Edo Period Corner Part II

[kusunokimasahige]

Shimazu and what looks to be a Tsutsui Mon Nice !

 

Now why these two Mon are together on one box I do not know. The Tsutsui Han was abolished in 1608.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutsui_Sadatsugu

 

Another option is the Togashi Han but I am not sure whether they survived the Tokugawa era or whether they were Tozama or became shinpan at one stage...

 

http://www.samurai-archives.com/crest1.html

 

http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Japan_feud.html

[Bugyotsuji]

These things handed down within the family have a special romance to them. Two Mon suggests this maybe part of a wedding dowry? (Although most families had several Mon including an Omote Mon and an Ura Mon.)

 

Here is something especially hard for the members to knock their heads upon.

 

The only hint is that it may be Meiji rather than Edo, but that is no hint at all. (I bought this as I wanted the container, but the content(s) is/are interesting in its/their own right.)

 

Overall length, 39 cm, 1' 3.5", 1 shaku 3 sun.

 

Break a leg. (I did)

[Bugyotsuji]

Would anyone like a) a hint, or b) a shot of the container opened up?

 

Be prepared to be disappointed!

 

Oh, alright then, a hint, in Japanese. メンバーで、科学者はいませんでしょうか？

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers,

It looks as though it may hold a thermometer.

... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

Now Ron, that's not fair. I haven't told a soul. How on earth did you get that?

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers,

Love seeing the Kanji on the bottom ! Is it inscribed ( cut ) into the glass, ... or an ink notation ? Because you are a collector of Japanese art/antiques, I would strongly suggest you watch for other Japanese made antique scientific instruments. Some are quite amusing and ALL are considered very rare. Even basic instruments such as your thermometer which is obviously Japanese made are quite desirable.

... Ron Watson

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers

There I go again with that terrible word " obviously " !

... a private joke between Piers and myself.

...Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

:lol: Ron, I didn't answer your post because I was, embarrassingly for me, still looking for the correct reading for that Kanji! The answer to your question above is yes, it is incised into the surface of the thermometer.

 

It could be the old kanji for shizumu, botsu 没 but I am not sure why it would be written here, unless it means "insert from this end into the carrying tube". (?)

[Lance]

Maybe it's directions for which end to insert somewhere else?

(my mother was a nurse and she used to tell me, when she first started most early thermometers weren't used orally)

 

Regards

Lance

[John A Stuart]

You guys!! While a lot of thermometers were for medical use most weren't. Lab t..s will be found in leather or pressed cardboard protective tubes, I can't see the temp. range so can't really comment on where this was used. Strange how there is no mercury reservoir at the bottom. Speaking of bottoms, it is pretty long slender and pointed to see that use or orally I suspect. John

[Bugyotsuji]

John, yes with that inserted you would not want to bend over.

 

The 0, 10, 20 numbers that you can see go up in increments of 10 to 60, and that's it. :|

[Bugyotsuji]

Here's something different. No hints yet, other than it is Japanese and old, possibly even pre-Edo.

[Bazza]

Horse armour????

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Bugyotsuji]

Good answer.

 

It could be, or it could have been in a previous configuration, I can imagine. In this particular case though, it isn't horse armour.

[Bugyotsuji]

Hit 50 views, or close enough.

 

So here is the answer. Been doing some running repairs on my armour. Each square of thick leather has been shaped to a dome with bent-up edges and dried. Nerikawa/gawa, then gold foiled and red lacquered and punched with eight holes. Some of the lacquer seems to be covering a piece of something reflective underneath...?　Haidate, (hakidate), goes under the gesan or kusazuri.

[Bugyotsuji]

Here's a slightly harder one. What is the purpose of this article? （Made of 真鍮 Shinchu）

[Bazza]

Sake barrel scraper????

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Bugyotsuji]

Until Sunday (yesterday) I had no idea what these were, and only when the dealer told me what it was did I decide to buy it.

Since you gave it a try, Bazza, perhaps I should provide a very small hint. Look at the bottom edge...

[John A Stuart]

I was thinking, what a beveled cutting ege was for and decided whilst eating some tonkatsu; a noodle cutter. John

[Bugyotsuji]

Scraping a sake barrel is good, but noodle cutter is even better. John, you are in the right cricket ground... (just add a little sweetness).

 

These were used in an Edo Period shop for producing

[Baka Gaijin]

Dango?

[Bugyotsuji]

Dango?

 

Yes, Malcolm, that sort of thing! "Okashi-Ya" I think the couple said. All the instruments came from the cupboard of one old shop, but of them I found these three to be the most interesting, the rest being slim brass spoons of which I already have a couple.

 

Not quite sure if a brass pastry cutter counts as Nihonto though...

[kusunokimasahige]

Mochi ! And Dango

 

Yummie !

 

Great find Piers !!!

[Bugyotsuji]

 

Great find Piers !!!

Not according to my wife.

[kusunokimasahige]

Ah so ka ? She does not know how to make mochi ?

 

 

KM

[Bugyotsuji]

Here's one for the cleverer among you. Break a leg!!!

 

Hint. No hints yet. Level of difficulty, 6/10.

[John A Stuart]

Rousoku, novelty candle? John

[Bugyotsuji]

Wow that was quick, John. Yes, right so far!

Do you want to go for more detail? 5cm high...

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Piers,

 

Great to see the Edo Period Corner up and running again.

 

May I add that the item is made of "Haze" -laquer tree seed wax- and washi paper for the core.

 

I suggest further that Kendo-Ka may have had a use for it, fragrancing Dou and Kabuto after Natsu - Geiko.......

 

Cheers

[Bugyotsuji]

That is what it should be, but sadly, nothing so erudite Malcolm. The materials are modern, but...