Bugyotsuji

Lars, the standing ‘ageha’ swallowtail butterfly was used most famously by Ikeda Terumasa who built Himeji Castle. His Ikeda offspring also controlled the Tottori Han and the Okayama Han, but at some point in the later 1600s the Okayama Han changed it to an open-wing version, the Bizen Chō. So your Ikeda blackpowder container is probably from Hyogo or Tottori. As to the Mon on the gun, I suspect it was added later at some point. Just a feeling. I cannot yet see a link between Mito and the Ikeda Daimyo family, although I may be missing something.

Despite the elaborate decorations which were added at some point, the gun is of a rather basic generic design. The wood used for the stock is nice quality, and most of the vital parts look to be present. The front sight could be replaced with one of several basic patterns, many illustrated in Sawada Taira or Sugawa Hideo’s books. You could study Kunitomo sights, for example, as the smith was surely proud of his roots, or you could contact Mito and ask for photos of Mito long guns, particularly their Saki-meaté fore sight.

As to whether to polish silver, the world is divided between those who want bright and shiny, and those who value old patina, black even. Remember too that silver wears thin quickly so with barrel decoration like that you run the risk of rubbing away precious metal which cannot easily be replaced.

拾三治刃鉄藤巻張 Not sure of the meaning here but it seems to suggest the barrel is made of Nihontō blade steel. Perhaps the proud Bushi of Mito were happier to carry a gun if they thought it was essentially made with sword blades!?!?!?

Hi Alan, Only just noticed your post. Apologies. There are many things that can be said in answer to your questions. Much of what you have heard is correct. Your words reminded me of just how proud I was to own my first Tanegashima. To start the ball rolling, the Mei indicates a Kunitomo smith who was probably invited to Mito in Hitachi, Kanto, to make guns, or he followed his father there. Kunitomo smiths, renowned for solid work, were used by the Tokugawa Shogun rulers and had a reputation to keep, so their guns had to be good! 水戸住國友吉兵衛　尚昌 Mito Jū Kunitomo Kichibei Naomasa Although this smith is listed as working for the Mito Han, there are no dated guns of his recorded. I would say around 1800-1830 from the overall look of the gun.

They may be (originally) a series of mini mirrors to carry in a purse or wallet.

The starting tsuba looks to be odo, shinchū or brass to which a patinating agent has been added, or am I being unfair? The holes are not exactly round, though, so it is not simply drill work. The Hosokawa were Christian; the original conception, the kuyō and cross blend, was quite a clever inspiration.

Although the one in your Wiki link is slightly different in places…

For your eyes only, in thanks as always, Moriyama San!

Does anyone feel confident with this brush writing? Just wondering if there is a Shunga-esque element to the print.

I can see why you pounced on this one, Colin. The scent of the hunt! The temptation to take a punt. Love these pursuits for the truth!

Well give him a heart!

This old NBTHK certificate for a Koshiraé, right?

¥150, but the date of 26 must be… Meiji 26??? (1893) Not Showa 26, 1951…(?)

That’s a different Kanetaka to Xiayang’s suggestion above, Bruce. I wonder which one we are looking at. The way -taka is inscribed is quite unusual and should be a good pointer.

Traditional Ro-zuke (at over 450 degrees) is different from modern Handa-zuke (at less than 450 degrees).

(There was a time in the early to mid 20th C when an ivory substitute was in fashion, creamy celluloid with Schreger-type striations. Not applicable here.)

That’s quite elaborate, Gary. Is it actually a tortoise/turtle shell or made to look like one? Do the lacquer lines emphasize natural features? I once had a black one but it was too realistic (probably genuine carapace) so having had a traumatic experience as a child, I quietly moved it on!

As above. Probably three separate sections have been attached. Would not really function as a netsuke. NLO at best.

No. 2 Maybe ‘Kanetaka’. 兼隆

Sat in on a two-day workshop as a habaki creation interpreter for a shirogané-shi and was stunned by the serious amount of detailed work and the numbers of materials, tools and processes.

Satsuma bits? Thinking back through my grey matter, just for reference. (Not offering for sale!) All I’ve scraped together over the years. Sadly one katana was quickly ripped from my grasp. 1. Satsuma rustic vase (Tokkuri?) with large ‘kutsuwa’ cross. 2. a) Two Satsuma hitoribiraki priming powder flasks b) Three coarse blackpowder flasks, one with large red lacquer Satsuma ‘kutsuwa’ cross. 3. Satsuma gunyō-zutsu long matchlock. 4. Various little oil lights, oil pots and wick weights from the region. 5. Netsuke of farming lady. 6. Small Naminohira ‘Kaiken’ Tantō. And that’s about it.

A wasp and a persimmon? What a great object! Congratulations. The uchidashi is nice, as are the fish latch and 蝶番 ‘Chō tsugai’ butterfly hinges. No markings?

If there is a second, smaller hole alongside the spout, then it would have carried water. Water canisters are often sold by dealers as ‘gunpowder’ flasks. A doctor’s sword variation, possibly, also looking the part as chatō for tea ceremony.

Antler (also ivory, and to a lesser extent bone) was often fashioned to look like bamboo.