Matsunoki

Thanks again Uwe. Top view….

Honestly Howard…..I don’t know. I would assume so but I only reached the conclusion that they were Ainu because I couldn’t find another explanation and have never come across any myths or legends that would explain the subject matter. I wonder what @Bugyotsuji thinks?

@uwe Many thanks Uwe…..I was hoping it was older but as I know virtually nothing yet I’m not surprised to be hundreds of years out! Purely for interest here is the Bachi…..anything special about it? Appreciate your time and help!

Hi Howard Another lovely quality okimono. I think the Mei is Naomitsu…..as mentioned in your other piece, hardly any records exist for these talented carvers….there were hundreds of them. Probably the best carvers that have ever lived. (Imo) I think the subject depicts an Ainu man and his wife making rope. It’s not a subject I’ve ever seen before.

Sorry Howard, I’m crap on signatures…I used to focus purely on quality but I’m sure if you put the mei into the translation section someone will tell you. There were hundreds of amazing ivory carvers in Meiji, but virtually no existing contemporary records of who they were. However did this was top drawer.

Please can someone help with this Mei purportedly on a Muromachi Kabuto? I’m trying to learn about armour! Many thanks. All the best. Colin. EDIT….is it a date? Manji? 1658? I can see the kanji for day and month…..I think

Had a bit more time….. https://www.bonhams.com/auction/16717/lot/461/an-ivory-kiseruzutsu-pipe-case-19th-century/ https://www.bonhams.com/auction/10241/lot/489/a-very-fine-komai-style-circular-dish-by-inoue-meiji-period-46cm18in-diam/ https://www.bonhams.com/auction/14899/lot/7/a-stained-ivory-okimono-of-riujin-dragon-king-of-the-sea/ etc etc!!

Meant to say it is almost certainly a panel from either a table cabinet door or an upright two-fold framed table screen. On the reverse you can see the shadows of the frame. The recipient of the pearls would probably be depicted on the confronting panel. Meiji period, superb quality.

Didn’t think you believed in Gods…..let alone human Gods?

Just an opinion…..but my understand is that a Juyo judgement is not based solely on the quality and attributes of the sword under review but is heavily dependant also on how it fares against other swords in the same Shinsa ie it’s a competition. Yes I know it’s their game their rules but does anyone else think that is a bit illogical? Either a sword merits Juyo or it doesn’t surely?

Hi Howard Your plaque depicts the Dragon King of the Sea (or an emissary of) and an attendant presenting pearls. It’s a famous legend. This should get you started…….scroll down a little bit. There will be tons more on the web. I think his name was Ryujin but haven’t checked! https://blog.dma.org/2016/04/20/mother-of-dragons/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/388277390459

Looking again at the perspective. I believe the artist is asking us to stand on the high ground in the foreground and look down on the flood. The bridges could be across a raging river valley that is feeding down into the flood. Mist does not explain the toppled Torii and the small boats appear to be fully visible and floating, not hidden. Anyway, it’s thought provoking.

Bizarrely sweeping generalisation that adds nothing constructive to the discussion……as is often the case.

The angle of the Torii could be suggesting that it has been toppled in a flood. The presence of the two small sailboats suggests we are looking at water…..but the distant perspective is a bit confusing/challenging. The fact that just some the treetops are “above water” is significant? I’d vote flood but wouldn’t bet my home on it.

@Luc T @uwe Thank you so much for your help. I do not own this one (yet🙂but hopefully…) and as I am totally ignorant on armour I just want to avoid the awaiting pitfalls and bear traps…..having seen some of the pieces discussed on here that are modern/fake (but that looked old and good quality…to me) it is obvious that Kabuto and menpo suffer also from the attentions of fakers, albeit very talented ones. This one looked very well made to me in a fairly simple style ……but then what do I know? These are the only other images available at the moment……do they suggest anything else? Would I be right to think the throat guard is of lesser quality? …..and can you point me at any decent reference books (in English) that can assist my learning? …..and thanks again! All the best. Colin

Having nearly sold my whole sword collection I am now just starting to become more interested in armour, especially Kabuto and Menpo in russet iron. My knowledge is currently pretty basic but this piece has crossed my path and I would be really grateful for your opinions on quality, age, school…..anything that’s relevant really that would assist a total novice. Many thanks for looking. All the best. Colin

Elsewhere on the Forum is another current and interesting topic discussing boshi on Naginata naoshi. That has prompted me to pay more attention to this blade and I would welcome all your opinions on it. For what it is worth (which isn’t much!) I think it is an early Koto naginata/nagamaki that has been reworked into this current wakizashi of 47.5cm Nagasa. The hamon and nioi guchi clearly disappear down into the nakago beyond the machi and I’m guessing o-suriage The presence of a clear boshi with small kaeri suggests to me that it was the style of naginata that are sometimes referred to as Nagamaki ie the longer variety with far less sori and swelling than generally associated with later Naginata. Often depicted mounted on a shorter pole. Hada….running undulating masame (quite coarse)with areas resembling very shallow ayasugi. The hada is far more pronounced in the ji towards the ha and diminishes/weakens toward the shinogi. There is what appears to be a very strong wide irregular utsuri over much of the ji which fades in some areas. The hada is visible through the utsuri (if indeed that is what it is). There is a pronounced irregular dark band of steel between the utsuri and the hamon. The hamon is based on suguha with assorted small gunome variations in nioi with no nie visible anywhere. There is a thin dark line running within the hamon just below the nioiguchi…..impossible to image. There are layers of fine sunagashi at various points. Please, I’d love to know what you think. Apologies for lack of photographic skills. Thanks for looking.

Probably not a seal. Just a nice decorative cap to each end. Typical of the Japanese attention to detail. They could have just used plain copper but decided to make something more interesting.

Some of the replies on this post are great examples of how you put “newbies” off. We all have to start somewhere and some tolerance doesn’t hurt. EDIT. the replies to which I refer have since been deleted.

Howard, sorry can’t help with the translation but I think this is Chinese, not Japanese. Does it have a spoon attached to the stopper? How big is it?

Just a dumb question….are we talking purely about naginata naoshi or are we bringing nagamaki naoshi into the debate……accidentally? My understanding is that many nagamaki did not originally have the extreme increase in the sakihaba and sugata that naginata have and would therefore be more easily adapted as swords thus with kaeri far more easily retained?

The tsuba you show is an example of Meiji period pieces that indeed were never intended to be mounted although some crop up on swords where the entire koshirae was fashioned in a similar manner and again never intended to be viewed as anything other than a pure work of art aimed at the foreign wealthy market. They are generically termed “Shibayama” which refers to the family of craftsmen that originally perfected the technique. Other manufacturers followed suite under different art names but again, all lumped together into “Shibayama” for descriptive purposes. The plate on these is wood covered with luxurious gold lacquer and using many varieties of seashells, horn, stained ivory, coconut shell etc to create the stunning inlays. Sometimes silver or shakudo metal ana liners and mimi. Some are found with an ivory plate but similar with inlays in the same style. Highly sought after and if in good condition, very expensive. I used to restore these for some of the big boys. The London dealer Kevin Page has a few on his website.

Couldn’t find anything about Japanese swords in it, had to read it twice just to make sure……..nor anything that would specifically help collectors and GUIDE them…..and after all, that is what we are talking about here. To create something aimed at helping others requires considerable effort and is to be commended. Pointless non-constructive criticism of a GUIDE is pretty mean-spirited, extremely negative, and utterly unhelpful. So I’ll add my thanks to you Kirill, along with all the others who appreciate what you’ve done and who will doubtless find it utterly helpful.

Brilliant work again. Dune sand worm? hmmmmm…..but then I love the traditional pieces so what do I know! Nice to see you pop up on here again. You can always message me in view of our previous discussions. Hope you’ve sorted the legal stuff out!