old menuki?

[ice-hot]

Ohayogozaimasu,

 

Does anyone recognize these menuki? I have seen similar -- I just can't remember where.

I've combed through what books I have, but haven't found anything close enough to direct me to an artist or school.

I think they are old, Momoyama. Maybe older. I haven't seen any dogs like these from Edo. They are solid except the middle of the body, were they hollow out. I have pried one up, but neglected to take photos! They are glued to the tsuka. Size is about 60x22mm so... quite large for menuki. They are gold in color all the way thru, and very soft. Gold over silver?

Too soft to be copper or brass.

Any help or push in the right direction , dates, school ,artist or anything, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Merry Christmas,

John A

[Lance]

Looks similar to a set of fittings in Boston museum, I think they've been published in a few books too. 19th century. Otsuki school, Matsuo Gassan.

Emasciated dog-wolf in reeds of Mushashino/Mushshi plain. (dark lonely place, usually depicted with skull or bones in overgrown grass, I think a place of exile)

 

 

pic and link below.

 

http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/f ... shino-9897

 

 

Hopefully I'm wrong but yours look like there's a possibility of them being later/modern examples. Close up pics focused on the menuki themselves and the backs would help

 

Regards,

Lance

[Pete Klein]

HI - my feeling is that they are either modern or were recently cleaned. The color of the gold is too bright for an older fitting and they have a bit of a 'cast' look to the finish. Without being able to see the back side it is difficult to tell for certain. It also looks like there are remnants of adhesive on the tsuka ito which could point to a recent addition or refurbishment.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Haven't looked around but also get the feeling looking at this set that these are perhaps modern. Isn't in fact the Boston Museum now reproducing and selling some of its pieces?

[ice-hot]

Thanks for the replys,

I agree Pete, they are very clean, probably recently cleaned and they also look like they were just mounted to the tsuka.

I just bought this Koshirae so I don't know much about it.

Lance, that is right on , thank you. If not done by Gassan than surely the school!

I will see about trying to get pics of the back. I don't really want to remove them, but will see.

Thank you,

John A

[ice-hot]

Franco,

What do we need to see to tell if they are modern made or period?

Thank you,

John A