Unusual fuchi/ kashira

[bubba-san]

I purchased this several years ago off of ebay. I have never seen a menuki like this . Its flower blossom of some kind with a spider on flower with a face and eyes/ mouth. I call the pattern on fuchi/ kashira a snake pattern? not sure what is actually . The Japanese seller said it was snake pattern .

 

I wonder If anyone can tell me something about it? school affiliation ? age? Thank You ....... James

[Antti]

As a newbie, I should probably stay quiet, but Lorenzo Amati made something very similar a while ago. He called the pattern "Yama no michi", the mountain road, and he wrote that they were typical Higo Fuchi/kashira.

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 0499_o.jpg

(picture)

[bubba-san]

You are right it looks very similar. Although the Kashira has no ana for Ito.

 

What do you think of the menuki ? spyder has face (very small) Had to use loop to see face. Its smiling.

 

I may forge a tanto to fit Tsuka ? Just made a nice billet of my (own) Tamahagane using Japanese black sand ore . I purchased the Ore from a company in Germany , They are somehow able to import it from Japan.

 

thank you for Info. regards .........James

[Antti]

Im sure the more experienced guys around can help you with those. I should not speculate.

 

I wonder if that is a plant the spider is on, or some kind of a flying insect.

 

Tetsugendo has a pair of spider menuki for sale if that helps:

http://www.tetsugendo.com/kodogu/M-115_SpiderWasp.html

[bubba-san]

Im sure the more experienced guys around can help you with those. I should not speculate.

 

I wonder if that is a plant the spider is on, or some kind of a flying insect.

 

Tetsugendo has a pair of spider menuki for sale if that helps:

http://www.tetsugendo.com/kodogu/M-115_SpiderWasp.html

 

 

Thanks for the link Mumei, apparently insects were a Goto school feature ? Not sure if its a plant or another insect? They also seems they are quite collectable . My eyesight is poor so I try to carry a magnifying glass.

Regards...... James

[Kevin Adams]

Interesting that the wrap crosses over a Higo-style kashira, I've never seen that before. How can you tell there's no ana for the ito, did you pull the knots back during your inspection?

[bubba-san]

Interesting that the wrap crosses over a Higo-style kashira, I've never seen that before. How can you tell there's no ana for the ito, did you pull the knots back during your inspection?

 

Hello Kevin,

Yes I did pull back a little , no ana . Thought it was unusual myself. It might be a Kogiri but, its too small.

 

I also have not seen that type of tsukaito wrap ???? James

[Lance]

Looks like it's similar to Katake Make style, often used on swords using Higo fittings, sometimes also referred to as "battle wrap but I don't know where that name came from (I would assume all tsuka are wrapped for battle? )

 

Below is a really nice example with leather ito

http://www.nihonto.us/HIGO%20TSUKA.htm

 

Regards,

Lance

[John A Stuart]

These may help with nomenclature. Thank you for the pictures go to Kensen, http://www.yk.rim.or.jp/~ryusui/index.html