Jack Zacao

Thank you Charlie for the info. I have not seen one with true inlays on menuki, but of course I am just a novice. The Tiger menuki I like the best is from Iwamoto : https://collections.mfa.org/objects/9808/pair-of-menuki-in-the-form-of-tigers?ctx=670ac707-7750-44fc-871e-06f418d308b9&idx=8 It is very detailed, even the furs on ears are carved. the size is only 3.3 cm

Hi Geraint, I do not think the gold stripes are inlaid. they are normally referred as ‘色繪’ which is a kind of gold gilding technique. Jack

Nice set. I have a single tiger menuki as well and like the design very much especially the cute eye brows. I have been wondering whether the gold paint is added after the chisel fur marks or before …

signature on fuchi seems to be 美春 he is a student of 石黑正美

I also like to browse menuki designs in museum collections online. the best site is MFA in boston. You can learn a lot by examining the high definition pictures and the artist name and schools. However, the museum collections usually focus on extrermely high quality and most of them are solid gold. it is beyond the reach of me. Does anyone know other good museum collections of menuki? other than MET, MFA boston ?

Hi Kai, a quick search would result in the following book: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b979-tosogu-no-bi-fine-Japanese-sword-fittings-menuki-i-ii-2-books/ it seems to be in english as well. others are mostly Japanese Jack

Thank you all for the comments and answers. It makes a lot of sense that it is for securing the menuki and was soldered on.

Hi all, I have wondered for a long time how the post at the back of menuki is made and attached? most of time you can find the four thin metal pieces supporting the base of the post forming a cross shape. What are the purposes of those and how and when are they added at what point in the menuki making process ? I really appreciate your answering or any comments.

Many high end Tsuba have word ‘應需’ meaning by order by the signature

Thank you Bugyotsuji, I get it now. Congrat to Ken for figuring that out. I found the artist name in a book below. But, the quality of the signature on the menuki seems worse than the reference by a bit. you would have to judge the quality of the carving on the front to see if it lives up to the name of this known artist. Anyway, enjoyed your research so far!

Hello, Here is a set of Fuchi and Kashira with Chinese boys catching butterfly and dragonfly . I think it is Mito school but would like to hear your opinion. also i am interested to know why Japanese like to depict chinese boys (唐童） in the designs.

i still think it is a Kao, until you find the character to convince me.

The first one is ‘秀‘ second not known, does not look like any Chinese character to me, maybe a Kao

just to follow up with my old post, i found this menuki pair online that is a near identical to mine. It is so similar that they may be mass produced at some point or made with a mold / stamp and only chiseled with details in the surface … is that a plausible theory ? anyone knows these kind of practices in ancient Japan? link is shown below https://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/item/1704437-two-large-menuki-edo-period-1603-1868-in-felt-lined-presentation/

Just found a near identical one in an auction. It is used as a lid for a netsuke. I doubt that is the original use of the part also. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/176152037_fine-Japanese-kagamibuta-netsuke