New fuchi kashira in steel

[Ford Hallam]

Greetings all,

 

I've just completed this set of fuchi/kashira in steel with some raised inlay. These are a commission job I was asked to do to compliment a tsuba of mine the client had already bought. It was quite an appealing challenge for me because the tsuba was made 17 years ago but never the less has elements of the aesthetics I'm most concerned with today.

 

 

If you're interested, I've posted a series of images that show the steps followed to make pieces like this on the "following the iron brush" forum.

Here's a link

 

You can also see quite a few more images

here.

 

regards,

 

Ford

[John A Stuart]

Very realistic looking carving. I'm green with envy. The dark black patina really sets off the grass. It would be nice to see the tsuba it mates with for comparison. I suppose it is in your pics somewhere, but, I don't know where. Would you consider that sasa or kusa? Just out of curiosity Ford what is the signature/go you use? Sorry about the fifth degree. John

[Ford Hallam]

Hi John,

 

thanks for the kind appreciation . The tsuba that these will be mounted with is shown at the end of the tutorial on my forum. The link's in my first post. I think these sort of grasses would be kusa, I think of sasa as being much shorter but mine are not really based on any specific plant. I'm working towards a more abstract use of form and texture really. The subject matter is secondary for me.

 

The mei I use is one my teacher made up for me when I first went to study with him. The On reading of the kanji is; Fu O Do.

It's the closest we could get to the sound of my name and we quite liked the meaning, " walking in the kingly/heavenly road"

 

Thanks again,

 

regards,

Ford

[Brian]

Hi Ford,

Great work again, I am sure the new owner will love them. It is also very nice to be able to watch the process step by step as they are made the traditional way. Gives you new insight into these craftsmen. Can see why they are valued as they are nowdays.

John, I think the matching tsuba is one on Ford's page here: http://picasaweb.google.com/tsubaman/MyTsuba#

Ford, which of those listed are still for sale? I am sure anyone who is contemplating purchasing one might also be interested in commissioning a matching set of f/k / menuki to go with it. Would also suit a shinsakuto wonderfully.

The ones that still have prices are still available?

 

Brian

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Brian,

 

thanks . Yes, the tsuba that still have prices on them are still available. It is actually quite nice for me to be able to create a complete set of fittings based on past work. In this case I'm now making a pair of menuki that are inspired by the dragonfly on the rock piece I did last year. So I've raised 2 elongated, river worn pebbles in steel and will begin today to inlay a dragonfly, in shibuichi and silver, on each. The funny thing is, because I made the tsuba so long ago they are quite a lot cheaper than the new work I'm doing now so as a package the tsuba sort of subsidise the the rest of the fittings.

 

There may be something in the pipeline in the future in terms of a collaboration with a contemporary smith in Japan. It's certainly something I've always had as an ambition. The idea of creating a complete en suite koshirae that reflects the character of a particular blade really appeals to me.

 

Regards,

 

Ford

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

It is actually quite nice for me to be able to create a complete set of fittings based on past work. In this case I'm now making a pair of menuki that are inspired by the dragonfly on the rock piece I did last year.

 

Just asking myself which menuki will be mounted on the grass set...

Really nice.

[Ted Tenold]

Lovely work Ford, lovely. I like the accent of the blade lying gently along the radius of the kashira's rim. A very nice and subtle touch that keeps the top of the kashira from being just a "frame" for a picture. The patina you've acheived on the iron is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this.

[Mark Green]

Wow!!!!

Great work. Can't wait to see them mounted.

Mark G

[John A Stuart]

Ted's comment sparked a remembrance of something that in ikebana is a consideration. Grasses have a connotation of the sword blade for obvious reasons, similar to the Roman short sword being named 'gladius' after it's resemblance to the gladiolus. That makes grass particularly fitting for tousogu made for a sword used for kenjutsu. I guess the grass being portrayed in the non-threatening oblique way would promote the peaceful aspect of the sword/man. John

[Ford Hallam]

Thanks Gents, for the further kind comments

 

I'll get some images on-line shortly, showing the associated menuki I've just completed.

 

Ted, I'm chuffed you liked the way that darker blade of grass edges the composition. My mother calls it the ghost leaf ..the impression it gave you was precisely what I was aiming for.

 

regards,

 

Ford