For The Historically Minded

[seattle1]

Hello:

 This morning an interesting tanto and koshirae popped up on Aoi-Art. The item is AS15454, a tanto signed Kanesuke with a Tensho date. The interesting thing is that the koshirae tsuka has an incorporated emblem, a mon almost, of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC). We all know of the importance of the window on Japan that company gave us, and perhaps even more useful information for the Japanese during the long period of Sakoku when their activities were restricted to Dejima Island at Nagasaki. Their years at the island were from 1634 to 1860 and I suppose the koshirae could have been for a samurai or Japanese trader almost any time during that span, or it might even have been ordered by a Hollander. It is not expressly Christian so I would guess it would not have been prohibited. The whole thing is an artifact of history in more ways than one.

 Arnold F.

[Stephen]

http://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-noshu-seki-ju-kanesuke-saku

[Fuuten]

Yeah i saw that work this morning as well. Nice looking hitatsura temper!

[Peter Bleed]

Arnold,

I too started my day by dropping by Tsuruta-san's page and looked at this neat little tanto. Indeed, the blade is - ahhh - a bit over the top IMHO, but that great VOC embellishment on the koshirae  is very interesting. I had to wonder if it was simpy and entirely Japanese-made. Silver plate is a odd medium, isn't it?  And what about that brass kogatana, hmmm?

Peter

[Brian]

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/17236-voc-tanto/

Saved the pic for future reference

 

Brian

[Pete Klein]

Guido should write Tsuruta san about the kashira - name for the little flaps - and see if he knows as he had asked about this recently.

[seattle1]

Hello:

 Pete, they aren't an integral part of the kashira as far as I can tell. That kashira, along with its fuchi mate, were most likely once part of a more standard tsuka arrangement with same, menuki, and conventional ito which would have gone as binding through the now covered holes in the kashira. If so, that certainly doesn't diminish the interesting VOC connection with the koshirae that those covers imply.

 Arnold F.

[Ford Hallam]

I don't think the engraving is Japanese at all, nor very old. The VOC logo may similarly be bogus. The whole set up feels wrong to me.

[Curran]

As Ford said, I don't the carving on the kozuka, kogai, etc is very Japanese.

 

The carving, the tanto's general compact shape, rounded ends, black n silver, tight wrapped handle without menuki:  felt more to the Toppei koshirae end of the spectrum.

I wouldn't quite call it Toppei koshirae, but does have that post 1854 western military feel to it.

The VOC is total mystery to me.

[Guido]

Guido should write Tsuruta san about the kashira - name for the little flaps - and see if he knows as he had asked about this recently.

 

He's one of the many people I asked already in the past. The mystery continues ... 

[kuromido]

Hi guys. after looking at this tanto for only a moment in another thread my thoughts went to early western (not just the US ) firearme engraving.

I suggest--- a little fearfully after reading the thread "Question About Matched (Theme) Koshirae Fittings" that this tanto may well have left the country "in the white"  as gun engravers call a unfinished blank firearm as a gift or memento only to be engraved by a western engraver at a later date. I am not saying that this was the intent from the beginning but more likely a simple or plain koshirae that was embelished elsewhere.  It is possible that it made many trips back and forth in the hands of an employee of the VOC.

I would point to the engraving style of any of the early European or American gun-makers for examples.

I don't however see it as "bogus " looking at the overall honest wear.

 

Admittedly this is unsubstantiated fantasy, possible though.

Just my two cents,

PeterD