Has anyone Seen this work before???

[Nickupero]

Hi, just posting some pictures of some very interesting lacquer work.

First time I've come across something like this and I find its real special. You can literally see entire sea shells.

 

Comments and opinions welcome!

[ROKUJURO]

Looks like a Bouillabaisse SAYA Interesting, but not my taste.

[Nickupero]

Never saw it that way :? but I can see where your coming from.

I imagine the level of workmanship to achieve this is pretty high, sort of like a high grade grade chef to make a top quality Bouillabaisse, lol.

[Mantis dude]

I have seen them and read about using ground shells but don't think I have seen them whole like that.

 

When you put the saya up to your ear do you hear the ocean? (everyone is a wiseass)

[IanB]

Nick, That brings back memories. When I saw the first image you had posted I thought I was looking at a sword I owned way back in the 1960's. It isn't, but the technique is exactly the same. Mine was mounted as a tachi with pain brass bounts that I suspect had been knocked up from a katana saya for the tourist trade. Like yours it had mainly pieces of mussel shell, showing MOP with a purple colour and a few cone-shaped shells that must have been cut into thin slices before fastening onto the saya and embedded in lacquer. Colourful to say the least.

Ian Bottomley

[Nickupero]

Definitely creative Ken, had a good laugh and I'm sure other did too, thx. :lol:

 

Ian happy to know it brought back some good memories, can't imagine the amount of effort that went into trimming each piece!