Saya finish - whats it called?

[Barrie B]

Hi all,

 

I have an unusual saya and would like to know if anyone knows what it is called please. I am guessing it is pine needles (?) that were all cut to the same length and then painstakingly arranged/glued in the pattern we see, before lacquer was applied and finally rubbed back..? The look and texture of the saya is amazing. 

 

Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

 

Barrie.

[16k]

First time I see that, but that looks beautiful! What a long job it must have been to do that!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Barrie that is one of the most remarkable Saya I have ever seen, is the rest of the Koshirae as finely made?

[lonely panet]

It's very pleasing, and goes well with the tsuba. Is it copper

 

Sorry I can't help tho

[ROKUJURO]

Not pine needles, but probably straw. Not unusual in lacquer, but haven't seen it arranged like that.

[Barrie B]

Hi all,

 

I do think it is nice; in fact I like it a lot. Even the Shitodome is nice..! Some more picks of the Koshirae, but I am really interested in learning more about the saya.. 

 

 

Barrie. 

 

[BIG]

Hi Barrie, here is a nice site learning more..

 

https://www.hyper-cafe.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=urushi_basic1&

 

Best

[Stephen]

Reminds me of grandmas cain chair.

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/5c9WxksLiYQ51Tdf6

[Oshy]

Very unique saya indeed!

[Barrie B]

Hi Peter,

 

I can't access that site.. It says    403 Forbidden. Access to this resource on the server is denied!

 

Barrie.

[tbonesullivan]

Oh dang! That definitely took lots of hours to do. Lovely!

[Guido]

Nice find, Barrie! I have to admit that I haven't seen the exact same technique before.

 

I think it's a variant of shuroge-nuri 棕櫚毛塗. Often referred to as "pine needle lacquer" in the West, it’s actually fan palm (shuro 棕櫚) fibers; pine needles would be too stiff and brittle to work with, and rot easily.

 

The fan palm is very common in Japan, even in non-tropical areas; as a matter of fact, there’s one right in front of my apartment.

 

The fibers are traditionally used for brooms and brushes.

 

They are also chopped up, strewn into wet lacquer, and polished flat.

 

Here’s a close-up of a saya of mine, shuroge-togidashi-nuri 棕櫚毛研出塗:

 

I therefore would call your saya (tentatively) ishimeji shuroge oshidashi nuri 石目地棕櫚毛押出塗: “raised pattern palm fiber on stone surface lacquer”.

 

[Ganko]

Thank you Guido for clarification on the material. This shuroge-togidashi-nuri has been called horse hair in the US forever. I have told people it was plant fibre but it seems they prefer to call it horse hair. I once did a small restoration and used fibers from a sisal mat which were quite similar in appearance.

The saya work in the OP may be one of a kind, as I suspect it took one god awful amount of time. The maker probably never wanted to do it again.

[Brian]

Thanks Guido, that is great info.
 

[Barrie B]

Hi Guido,

 

Thank you for your explanation. I am most grateful and very appreciative. I like koshirae anyway, but this saya was different.. As Tom stated, it must have been a devil to apply - but I am guessing - once applied (and cured), the final product could then be 'worked' back to obtain the final even surface and shape.. It looks like Kusune to me (in the triangle hollows), but is probably black ishimeji, as you say.

 

Thanks again..

 

Barrie.