Ezo Koshirae

[Ford Hallam]

Hello all,

 

I looking for some any material anyone might be willing share with me, regarding the Ezo group of fittings.

 

I'm particularly interested in reading Tom Buttweiler's articles on Ezo koshirae that were apparently published in Bushido magazine. If anyone has those and would be willing to send me scans I will be very grateful.

 

I'm also very interested in any serious research that may actually have been done in Japan, and has been published in Japanese.

 

If you do have anything that might be of interest I'd be very pleased to hear from you. I can be reached via the email address in my profile or by pm on this board.

 

Many thanks and regards,

 

Ford

[Lorenzo]

Are you talking about something like this?

 

 

 

If so, kanji should be something like this: è¦å¤·æ‹µ

[Lorenzo]

Or maybe this:

http://www.finesword.co.jp/sale/touken/ ... tanaho.htm

 

[Brian]

Hi Lorenzo,

Good to see you here. (Assuming you are the Iron Brush Forum Lorenzo)

That first pic isn't Ezo though...those are touristy Meiji period fittings, although in this case housing a much earlier blade.

I have a tanto in those mounts too. Very late export mounts.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Lorenzo]

ehehe Brian you know me... i am a total messy

 

I think so about the first one. I was trying to type ezo koshirae in kanji, to make a search to help Ford. Problem is i am not sure that ezo kanji are the ones i written (the first two).

 

I wonder if the second one is what Ford means. Ford?

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Lorenzo,

 

thanks for that image, but to be honest I think this is much later than the dates claimed for the group I'm interested in.

 

I should have said Ezo kanagu really, or Sho-ki kinko. There are number of decent images of this grouping of metalwork, on the Tosogu forum. It would probably be a bit rude of me to "steal" them and repost them here

 

I have the Henry D Rosin collection catalogue, with the tiny bit written by John Harding...not that it helps much

 

regards, Ford

p.s. sorry about the confusion, I had problems getting logged on again.

[Rich S]

Ford -

 

I think Bob Benson still has some of the old issues of Bushido

for sale on his website. Might contact him for copies of the

articles on Ezo fittings.

 

Rich S

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Ford, the Bushido magazines are well worth the investment, especially if you enjoy fittings. The 'Ezo' article runs through Vol. 1, no. 1 & no. 2.

http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/

[Ford Hallam]

Thanks Dr Stein and Franco, I've just sent an email to Mr Benson to reserve the set. Do you know how many issues were actually published?

 

thanks again, Ford

[docliss]

Dear Ford

 

A total of 9 issues of Bushido were published, from July 1979 to July/August/September 1981. Like many collectors, I bemoaned its passing. It offered a unique combination of some degree of scholarship with a joyful enthusiasm for the subject. This, produced with superb photography on high quality art paper. I suspect that it was some years ahead of its time.

 

Regards, John L.

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Dr John,

 

thanks for that. So for $90 I just got the whole series, seems like an absolute bargain, I can't wait... they sound superb.

Brian also helped me find another set of books I was after today. Clever chap saved me at least $600. It's been a good book day for me , as long as my wife doesn't find out...

best regards, Ford

[nagamaki - Franco]

Doc J's sentiment is shared here. Bob Benson began Bushido magazine in response to the clamour, at the time, from collectors about the lack of information written in English. After sinking countless hours and a considerable sum to produce a top quality magazine, collectors rewarded Bob's efforts by not buying the magazine, typical , and thus its' demise.

[Bungo]

http://www.esnips.com/doc/c6e11a2d-aef5 ... 8/ezo_1270

 

example of ezo menuki.Posted here before but couldn't find the message, so here it is again.

 

milt

[Ford Hallam]

I take your point well, Franco. It is always so easy to sit back doing nothing and criticise the status quo. But then those same critics tend to nothing at all to help improve things.

 

Hi Milt, those are lovely menuki, really gorgeous.

 

I think most of use will agree on the general appearance of these types of fittings but what interests me is the actual designation and origins. I think, for starters, that the term "Ezo" is a nonsense. This refers to the ancient Emishi people of northern Honshu, (or perhaps the Ainu people.) Neither of which had any significant metalworking culture.

 

...still looking for any other articles or research....anyone?

 

thanks for all the input so far though

 

regards, Ford

[Rich T]

Hi Ford, just a small article I put together a while back. I think it is common knowledge now that Ezo kanagu are not part of the Ainu tradition.

 

http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/tosogu.com/?p=226

 

I also think Mr. Tom Buttweiler's writings are the best about to date. There will be a new article by Mr Boris Markhasin in the up coming KTK publication that should add more to the melting pot.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Rich,

 

thanks for that, intriguing subject. I'm looking forward to reading the "Bushido" articles.

 

I think it is common knowledge now that Ezo kanagu are not part of the Ainu tradition.

 

exactly, my point was that the name is therefore terribly inaccurate...or am I missing something?

 

regards, Ford

[Pete Klein]

This is an example of Juyo level Ezo menuki:

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

This is all i can offer (sorry for the pictures but my scan is out).

 

Bushido, vol 2 n° 2:

 

 

 

Bushido, vol 2 n° 3:

 

 

I hope this can help.

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Jacques,

 

thanks so much for that. I had read about that pair of menuki but not yet seen this article. I have fairly good images of them in the Rosin collection catalogue.

 

I look forward to reading this.

 

Thanks again, Ford

[Bungo]

I have another set of ezo menuki ...........7cm long.

http://www.esnips.com/web/menuki?docsPage=5#files

 

 

milt

[Jesper]

Hello all,

Here are some images of what I think are Ezo menuki. The design is flowvers in a basket. They are quite worn and much of the gold is missing. They are approx. 5.3cm long.

 

Jesper

[dirk marshall]

Possibly ezo menuki

[Henry Wilson]

In the KTK 2nd convention catalog there is an Ezo koshirae on p.52 / 53 dated early Muromachi.

 

I have seen Boris' article that Rich mentions and it is very very good. Looking forward to it.