Hello and thank you

[medar1]

My Grandfather received this sword from a Japanese officer during WW2 that he saved. The story goes that after saving the life of said officer, the officer gifted this sword to him as thanks stating it was in his family for "generations", passed from "hand to hand of each military son for generations", and was "ancient".

 

Originally, we were under the impression that the number may have been a serial number, however, we were told via a Japanese sword smith in San Francisco that the sword was associated with Tokugawa Yoshimune and that smith was very adamant about that, as well as stating that the "number was not a serial number but rather was engraved by a user of the sword during that period."

 

We pressed on not having any solid answer and went to another sword smith (who was quite old at the time) and he stated (through his son as an interpreter) that the sword was similar (that he knew of) to only that of similar swords associated with Tokugawa Hidetada and he felt the officer's story to my Grandfather held water on it being "ancient" (he did some tests).

 

We checked other Japanese swords online and the symbols, year engraving, and, frankly, the design is like nothing else we have seen and can compare it with. The sword is with my Uncle, passed from his Father, and, frankly, none of the sword smiths both:

 

a) Know the translation

b) Can gauge the age as the sword (in ones words) is "unique" and in the others he "has never held or seen it's like".

 

I would greatly appreciate any and all help you can give so we can finally put this mystery on the right track! I have added pictures but will gladly add more if you need anything else.

[medar1]

Here are more pictures and thank you again

[medar1]

One last round of pictures to help you discern the sword

[Stephen]

That's some story that's snowballed. Don't look like Nihonto to me, more of a copy of.

[J Reid]

Your grandfather told you a hell of a fib there, son.

[medar1]

My Grandfather was an honorable man and I am being straight forward about everything. I won't be disappointed by anything but I simply don't see him making up a story (and that is based on the other items our family has and were appraised/identified and his track record). Further, I know for 100% fact this sword was acquired in WW2 from a Japanese Officer on Okinawa so unless they were making "copies" back then, I don't know what to say (truly, at a loss).

 

Regardless, I am not going to defend nor need to defend any story as the story doesn't matter and I included it only to help an actual expert for helping me with this decade long mystery but rather I would simply prefer the sword be identified as best it can be and the engravings identified.

 

I should add that the engraving is present on both sides of the blade.

 

This is not bologna (I see you guys deal with a lot) in any manner (what I stated and the story I was told) so I apologize if it seems to be (truly). I simply am looking for help, nothing more.

[Stephen]

Im not calling out granddad, so on to the sword, it does dot look Japanese, my take lets see what everyone else thinks.

[John A Stuart]

It has Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC inscribed on the scabbard. So Dutch East Indies Co. with the 'A' for the Amsterdam chamber. I believe this may in fact be an Indonesian or Malay sword, not Japanese. John

[medar1]

It has Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC inscribed on the scabbard. So Dutch East Indies Co. with the 'A' for the Amsterdam chamber. I believe this may in fact be an Indonesian or Malay sword, not Japanese. John

 

Wow, John that is absolutely awesome. I just checked and that symbol is exact. Thank you so much. Why the hell would a Japanese Officer have a Dutch Indies Co sword I wonder. As pleased as I am with finally knowing that symbol the mystery just got a whole lot larger (and I am a huge history lover but geez!).

[John A Stuart]

A Japanese officer could indeed have picked it up somewhere as they had control in the area. He could have also given it to your grandfather, why not? It amazes me what the people you showed it to came up with as provenance. What does the tang with the handle removed look like? John

[medar1]

Wow, that is absolutely awesome. I just checked and that symbol is exact. Thank you so much. Why the hell would a Japanese Officer have a Dutch Indies Co sword I wonder. As pleased as I am with finally knowing that symbol the mystery just got a whole lot larger (and I am a huge history lover but geez!). You guys don't know how happy I am to finally have some direction on this as I am now 35 and have not had much direction on this other than "possibly".

 

I did some research and the Company seemed to work in Asia from 1602 to 1796. What I question is this:

 

1) Was the sword of Japanese origin originally (which is why the sword smith made claim of its origin) then somehow acquired by the Dutch Indies CO, engraved and then reacquired by the Japanese during WW2?

a) I bring this option up only because of the Buddhism idol on the sheath. I just don't see someone from the VOC having this belief system, especially in that time period. Also, the engraving on the blade is sloppy and nothing like I have seen.

 

2) From what you have seen of the sword itself, is it of Japanese design?

 

You really blew my mind apart guys, truly, thank you so much for telling me what that symbol represents. I just don't know how to research more into it's origins except possibly look into the Dutch Indies and maybe send some pictures to BBC Antique Roadshow. Don't get me wrong, I love the challenge (a lot), but now another country/company is brought into the fray and I never expected that. Checking the "tang" now. I will send a picture.

[medar1]

Here you go. And honestly John, thank you so much (truly).

 

I should note (incase it matters) that when the end is by itself, it is not light but very sturdy and hallowed to fit on to the wooden tang (it's a tang, yes? I apologize for my ignorance).

[John A Stuart]

The tang is the metal unsharpened end of the sword that inserts into the handle. John

[medar1]

I will have to bring it to a professional as I don't feel comfortable taking it off being ignorant to this as I am. When I apply pressure I can feel it wanting to slide off but the last thing I want to do is damage anything.

[medar1]

I don't know if this will help, John, but I tried (I just am fearful of damaging it).

 

Couple things I should add.

 

a) The blade in totality is magnetic.

 

b) The brownish/gold looking material (Idol on sheath, hilt around blade, and end piece) is NOT magnetic (not at all and we tried a strong one and weak one) - I believe it is bronze as it isn't rusted nor oxidized despite it's age, nor is it green after age (copper).

 

c) There is a tiny symbol to the left of the "1" in "1756". I posted a picture but it's hard to see (incase you can't spot it).

 

d) I couldn't manuever the camera well enough to take a solid picture but the blade is magnetic metal and is inserted into (what appears to be) two pieces of smooth wood, which is then covered by whatever wrap this has on it.

[John A Stuart]

Ah, that close-up helped. Definitely not a Japanese sword. I am of the mind it is a dha variation of perhaps Thai origin. Check out this site; http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/co ... rticle.htm for examples. John

[medar1]

Ah, that close-up helped. Definitely not a Japanese sword. I am of the mind it is a dha variation of perhaps Thai origin. Check out this site; http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/co ... rticle.htm for examples. John

 

Thank you for your help and direction. I know most people would be disappointed but I am ecstatic. For me this is a scavenger hunt back through time. I know it may seem like BS but my Grandfather really was an honest (ridiculously really) man so I do believe the story about him getting it from the Officer because I also have his service record booklet which includes "contraband" and as he was the Commander of a ship, he was very detailed.

 

I bring that up because, let's say for a moment that it is a variation. Then the next question I ask myself is why the Japanese Officer had it, why he said it had been in his family (I read the Japanese letter he sent my Grandfather to thank him years later - can post if you guys wish), and why a variation sword with the Indies Trading CO symbol would be on a Japanese Officer on Okinawa in the first place (I was under the impression they had their own swords).

 

You really helped me today John and I will be making a donation as an expert should be paid for his time and consideration in my view and I believe in that fully. If you have any further insight, or anyone else does, please let me know because this truly is fun for me.

 

M

[Geraint]

Hello M (?)

 

Some thoughts for you to consider about your sword:

The VOC blade could easily have been made in Europe as a trade item or it could have been captured and remounted. Either case indicates that blades have always been expensive and highly prized.

(This swapping around is quite common, in India there is even a group of swords called firanghi which means foreigner because they have European blades. There are examples of blades made in Solingen in Germany which are mounted as talwar and so on.) The Buddhist emblems are therefor not a contradiction.

 

The sword may look at first glance like a Japanese sword but it clearly is not, the story of it being in a Japanese family for a long time is not disproved by this, it may well have been a trophy from some other time. Your swordsmiths may have been out of their depth here, when you described them as Japanese swordsmiths do you mean that or were they smiths who made Japanese style swords? There are some features of the mountings that look a little like very early Japanese mountings, the sharp retaining hook and some other things.

 

As it is not Japanese do not attempt to remove the hilt, that is something usually fairly easily done on a Japanese sword by removing one peg and slipping off the hilt mountings, this won't be the case on your sword and removing the hilt may result in some serious damage. In any case what we look for by studying the tang won't apply here so there is no point in attempting it.

 

While this is a forum devoted to the study of Japanese swords, and as a result we tend to be a bit sniffy about anything else, this one may have quite a history if indeed it has spent some time in the family of the Japanese officer. Of course it may have been a foreign curio picked up out of interest by the officers great, great grandad but the idea of it being captured spoils of war is much more romantic and if you enjoy the journey then research Japanese pirates, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wokou Perhaps the sword was brought back by the Japanese equivalent of Long John Silver!

 

In any event this is a fascinating piece and worth researching. (Having mocked a fellow collector for picking up what I thought was a junk copy of a Japaneses sword I had to eat my words when he sold it as it was a very rare Korean weapon and was eagerly fought over by buyers!) You might find this link interesting though I cannot say if your sword is a match, just a thought. http://www.ashokaarts.com/shop/search?q ... rchSold=on

 

Enjoy your research, it would be amazing to prove the pirate theory.

 

All the best.

[medar1]

Hello M (?)

 

Some thoughts for you to consider about your sword:

The VOC blade could easily have been made in Europe as a trade item or it could have been captured and remounted. Either case indicates that blades have always been expensive and highly prized.

(This swapping around is quite common, in India there is even a group of swords called firanghi which means foreigner because they have European blades. There are examples of blades made in Solingen in Germany which are mounted as talwar and so on.) The Buddhist emblems are therefor not a contradiction.

 

The sword may look at first glance like a Japanese sword but it clearly is not, the story of it being in a Japanese family for a long time is not disproved by this, it may well have been a trophy from some other time. Your swordsmiths may have been out of their depth here, when you described them as Japanese swordsmiths do you mean that or were they smiths who made Japanese style swords? There are some features of the mountings that look a little like very early Japanese mountings, the sharp retaining hook and some other things.

 

As it is not Japanese do not attempt to remove the hilt, that is something usually fairly easily done on a Japanese sword by removing one peg and slipping off the hilt mountings, this won't be the case on your sword and removing the hilt may result in some serious damage. In any case what we look for by studying the tang won't apply here so there is no point in attempting it.

 

While this is a forum devoted to the study of Japanese swords, and as a result we tend to be a bit sniffy about anything else, this one may have quite a history if indeed it has spent some time in the family of the Japanese officer. Of course it may have been a foreign curio picked up out of interest by the officers great, great grandad but the idea of it being captured spoils of war is much more romantic and if you enjoy the journey then research Japanese pirates, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wokou Perhaps the sword was brought back by the Japanese equivalent of Long John Silver!

 

In any event this is a fascinating piece and worth researching. (Having mocked a fellow collector for picking up what I thought was a junk copy of a Japaneses sword I had to eat my words when he sold it as it was a very rare Korean weapon and was eagerly fought over by buyers!) You might find this link interesting though I cannot say if your sword is a match, just a thought. http://www.ashokaarts.com/shop/search?q ... rchSold=on

 

Enjoy your research, it would be amazing to prove the pirate theory.

 

All the best.

 

What a fantastic rundown. I am truly grateful for all that has been said and explained to me on this site. I, absolutely, understand (and respect) why your viewers and those who participate would be irritated by both deception and liars who (I assume) flood this forum regularly. For me, I can't really put it into an intelligent statement but suffice to say, I am not an adult and the history of the sword has, honestly, been a fascination of mine since I was a child. I used to ask him constantly if I could see it and such when I was young.

 

You are correct about the "sword smiths". They were creators of the style (to my understanding) so I shouldn't have said "experts". I simply am ignorant to the language, lingo and everything therein in relation to the beautiful design and art on sword creation and study and am trying my best to educate myself as history is and has always been an interesting pastime of mine and the sword creates a chance for me to delve back to see if I can discover its origin, story, and such.

 

I purchased a type of shadow box for him to place it in (it will eventually pass to me) that was quite expensive and hardened so the world cannot damage it but, again, as I am ignorant to all of this and couldn't find any true expert, the process has been difficult to say the least. I feel I got very lucky finding this site and the help I have received has been more than ten years of (here and there) research. I would have never thought about a European organization considering the words said by the Japanese man and where my Grandfather obtained it and, you're right, I have always (until today) thought it was Japanese in origin based both on who was carrying it during WW2 and what nationality he was (not to mention my basic comparisons of pictures).

 

Again, thank you all for your time, consideration and everything therein and if you think of anything else, I would be extremely grateful.

 

M

[ROKUJURO]

Medar,

 

although the photos are not well enough focused to be sure, I think Geraint has hit the nail right between the eyes.

 

To me the blade does not look Japanese nor Burmese, but it might be a part of a European sabre, and I think the year 1756 is genuine to the blade, so not applied later.

 

Probably the weapon has made quite a journey in its life, and as in many cases the story is half the value of the item!

[medar1]

Medar,

 

although the photos are not well enough focused to be sure, I think Geraint has hit the nail right between the eyes.

 

To me the blade does not look Japanaese nor Burmese, but I think it might be a part of a European sabre, and I think the year 1756 is genuine to the blade, so not applied later.

 

Probably the weapon has made quite a journey in its life, and as in many cases the story is half the value of the item!

 

Do you believe that a sword (this one in this particular case) that is created outside of Japan could be unique in terms of what we are seeing? Better stated, is that plausible considering we cannot find something similar to it from that time frame and location? I simply cannot find anything matching the design, shape, age range (I have exhausted the 1700's it feels like) and and visuals.

 

I guess what I am asking is (and I apologize if this is the wrong website) if it is plausible that this sword was created with this specific design and everything therein to match whatever the VOC owner wanted, he went to Japan at some point (or the area), it was taken in some form, and thus from there it the story goes? It just seems so far fetched and when I think of beauty in swords I think of Japan so I had never considered the possibility of anything else. I just have been combing google and websites for hours since you guys turned me on to the VOC and simply cannot find anything even remotely like it from that time period so I am asking myself "is this thing one of a kind and the smith who forged it was attempting to copy something but failed?"

[Geraint]

Medar,

 

I'm not quite clear on your question. We are suggesting that this blade was made in Europe and either exported as a bare blade to be mounted up somewhere or taken over to the Far East as a sword,perhaps a hanger, and remounted there. I am suggesting that none of it at all was made in Japan but given your information about it that it somehow found it's way there at a later date.

Is it unique? Well I have not seen one exactly like it but that means very little.

 

Just to keep you excited check out this link for an almost identical VOC blade. http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s1326_full.html

 

You're going to like this one.

[medar1]

Medar,

 

 

 

Just to keep you excited check out this link for an almost identical VOC blade. http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s1326_full.html

 

You're going to like this one.

 

Mission accomplished, that really does pump me up. Talk about a turn of events from 20 years of thought. I had never even heard of VOC weapons (which isn't saying a lot as I never even looked into it) and surely never knew they were rare.

 

The more I read about these VOC - A swords the more it appears they were decorative gifts for specific people. So, yes, perhaps it was gifted to that family in Japan from the VOC itself (that actually would make sense).

[Curran]

Gents,

 

Look at the koshirae and the curve of the saya.

As if the little statuette with the hole in it wasn't interesting enough, this was made either to be worn left side or blade down. Probably blade down?

The western blade is interesting, but the koshirae is the culture clash hybrid that has my attention. Please take good care of the koshirae.

Namban in form, with the Dutch VOC symbol on both the blade and the saya- this is something I have not seen before.

 

Probably the blade is just a straight skinny western tang without signature. I think the koshirae is of significant historic value, so please be careful with it. I would vote against anyone trying to remove the blade, for fear of damaging the koshirae.

[Brian]

Bear in mind that there are big collectors of anything to do with VOC. And that the history of the VOC spans the globe, with even some history here in South Africa. So whilst maybe not a Japanese sword, it has another completely different but equally interesting, history. We do see tsuba with VOC motiffs too, so you have your research cut out for you here.

 

Brian

[medar1]

Just an update guys:

 

I emailed the University of Copenhagen (among many other places) and they have emailed me copies of the VOC shipping manifests from 1756 onward (and will send prior if I need). I came up with this idea last night with the hope that in one of these will detail where and to whom exactly the blade was headed.

 

From my research, which guys, was 14 hours yesterday (seriously) I have discovered a few startling and agreed upon things when it came to the VOC:

 

1) When they gifted the blade it was always to some big wig type. In essence it was a "We are now trading partners with you, here is a gift to celebrate it" type of offering.

 

2) That original smith in San Francisco (whom I contacted today but had since passed) stated he felt the "sword" reminded him of something similar to the associates of "Tokugawa Yoshimune". I posted this in my first message but didn't consider it after it seemed to be "untrue". However, Yoshimune was the Shogun of Japan during that time period and his history shows he altered the more strict policy of his predecessor with the Dutch. My point is perhaps the smith actually did know the design of the art and that is what he was getting at when he said it reminded him of it. His English wasn't very good. I am not saying it has any association but rather that given the time period, the VOC policy of gifting the big wig and the fact Yoshimune basically opened house for trade it (from a business standpoint) makes sense. (EDIT - Yoshimune died in 1751 so this cannot be true) - However:

"The Dutch East India Company missions to Edo were regular tribute missions to the court of the Tokugawa Shogun in Edo (modern Tokyo) to reassure the ties between the Bakufu and the Opperhoofd. The Opperhoofd of the Dutch factory in Dejima and his attendants were escorted by the Japanese to Edo where they presented exotic and elaborate gifts to the Shogun:clocks, telescopes, medicines, artillery and rare animals were usual gifts of the tribute missions.[1] The Shogun would correspond at the same time with gifts to the Dutch. The tribute system as in China, served to enhance the idea of the Shogun's supremacy to his subjects."

 

3) As Curran said, and I have heard repeated time after time on the other forums is that the sword is a "clash" (basically exactly how you stated it) which is something never seen before by anyone else.

 

However, you guys just keep providing amazing intelligence that is really helping. It really does appear I was fortunate I stumbled upon this site because the sword in total does have a clash of several different things.

 

Also: I know this is a sword site, however, if you guys are interested and want to see the other items my family picked up through the centuries from Japan I would be happy to post them just let me know. Nanban, etc.

[IanB]

M, Geraint, has hit this one absolutely spot on. I would just add the following:

 

The VOC were established in Holland in 1603 to trade in the Far East, becoming very wealthy and powerful. Their ships sailed out of Amsterdam and other Dutch ports for bases in the East Indies, particularly Batavia. In the early 1600's they set up a trading base in Japan on the island of Hirado in competition with the Spanish / Portuguese based in Nagasaki. During the 1620's the Japanese began to have concerns about the Catholic Spanish / Portuguese but were concerned that if they banished them from Japan they would loose the inports of raw silk and brocades they shipped in from Macao in China. The problem was solved by building an artificial island in Nagasaki bay called Dejima and confining the Spanish / Portuguese traders to it. Thus they were banished from the sacred soil of Japan, but could still import the silks. By 1639 the Spanish / Portuguese were finally expelled completely after the Dutch had agreed to take over the importation of silk. By 1641 the Dutch were moved from Hirado and isolated on Dejima where they were generally forbidden from leaving except for the trips to Edo to give presents to the Shogun. One of the restrictions that was applied to the Dutch, the has a bearing to your sword, was that weapons were forbidden on Dejima. Each Dutch ship that arrived had to moor off-shore and was searched for weapons and religious matter that were confiscated before it could dock and unload its cargo. The weapons and such being returned when it sailed. Your sword is very unlikely therefore to have been acquired by that route and would certainly not have been a gift to a Japanese - that would have been absolutely forbidden.

The blade is in fact a standard Dutch hanger issued by the VOC in Amsterdam for use by a sailor on one of their ships. It has been re-mounted somewhere in the Far East, possibly Indonesia with typical brass mounts from that area. When issued it would have had a black leather scabbard with brass chape at the bottom and a brass locket at the mouth. They were normally fitted with a brass guard, knuckle-bow and pommel. Since we know the sword was issued in 1756 and that Japan was a closed country at that date, there are only two possibilities as to how it came into the possession of the Japanese family. One was that many Japanese left Japan around 1600 and served as bodyguards and the like in SE Asia. Some of these families clung to their heritage for centuries - see the collection of pseudo-Japanese weapons in the Rijiks Museum in Amsterdam that belonged to such a family. If they returned to Japan after it was opened up, they could have brought such a sword back to Japan with them. The other possibility is that it was acquired by a Japanese who travelled to SE Asia after Japan was opened in the 19th century.

Ian Bottomley

[Brian]

 

A fantastic history lesson Ian.

 

Brian

[medar1]

M, Geraint, has hit this one absolutely spot on. I would just add the following:

 

The VOC were established in Holland in 1603 to trade in the Far East, becoming very wealthy and powerful. Their ships sailed out of Amsterdam and other Dutch ports for bases in the East Indies, particularly Batavia. In the early 1600's they set up a trading base in Japan on the island of Hirado in competition with the Spanish / Portuguese based in Nagasaki. During the 1620's the Japanese began to have concerns about the Catholic Spanish / Portuguese but were concerned that if they banished them from Japan they would loose the inports of raw silk and brocades they shipped in from Macao in China. The problem was solved by building an artificial island in Nagasaki bay called Dejima and confining the Spanish / Portuguese traders to it. Thus they were banished from the sacred soil of Japan, but could still import the silks. By 1639 the Spanish / Portuguese were finally expelled completely after the Dutch had agreed to take over the importation of silk. By 1641 the Dutch were moved from Hirado and isolated on Dejima where they were generally forbidden from leaving except for the trips to Edo to give presents to the Shogun. One of the restrictions that was applied to the Dutch, the has a bearing to your sword, was that weapons were forbidden on Dejima. Each Dutch ship that arrived had to moor off-shore and was searched for weapons and religious matter that were confiscated before it could dock and unload its cargo. The weapons and such being returned when it sailed. Your sword is very unlikely therefore to have been acquired by that route and would certainly not have been a gift to a Japanese - that would have been absolutely forbidden.

The blade is in fact a standard Dutch hanger issued by the VOC in Amsterdam for use by a sailor on one of their ships. It has been re-mounted somewhere in the Far East, possibly Indonesia with typical brass mounts from that area. When issued it would have had a black leather scabbard with brass chape at the bottom and a brass locket at the mouth. They were normally fitted with a brass guard, knuckle-bow and pommel. Since we know the sword was issued in 1756 and that Japan was a closed country at that date, there are only two possibilities as to how it came into the possession of the Japanese family. One was that many Japanese left Japan around 1600 and served as bodyguards and the like in SE Asia. Some of these families clung to their heritage for centuries - see the collection of pseudo-Japanese weapons in the Rijiks Museum in Amsterdam that belonged to such a family. If they returned to Japan after it was opened up, they could have brought such a sword back to Japan with them. The other possibility is that it was acquired by a Japanese who travelled to SE Asia after Japan was opened in the 19th century.

Ian Bottomley

 

First off, thank you for your time. To go further on your statement: Today I received this message,

 

Dear Chris,

 

Thank you friendly for your question with the images included.

Maybe you also you consult the above museumsites; they are two museums in the Netherlands

specialised on ethnology.

 

And the third one is the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

 

In hope I helped you in this way and with best regards,

 

 

Joyce Edwards

medewerker E-cultuur,

afd fotografie & documentatie

 

 

So it would seem your opinion is shared by others too. I also received this from Stanford:

 

Hello Chris,

 

Unfortunately, our history faculty were not able to provide additional information for the sword.

 

You may want to try contacting a curator at the Cantor Arts Center. They may be able to provide you with more information.

 

http://museum.stanford.edu/index.html

 

Good luck! I hope you find the information you have been looking for.

 

Kind regards,

Priscilla

 

The mystery and hunt continues my friends!

[IanB]

M, The VOC must have taken hundreds of swords out to SE Asia and the Far East, so no doubt many fell into the hands of the local population. Very few survive so what you own is a very rare and precious object although I suspect more are still aroud but unrecognised. The Royal Armouries collection contains a spear from Malaya or the Phillipines the blade of which has been made out of a sword blade like yours. It still retains the VOC mark and 'A' for Amsterdam.

 

Another trick the VOC got up to was to acquire swords or knife blades of the type used in an area they traded in and have them copied by the hundreds in Europe, usually in Solingen in Germany. These then formed the perfect, desirable trade goods for that area. As Geraint pointed out, vast numbers of double edged straight blades were shipped to India bearing European markings thought to be Italian. The famous 'pata' or gauntlet swords of India all appear to have long European blades that were obviously specially made for that weapon. Whether the blades inspired the weapon or visa- versa is a matter of dispute.

Ian Bottomley