Ron STL Posted September 20, 2012 Report Posted September 20, 2012 Hi all - A friend just brought over a wakizashi (non-descript wakizashi) with an interesting laquer technique on its saya. Personally, I do not recall ever seeing this style of lacquer before. Maybe it is not lacquer and is something else, but lacquer is my guess. Can anyone tell me what this is called? The handashi fitting on the saya are shakudo but look Meiji era to me and as I said, the blade is nothing to speak of. Ron STL Quote
Henry Wilson Posted September 20, 2012 Report Posted September 20, 2012 Could it be mother-of-pearl coated with green lacquer? Quote
Bazza Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 It's malachite, a copper ore and very toxic stuff to work with. In my years of collecting I have seen only one sword with a malachite saya and "somewhere" on my archive hard drives I have some photos of it with very nice fittings. A very nice and seemingly very rare lacquer technique, similar to the chips of pearl shell sometimes seen. BaZZa. Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 Morning all, If you notice the varying sizes of the roundels, it looks like the original source for the malachite may have been a graduated necklace. The beads being sliced and smoothed into the roundels we see here. I have had several 19th century graduated bead necklaces (Chinese manufacturer, mounted for the European market) in Malachite, Lapis Lazuli and various banded Agates. Just a thought... Cheers Quote
IanB Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 A dealer in Nottingham, the real one in England, had a daisho done with malachite saya. He is now dead but about 5 years ago I saw it in the hands of his relative who had taken over the business. Ian Bottomley Quote
NihontoEurope Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 It's malachite, a copper ore and very toxic stuff to work with. In my years of collecting I have seen only one sword with a malachite saya and "somewhere" on my archive hard drives . Bazza, Is this also "Malachite"? Perhaps Malachite must be green. [attachment=0]K3.jpg[/attachment] /Martin Quote
k morita Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 Hi, Malachite and malachite green lacquered (kawari-nuri technique) Saya.(?) 孔雀石、変わり塗り鞘 Malachite is called "Kujaku-seki/ishi" in Japanese,meaning is peafowl stone. For the reference: https://www.aoi-art.com/auction/auction ... 1213703271 Quote
Jean Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 Malachite is green, Azurite is blue, both are coming from copper. Quote
NihontoEurope Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 Jean, Thx. Morita, Nice! 101,000 looks pretty cheap for that one. : D /Martin Quote
Ron STL Posted September 21, 2012 Author Report Posted September 21, 2012 Thanks for solving this mystery. At first, I was doubtful about this being a mineral (Malachite, called "Kujaku-seki/ishi" in Japanese) but seeing the explanations and the examples referenced, I'm convinced. It always surprises me what these Japanese craftsmen could do. My friend who owns this wakizashi is taking it to the big Louisville, Kentucky, show this weekend, in case anyone on-line is attending the show. He will also visit the Frazier museum to see the Samurai exhibit which ends the end of this month; I mention this as a reminder. If anyone can post more examples of malachite on saya, please do so. It is a learning experience! Ron ST> Quote
NihontoEurope Posted September 21, 2012 Report Posted September 21, 2012 Ron, Here are some photos of a Koshirae I have. I do not know if it is "Malachite" or "Azurite". Perhaps someone knows the type and material. It is a mix of green, red and amber flakes. [attachment=3]IMG_6280.JPG[/attachment] [attachment=2]IMG_6281.JPG[/attachment] [attachment=1]IMG_6282.JPG[/attachment] [attachment=0]IMG_6283.JPG[/attachment] /Martin Quote
Jean Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 Mother-of-pearl from crushed seashells Quote
Pete Klein Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 This is what you can do with malachite if you are a czar: From L'Hermitage Quote
NihontoEurope Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 Jean, Thx..again. /Martin Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 Good morning all, I think the speckled shell finish is called "Aogai" - あをがい I was told the overall term for the application of cut and polished pieces of shell, ivory or stone is "Raden" 螺鈿 らでん Application of the shaped material to the base can be figurative or random. Cheers Quote
leo Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 Aogai is the abalone shell. The inside of this large shell has a mother of pearl coating with an unique green/blue/pink lustre. Best, Martin Quote
k morita Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 If anyone can post more examples of malachite on saya, please do so. It is a learning experience!Ron ST> Hi, This Koshirae is also using malachite.(below link) Not raden. http://toyuukai.com/2012/06/%E5%AD%94%E ... %EF%BC%89/ Quote
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