Fuchi Kashira eval

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

I found and purchased this mounted fuchi/kashira finding it on yahoo.jp. love when I come across something in a general search. The menuki also seem to be decent. Now I normally don't like to do this but I am going to most likely take it apart. I know - I hate to break it apart but the fuchi Kashira is an unique piece for me and selfishly I could use the money for the menuki to reduce my costs, I don't have a lot of cash these days. I am thinking it is shibichi, but I was given an opinion of shakudo. It doesn't feel or look like shakudo to me, something I do have experience with in my collection. It looks grey or greenish to me more so than the pics may indicate- but color is a very hard thing for me, I am partially color blind. The fuchi has a nice pumpkin? or gourd or it a closed flower? It is about 2 mllimeters thick, sticks out enough to be big but not enough to be awkward. They seem to be pretty heavy in weight. any comments? I know the pics aren't the best. I like them regardless. Any school ideas? I am interested in seeing the menuki, they look grey to me as well and might be decent quality as well. I don't recall seeing a story on mantis and a pumpkin although, I could see it being a autumn theme? I just posted a general question on a tsuba that also is based on pumpkin- see under the auction comment section. Thoughts are appreciated. I really love finding different designs of my favorite insect.

 

This is what the auction had to say: 『　柄前　』縁頭材質：上質の赤銅に金象嵌・蟷螂に植物図。目貫：上質の赤銅に金象嵌・人物図。『サイズ』

柄長：約２０，５ｃｍ 頭：３７，８×２２，３×厚さ１０，１ｍｍ　縁：３２，８×１６，５×４，５ｍｍ

中心サイズ 鍔元：２４，７ミリ　　中心先：１３，７ミリ 元重：６，３ミリ　　　先重：４，２５ミリ 目釘穴：縁元より２９ミリ（センター）

※拵えから外しました。本物の柄前です。

※画像の鍔は商品では有りません。

 

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Ken,

 

At the moment I would have to say the base of the F/K is shakudo, however, it looks like the kashira might have been exposed to something that partially stripped off the finish. Perhaps a soft drink spilled or splashed on to it, and the fuchi (guessing here based on images), that it was excessively handled with soiled hands (maybe with pop/food as well), that have diminished the finish there too. Gold is fairly resistant to outside exposure and as you can see it still looks pretty strong. If it turns out that this set is a keeper, in time you might look into seeing if it can be be restored. It's a bit tough to tell, but it looks like the menuki could be mostly shibuichi. This is all judgement from pics of course. Also, I dont' think that is a pumpkin, but a gourd. As always thanks for sharing.

[Mantis dude]

Thanks, I know it has some condition issues which is making it harder I assume. I have included a nice shakudo kozuka for some color comparison. Not sure if it helps.... Damn samurai drinking a coke around my fuchi kashira, must have been a Ronin. I really want to see the menuki and the backs, even if not a mantis. I think there is some decent work going on which it is hard to see with the wrap covering. Time will tell. Thanks.

 

[Bazza]

Hi all,

The fuchi has a nice pumpkin? or gourd or it a closed flower?

Could the pumpkin be the Chinese Bell Flower Platycodon grandiflora, aka the Japanese Bell Flower or the Balloon Flower?????

 

Regards,

Barry Thomas.