Would craftsman often make several sets of the same menuki?

[stevel48]

Or do they make 1 set of one type and then never again? the reason I ask is because I found an exact, and I do mean exact copy of a set of menuki for sale that I owned at one time that I know to be currently mounted on a waki.

[Rich S]

Yes, especially those that were cast and then hand finished.

Rich

[stevel48]

interesting

 

1st image is the pair I owned and the 2nd is the pair for sale now. The pair I owned were really mint (regretting selling them). This 2nd set needs a little restoration work.

[Brian]

Most fittings have multiple examples, and even multiple schools and eras. The pattern books were passed down and patterns repeated.

Few fittings are one-offs at the lower to mid level.

 

Brian

[stevel48]

I'm pretty excited to have found them again. What are the odds right...

[Peter Bleed]

I think we have to assume that ALL fittings were made in multiples for two reasons.

1. The work of mastering techniques required repetition. Kinko probably never worked in huge volumes, but remember the potters who would make tens of thousand of identical tea cups before they were taught how to make anything else. and

2) I think it is wrong to view kinko as free wheeling independent artists. The work of creating designs was the special reserve of masters. They were the guys who had the time to noodle around, sketch, and draw. They kept the design books. They decided what looked good and what would sell. They might even buy good designs - that they would assign designs to their staff.

Peter

[stevel48]

Thanks Peter. My 2nd set of these is on its way from Japan. Never in a million year did I think I would find another pair.