Odawara Fukurin:

[Spartancrest]

I have had this small guard for a few years now and like it for both its simplicity and complexity of construction. I am wondering if anyone has seen one like it? By looking closely at the nakago-ana it is possible to see the iron core, the thin copper plates and the fused enamel. The Odawara fukurin: is proportionally large (my dear wife thinks it looks like an old ladies brooch) and the enameling is basic but I still like it. One other point is the colour of the fukurin is darker on one side, is this common? This tsuba was part of a double auction so I figured it cost half the premium, all of $7.50

 

[Geraint]

Dear Dale,

 

Please allow me to be the first to point out that you need to add your name to your posts.  Oh, and a picture would be nice for this one.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Al the best

[Spartancrest]

Dale 

 

Sorry I did include some pictures  - don't know where they went - will try again!

[Grey Doffin]

Hi name please,

I think this was made yesterday in China or someplace else that isn't Japan.

Grey

[Ford Hallam]

I have to agree with Grey on this one. Pretty bad modern casting. The biggest 'give-away' is the flaw in the cast at the bottom, 6 O'clock, on the rim. A fukurin is an applied strip of sheet metal, what we see on this 'tsuba shaped object' is clearly not sheet metal.

 

Some silver plating that looks like bird sh1t and gloss black enamel paint ground completes the attempt at deception.

[Spartancrest]

Ford & Grey

 

This time I can't agree with the analysis. Though the pictures can't quiet show, when you look at the cross section thru the nakago-ana it is very clear that three pieces of metal - core of iron and copper sheets either side- make up this guard and the rim is not cast and is soldered together - poorly I admit, but where it should be. If its fake who ever made it went to extraordinary measures to make it. In hand it is also clear to see the edges of the fukurin where it meets the enamel, that makes four layers of metals- - would you bother to go to that much trouble to make a fake? The enamel is almost black but the scanned images show some lighter translucent sections - difficult to impossible to fake with "paint". The "bird sh1t" (and I agree it does look like) could just as easy be interpreted as snow flakes. The aerial view of the photos are not ideal and are never as good as seeing in hand. The guard was from a Japanese auction - - I know this proves nothing - - but the dealer has been honest in the past and does not deal in Chinese fakes.

 

Dale

[ROKUJURO]

Dale,

they are all wrong except your dear wife. It is indeed 'an old ladies brooch'. 

[Kevin Adams]

Though the pictures can't quiet show, when you look at the cross section thru the nakago-ana it is very clear that three pieces of metal - core of iron and copper sheets either side- make up this guard and the rim is not cast and is soldered together - poorly I admit, but where it should be. If its fake who ever made it went to extraordinary measures to make it. In hand it is also clear to see the edges of the fukurin where it meets the enamel, that makes four layers of metals- - would you bother to go to that much trouble to make a fake?

 

Asking for opinions then rejecting them requires you to provide more information. We can't have a conversation about things we haven't been shown - otherwise we have to merely take your word for it. Please show us photos of the details you're referencing.

 

 

The enamel is almost black but the scanned images show some lighter translucent sections - difficult to impossible to fake with "paint".

 

The "bird sh1t" (and I agree it does look like) could just as easy be interpreted as snow flakes.

 

Please expand on these, do you have extensive knowledge of painting and enamelling, or Japanese aesthetics and design? Just saying it's so doesn't make it so - please give us a rationale for that assessment.

 

I have to agree with the general sentiment - this is a cast "tsuba-like object" that has been painted. Even the Japanese auctions are known to list questionable pieces, as many members here can attest to.

[Ford Hallam]

the 'star' at bottom centre clearly impinges on the seppa-dai. Both the dead centre, bottom position ( a complete 'no no' in Japanese design terms) and the intrusion onto the seppa-dai indicate a fake/ tsuba-like-object.

 

 

I merely mention this additional point for other readers who might be interested in a reasoned analysis of what we're looking at.

[Spartancrest]

Ford

 

I will do my best to get images of the layers but my old style scanner is not up to the task. Anyone out there with an x-ray machine? or should I just use a hacksaw to 'prove' a point?

 

There are a large number of tsuba that have images impinging on the seppa-dai so I don't see that as a problem.

 

Dale

[Ford Hallam]

There are a large number of tsuba that have images impinging on the seppa-dai so I don't see that as a problem.

 

 

 

ah, how stupid of me not to have known and taken it into account.

[Brian]

Oy.....

What it isn't...is a purpose made tsuba made for mounting and use. What it is....that is the question. I'm in the camp that thinks it is modern amateur hobby work. I think I can see that layering that you refer to, but there is absolutely no Japanese aesthetic here, as pointed out by Ford. So that leaves an enthusiastic amateur messing around at home..even in Japan.

The seppa dai issue is of no consequence, bearing in mind the reason those better tsuba were created. It simply does not apply here. I think someone was messing around with brass or copper sheeting here, maybe there is a genuine iron basic tsuba underneath all that.

 

Brian

[Kurikata]

Hi Dale,

 

I attach a description of what an Odawara Fukurin is from a distinguished expert  as Ford also is. Anyway, your tsuba does not looks this way..... Just my 5 cents.... 

 

[Spartancrest]

Brian & Bruno

 

I have no doubt it is not something that could really be used and have never said it was old, a hobby piece - very likely. (And yes I have Sesko's books too) Despite the doubters it is enameled and though it does not show in the photos the white (stars, blobs, bird excreta) what ever you want to call them are melted into the darker enamel - believe me no amount of paint stripper will wash this stuff off! I also realize that if this was ever to be mounted the nakago would undoubtedly chip and crack the enamel off. I think who ever made this 'thing' they went to a lot of work, in my opinion 'they' saw the fukurin as a major design feature rather than a decorative frame. I have posted two images one of a 'normal odawara' and one of a wide 'plain fukurin' 

 

PS.Ford-sarcasm - really.

 

 

Dale

[Jean]

Here is one of mine, curious construction

[Spartancrest]

Thanks Jean

 

That's a very nice and as you say unusual piece. I guess my original question "has anyone seen one like it" has been answered - 'Not really'. Yours has some age to it and the width of the fukurin is similar to mine - about the only similarity- I can't help thinking mine and some other 'tsuba -like objects' were made for another reason, gifts on boys day, birthday or some sort of festival offering- just speculation.  Perhaps as some have said a hobby piece- I wish it came with a manual! It is going back in its box and filed as - purpose unknown. (or is its purpose to confound?)

 

Dale