Tanto54

For what it's worth, I'd agree with the previous comments about low value. As additional information, I can tell you that the subject is Tenaga ("Long Arms") and the saya (scabbard) is missing a lot of its decoration. The arms (which appear to be missing their forearms and hands) of Tenaga would have continued further up towards the hawk (which also appears to be missing a beak and other parts). You can see where these pieces are missing. You can find more on Tenaga if you search "Ashinagatenaga" ("Long Legs & Long Arms") which is the name for these two creatures of Japanese Mythology usually seen working together. Tenaga is often depicted riding on Ashinaga's back using each of their elongated features to best use (e.g., standing in deep water while Tenaga grabs a fish from the water).

Takafuji means "Tall Wisteria" and would be someone's last name. Kôto means "Emperor's City" and would, in this case, probably mean Kyoto.

Hi Lynne, I love the first tsuba. The second tsuba depicts Tekkai Sennin, one of the many “immortals” from Chinese legend adopted by the Japanese. He had the ability to breath out his soul and allow it to travel to other realms. Once he stayed away too long, so his pupil, thinking him dead, cremated his body. Upon his return, Tekkai Sennin was forced to inhabit the nearest available body (a recently deceased lame beggar). He is usually depicted as an emaciated, lame beggar leaning on a cane with his head turned to the side blowing out his soul.

Bump for any additional information or opinions....

Hi, I can't be sure from the picture (a clearer picture would help), but these menuki may have Buddhist images. I don’t believe that those are aoi leaves because they usually have the “veins” radiating from one point at the base of the leaf where the stem attaches instead of radiating from a central midrib like in your menuki. Instead, I think that this may be a Buddhist Wheel with 6 spokes capped by petals (usually with 8 spokes capped with petals but sometimes with 6 in Japan) “overpowering” an 8 petal flower. The tear drop shapes may be mokugyos or hollow wooden “gongs” (they appear to have the slots cut across the bottom edge that you’d expect on a mokugyo). The final item appears to be a kushi (comb) and may be related to the Wani Buddhist idea of death and resurrection.

Thanks David and Curran - both of you have given me good trails to follow. Curran, I've already started following up your lead and found your other post on this tsuba several years ago along with parts of the origami - great! David, I think that you are right about the colors - in hand, it shows the shakudo yanone very well. Thanks again to both of you for taking the time to respond.

I'm interested in any additional information that anyone might be able to provide on this deep brown, Mokko Gata shaped Tsuba with Shakudo Yanone (arrow heads). I believe that it is iron. When I first saw it, I thought that it was a very dark Sentoku because of the color, but the base metal is magnetic while the Yanone and Sekigane are not magnetic (the Sekigane are slightly more red brown than the base metal which is more like a chocolate bar). Size is 81mm x 75 mm x 3 mm (4 mm at the Uchikaeshi Mimi). Thanks!

The steel side reminds me of the bottom lock plates (not the regular top lock plate) that I've seen on antique store house doors (kura do). That lower "key" hole is occasionally a slot in a rectangular raised ground (that would be about the size of this nakago ana) surrounded by an arabesque (see picture).

Hi Ken, Yes, that exactly the type of key you need. It may or may not fit your lock. You need to consider "pin" size (that the pin post inside the lock that the tube part of the key turns on), how long the prongs (what you called "teeth") are and where they bend, and finally, how far the prongs are apart. Some of these considerations can be adjusted to fit your lock by carefully bending or filing the prongs, but others (like if the post is too big to go in the tube of the key) cannot be adjusted. The lock on auction in Japan will probably sell for $150-$200, but if you contact Kelly or someone else who has a large collection of keys, you can probably get a key for less than $20.

Hi Ken, Almost all tansu locks work in the same way: the flat "bolt" (which slides up and goes into the metal slot in the top of the drawer case) has one or two "leaf springs" that are "sprung" away from the bolt. The key almost invariably has two "prongs" between which the bolt and leaf spring(s) can fit (where the bolt and leaf spring(s) are welded or pined together). As the key is turned, the prongs compress the leaf spring(s) against the bolt, "grab" it by friction and allow it to pass through another slot in the lock mechanism (now that the leaf spring(s) are compressed against the flat side of the bolt) - thereby withdrawing the bolt from the metal slot in the case (or in the case of locking, allowing the bolt to slide into the metal slot in the case) and allowing the drawer to open. There are only about 20 variations of these keys, so it should be quite easy to find an antique one that will fit. Kelly Schmidt, a ebay seller from Japan has a large collection of keys, so if you send him a detailed picture of the lock face next to a ruler, I'll bet he can send you a key that will work for less than $20 (I have no connection with Kelly other than the fact that I've purchased a few tansu from him over the years). His e-mail address is: schmidt_araki@ybb.ne.jp

I think that this is a Torii (cock) on a Taiko (drum) motif (a fairly common theme in Japanese Art) and signifies a time of peace (drums were used regularly in war, so a cock roosting on a drum shows that it is not getting much use). Regards, George M.

Dear Marc, I’m no expert, but I was truly motivated by your research to do a little of my own. At first, I was somewhat persuaded by your Weber citation, but I found the following by Basil Stewart discussing a Hiroshige print of “Chohi”: “Chohi was distinguished by his stature, long hair, fan-like beard…” While I don’t see these characteristics in the Chohi figure in the beautiful kozuka pictures that Mr. Reinhard posted, I do see the imposing stature and fan shaped beard in the figure in the original kozuka posting. In addition, I did a little web research on the type of clothing that these 5 famous generals might wear, but it was not conclusive (appears to have become more customary and mythological instead of historically accurate). I cannot tell from the original kozuka posting if the “servant”/Chohi figure is dressed ostentatiously or not, but the figure’s dress does not appear any less ostentatious than the Chohi figure in the netsuke and okimono photos provided by Mr. Schiller (in light of the aggressive stance, the person in those two objects must be Chohi instead of a servant). To my eye, other than the halberd, the most distinctive feature of the “servant”/Chohi figure in the original kozuka posting is his hat/helment. It also looks different than the one in Mr. Reinhard’s picture, but it looks a lot like other ancient generals’ hats that I saw on line. On balance, in light of the figure’s aggressive stance in the original kozuka posting (isn’t it too aggressive for a servant?), I’d vote for Chohi instead of a servant. As mentioned, I’m no expert, and my comments are based on an hour of on-line research. Regards, George M.

Hi, I'm a new member looking for help with how to deal with a green powdery oxidation that builds up about every 6 months in the corner of my shakudo kozuka plate. Thus far, I've been gently brushing it away with a fine horse hair brush. Is it causing damage and can I stop it? I'd also appreciate any thoughts on quality, maker, theme (Oar and Rudder). I must admit that I was shocked to see this kodzuka under magnification - I'd always thought that the nanako was very fine to my naked eye....