foot tip is a but over 5”. The tag on them said they came from the estate of a well known local and which read shokudai komai-iron Meiji period, late 19th century. The stem on one is marked, but the Google autotranslate gives a result that turns up no relevant results. I’m also having trouble finding many of this style of holders.

Also they have surface rust. The only cleaning I’ve done has been water and a soft cloth on the inlay. I was going just put some machine oil on them to try and stabilize the rust, unless anyone has a way of removing it without potentially damaging the inlay. Any help with confirmation of the tag, translation, or conservation is greatly appreciated.

 

Teshoku iron candle holder with Zogan inlay/damascene.

 

Shokudai means a candle holder or similar, Komai has come to mean Japanese Damascene and was the name of a famous metalworker using this technique on weapons in the 19th century.

The kanji reads 加州住山田永世竹 - difficulty is that it can be interpreted many ways, although I suspect it is referring to them being custom made for an estate in California along with the makers details. As such they are not likely antique, they are however very nicely done and were no doubt very expensive but not particularly old.

 

Thank you. I’m finding some similar items with those terms.

 

It’s hard to tell knowing what I do about Colonel Howard Ayers, the man on the label. He fought in both World Wars, was on MacArthur’s staff, after WWII he supervised rebuilding Japan’s power grid. He returned there a few years before his death in 1986. They could have been a custom gift for him or they could be something he found in Japan.

 

Hollyblue & Ce BCA- Excellent knowledge.I believe Ce is actually studying Asian languages (Holy Cr*# !). Is that correct Ce BCA,think i read it in one of your contributions ?

 

This is what I got from a translation

soto sumiyama resident tominaga