Large ken/tsurugi mumei and in mounts

[JAL]

Hi all,

 

this ken puzzles me a bit. It is large with a nagasa of 69 cm. Nice masame hada and suguha hamon. The mounts are different from what I have seen with traditional ken that have a vajra as tsuka. Given the elaborate mounts with a lacquered tsuka I assume this ken was ceremonial (Dharma wheel also represented a couple of times on the mounts)  and not a weapon. My estimation is Bakumatsu assuming the Aoi mon are original. Meiji would be a bit strange with aoi mon on all of the mounting. It still puzzles me.

 

best regards

 

John L.

[JAL]

Correction: typo: nagasa 59 cm not 69 cm. See attached.

[Geraint]

Dear John.

 

Thank you for sharing this one, really nice koshirae.   Really like the vajra shaped tsuba.   I have a much plainer example which I have always associated with Meiji export work.  I think aoi mon were scattered about pretty freely after the restoration, an extra selling point for the gaijin perhaps.  Are the mounts silver plated brass do you think?  If so then that would relate to some of the late tachi koshirae from the same period.

 

Just for interests sake here's mine.

 

All the best.

[JAL]

Thanks Geraint,

 

yes, I think they are silver-plated brass looking at the wear. Nice ken as well. I agree that it might indeed be export in Meiji times.

 

best regards

 

John