Bugyotsuji Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Posted September 19, 2011 Any pictures of you wearing them, Eric? PS Now back in the Land of Wa and perhaps more able to contribute here once more.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Posted September 27, 2011 On Sunday morning at about 6:45 am I was wandering an antiques fair and spotted a dealer carrying an old dusty Tebako 手箱 lacquer box to his pitch. It was full of stuff, and as he dropped it heavily onto the bench I asked him how much the box was. Several other people had also rushed forward and crowded round, so when he told me over his shoulder the price for the box itself, before he could open it, I shouted with maximum restraint: KATTA... Now I just happened to have another box like it at home but covered in gold and silver Maki-e, which I bought perhaps six or seven years ago and I remember the date for that style as Muromachi or Momoyama, or early Edo. The one I bought on Sunday is plain and very slightly smaller, but still about the size of a hatbox. Sadly when I looked at it later one of the ring fittings was missing, but otherwise it was in pretty good nick, and a little spit & polish later, despite the wear of the years it now really looks good. The dealer said I would soon find another ring fitment, but I know I won't, having searched for such previously. A quick search on the internet turned up this 「角赤」 http://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/kyoiku/b ... hin/3.html which is very similar. The description says that there was a fashion from the Momoyama Period of binding these Tebako in cloth and impregnating the cloth with red lacquer and leaving part of the surface in this rough cloth effect.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Posted September 27, 2011 A court lady's vanity case? The plain one I picked up on Sunday. The more colorful/colourful one needs professional restoration but is still useful for my bits and pieces.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Posted September 27, 2011 Searching online and just found another one. This must have been in an auction in Hong Kong? Similar, but has Maki-e on lid. Listed as "Azuchi Momoyama 16th-17th C" http://www.est-ouest.co.jp/1105lot1361.html
estcrh Posted September 27, 2011 Report Posted September 27, 2011 Just found another one. This must have been in an auction in Hong Kong? Similar, but has Maki-e on lid. Listed as "Azuchi Momoyama 16th-17th C" http://www.est-ouest.co.jp/1105lot1361.html Piers, I would never guess by looking at them that they were so old..or..valuable.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Posted September 27, 2011 Hi Eric. No, and I am surprised by how the Japanese themselves do not seem to value lacquer boxes in general. Perhaps they have no room in the house as they often say...I love them. With this particular box on Sunday there were a lot of puzzled faces, but I was sure it was something special. I told my J friend it was really old, but he half didn't believe me. Just been thinking about the heart shape windows. They are described in the auction (English = red peach) as peach shapes. We know them as 'inome' or boars' eyes. The Momoyama age is said to have been named after the Momoyama area of Kyoto where Hideyoshi had his castle at Fushimi. One explanation says peach trees were planted where his castle stood. I wonder if this shape became particularly popular around that time. The Ikeda family started to use an open butterfly with these heart/peach/boars'eyes cutouts in the wings. The latest 'in' design feature? Look at the waved edge and heart shapes in the wings... http://x181.secure.ne.jp/~x181007/kamon/shop/26007.html
estcrh Posted September 28, 2011 Report Posted September 28, 2011 Any pictures of you wearing them, Eric? PS Now back in the Land of Wa and perhaps more able to contribute here once more. Piers, funny you should mention this, I was just trying to convince a friend to model some of the Japanese clothing I have, I am to big for most of it...on another note I just found an item that thanks to one of the first posts in this thread I was able to know what it was used for.I saw these two items and the pictures were so small that the detail did not show up. I just happened to take a real good look and saw that the items were a yari bujuro (thanks to Piers) and a yumi bukuri, both with the same kamon. Although both must have been quite common at one time I have not seen any old ones for sale, they must have taken a beating while being used. Its hard to tell how old they actually are but they are good representative examples.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Posted September 28, 2011 Very nice find, Eric and getting the same Kamon and coloring/colouring makes it very special!
estcrh Posted September 28, 2011 Report Posted September 28, 2011 Very nice find, Eric and getting the same Kamon and coloring/colouring makes it very special! I would have thought it was an umbrella cover if I had not seen yours
christianmalterre Posted October 17, 2011 Report Posted October 17, 2011 Here´s an rather untypical object for an Tsuba-Guy like me,wich i just very recently acquiered directly in Japan... (Something "Old History" for the blades-guys here ) An completely/entirely rusted old Tachi blade. Seems to be O-Suri age? Total length of that blade is 89,5 cm Nagasa 73 cm(Munemachi-Tip) Sori 1,8 cm Kasane 0.8 cm Mihaba 2.9 cm O-Kissaki with length of 7 cm (Yokote-Tip) It does remember me in it´s shape to an Yamato or Yamashiro blade/in fact,but,it could be everything-Laugh! Quite funny so to find such "Old History" artefacts... I think there is no real sense so to speculate about an new polish here-the rust goes deep-however an decorative,historical item anyways... I will post it into the sales-section soon/shure it will find an good home-just actually do make me the pleasure so to examine it... Funny to see what may be happened if there had not ben polishers and enthousiasts not? Cheers! Christian LOL!
Bazza Posted October 17, 2011 Report Posted October 17, 2011 Recently I purchased this pair of Kiahan or kyahan on ebay, I also bought this kobakama from the same seller but separate from the kiahan. When the items arrived I started to photograph them when I noticed that the kiahan and the kobakama were a matched set. I makes me mad that someone would not sell matched items together. On a par with breaking up suits of armour. A friend has a magnificent 16th century Myochin kabuto with its mempo that were separated from the rest of the armour, I presume to make a better profit for the seller... Regards, BaZZa. (aka Barry Thomas)
Bugyotsuji Posted October 31, 2011 Author Report Posted October 31, 2011 The other day I bought another lantern. The dealer said to stick the washi paper against the insides of the frames. For a number of good reasons I rejected his advice and pasted onto the outside, but the end result looks a little strange. The front window which pulls open for lighting the candle really did need to be papered from behind though, as the vertical locking peg has to be able to move. The writing on the bottom indicates it once was part of the Nakatomi Sarashi Factory in Hachiman-Son. Awa was famous for the production of cotton and linen cloth and Ai (indigo) dyeing which took place in the rivers which converged there. I have discovered that Hachiman Village was incorporated into Tokushima City in 1937, and corresponds to Hachiman-ku of said city today.
Baka Gaijin Posted October 31, 2011 Report Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Piers, Here's a tip from my dim and distant past: If the washi paper is the type of paper used in Shoji, spraying it with plain water from a laundry spray will tighten it to a drum like consistency. But spray sparingly. Cheers Malcolm
Bugyotsuji Posted October 31, 2011 Author Report Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Piers, If the washi paper is the type of paper used in Shoji, spraying it with plain water from a laundry spray will tighten it to a drum like consistency. But spray sparingly. Malcolm Ah, excellent Malcolm. I'll try that. And there is another reason why papering from the inside does not make sense. As it tightens up, it would tend to pull itself away from the inner uprights which are angled in regard to each other. Unless somehow you could feed a single sheet inside to make a 300 degree curtain that would stick happily to the uprights. Hmmm.... With the paper on the inside, it is closer to the flame. In a wind or when knocked, it might tend to catch alight more easily. I have stuck single sheets from the outside where they have four sides of the frame to stick to. Inside there is no rim above so the paper is loose at the top, and below there are a couple of remaining lips, but these do not really provide a proper surface for pasting to, so the bottoms would be loose too. Would two sides be really enough???
Bugyotsuji Posted November 1, 2011 Author Report Posted November 1, 2011 Dealer 1 Punter 0 Tore all the outside sheets off, after applying some clever Nori-melting liquid. Fitted a circular sheet of Shoji paper internally, pasting strut by strut. What a diabolical job. Ignoring all my common sense and all the laws of fire, I followed the dealer's advice (and my wife's strong opinion). When dry I will spray some of Malcolm's water against the paper to pull it all tight. The result is already much more pleasing to the eye. Aesthetics take preference over practicalities!
Grey Doffin Posted November 1, 2011 Report Posted November 1, 2011 Hi Piers, Rather than spray with water try steam. Just hold the lantern upside down over a pot of boiling water for 10 to 30 seconds, depending on the amount of steam. At first the paper will expand but after a couple hours it will have shrunk nicely. I make shoji and use steam to tighten the paper. I think sprayed water would be too coarse a treatment and would expect it to leave water spots that will only be more visible once the light inside the lantern is lit. Grey
Bugyotsuji Posted November 1, 2011 Author Report Posted November 1, 2011 Brilliant. I'll do that now. Thanks Grey.
Baka Gaijin Posted November 1, 2011 Report Posted November 1, 2011 Hi Grey and Piers Never thought of steaming, i'll have a go myself. The Ojiisan I picked up the water trick from used to take a mouthful of water from a tin cup and spit / spray the shoji......... He suggested a laundry spray as he said he spent half his apprenticeship to get the spit / spray action. (I think he was joking... ) Cheers Malcolm
Bugyotsuji Posted November 1, 2011 Author Report Posted November 1, 2011 LOL that's good, Malcolm. I tried steaming it, but erring on the side of caution produced an inconclusive result. (Well, the wife came home and praised the result, something she never normally does.)
Baka Gaijin Posted November 1, 2011 Report Posted November 1, 2011 Hi Piers By the power of You Tube: And if you think your job was tricky......check this out Cheers Malcolm
Bugyotsuji Posted November 1, 2011 Author Report Posted November 1, 2011 Now, if you know what you are doing then it's not so scary! :lol:
Justin Grant Posted November 1, 2011 Report Posted November 1, 2011 I am in love with this lamp.... If you have any detail pictures of the consturction, I would love to see them. It might make a wonderful fall/winter build project. Thanks!
Bugyotsuji Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Posted November 2, 2011 Well, I could take some more pics, Justin. Where in particular? There is a double roof, the lower one having a circular hole in it to let out the heat 360 degrees around. The roof above that is larger, providing shelter from rain? One problem is that someone at some point may have put too large a candle in there, and a hole has burned through the upper deck. Carrying the handle in the up position could be warm. I am toying with the idea of inserting some kind of metal baffle under the top deck to deflect any direct flame.
Bugyotsuji Posted November 3, 2011 Author Report Posted November 3, 2011 While on the subject of Akari, Andon, Shokudai, Wa-Rosoku, etc., I thought it might be an idea to put the lamps, lanterns, candlestick holders, Japanese Haze candles etc. all in one place and try a group shot. Some years ago I threatened to show some of these but no-one replied, so I didn't bother. After finishing up today and putting everything away I discovered another candlestick shokudai, a portable folding lantern, and a box for oil, wicks and general oil lamp instruments... so one extra shot!
Bugyotsuji Posted November 3, 2011 Author Report Posted November 3, 2011 While most of the above are from the Edo Period or Muromachi, there are a couple from Meiji and Taisho; the oldest is a simple bronze candle holder from Han China around 2,000 years ago.
Bugyotsuji Posted November 4, 2011 Author Report Posted November 4, 2011 One day I will go through and number and label everything for the family in case I pop my clogs before I am ready. Luckily these things are nothing like Nihonto pricewise! If you are looking at the pic above, please notice two tall red cylindrical lanterns. These could have been in a place of entertainment. The single black one has funerary overtones and seems thus less popular. Then there is a set of two tall brass Shokudai, which came with containers and wick tweezers in a box dated circa 1810-20. (Memory going) In the middle is the new acquistion, the Tokushima Sarashi factory lantern. In front is the Han candle holder, and left of that is a small black hand-held paper corridor lantern. To the right behind the sarashi lantern is an upright two-legged square lantern possibly from a Jinja. The black box towards the right is a Meiji bento-style lantern with a patterned sliding pane of Meiji glass in the front. Beside the large red lantern stand on the left you can see a three-legged folding wood and brass campaign candle holder with a small red candle on it. (Looks a bit like the Eiffel Tower) Various metal candlesticks are dotted around, the oldest of which is probably Muromachi, faded black lacquer on iron with Inome sukashi left of the black Meiji box lamp. None can be seen properly in that photo. The two small brown pottery oil lamps front center/centre are untilitarian affairs about which I know little. To the right of those is a white early Edo or possibly Muromachi pottery oil lamp.
estcrh Posted November 5, 2011 Report Posted November 5, 2011 Some years ago I threatened to show some of these but no-one replied, so I didn't bother. Piers, do not think we are not watching just because we do not comment, in my case I always enjoy reading all the postings here, often I am traveling and I can see the posts, I just cant get add comments through my phone!
Bugyotsuji Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Posted November 5, 2011 Eric, very kind of you and I appreciate the sentiment. Probably no-one wanted to be blamed for encouraging me to post more detailed pics!!! :lol: Some members have contacted me privately and said they enjoyed the pictures of the lamps and the descriptions so I came to know that I wasn't posting out into the black universe.... ... which is fine, coz that's what lamps do!
cabowen Posted November 5, 2011 Report Posted November 5, 2011 On the topic of tightening the washi on shoji, I stopped frequently at a shop that was a block or so from my home to watch them cover fusuma and shoji and for shoji, they just used a spray bottle of water to lightly mist the paper. I did this myself when I recovered the shoji in my home and it worked great....Obviously steam would work too but the spray bottle is quite simple... Great collection...You really need to get over to that museum I mentioned earlier....
Bugyotsuji Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Posted November 5, 2011 Chris, remind me please! I am old enough to admit that I have a faint memory of an andon, akari light museum near Mt Fuji... (?) which is 600 klicks from here so I stored it way back in the inner recesses... that one?
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