Really...?

[sabiji]

The black lacquer of the saya looks transparent and goes into coffee brown and is obviously really old. Likewise the lacquered tsuka. Tsuka and saya are at least early Edo period.
But what Tsurata-San offers then, I just don't believe....

https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bishu-osafune-norimitsu-sakunbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/

[Curran]

Most of his koshirae are added or retrofitted koshirae.

Far from original.

 

It is quite the cottage industry, as more non-Japanese pour into the market for this high grade relatively low cost art form.

Many of the newer generation of foreign buyers want that koshirae, even if they are slapped together.

Cary Condell would make them tastefully, ensuring your Juyo NOrishige had the koshirae to match.

 

Some of the lower end Japanese dealers... a bit more slapdash.

In recent years, most swords under 10k will now come with [koshirae]. Let us call it lipstick on old dames.

[sabiji]

Curran,
I am fully aware of everything you write. 

This is exactly why I refrain from acquiring such married objects. But of course, this is up to each person. Likewise, to have a mount made for his blade in correspondingly well-founded craftsmanship quality. There are many great, newly made mounts. Even more beautiful to me are coherent and detailed mounts made according to the dimensions of a certain era and with kodogu from exactly this period.

 

But it simply makes no sense to rape a possibly good 350 year old saya with new varnish, in which one should no longer store a blade anyway.
No, the saya or tsuka are not works of art, but they do have historical relevance.

 

I have been dealing with the matter not only since yesterday, and have seen enough tinkering and bungling.

 

That's why something like this only makes me sad.

 

And people who obviously have no problem with it, I find just creepy.

 

Please excuse my bad English.

 

[DoTanuki yokai]

I don’t see a problem, even national treasure lacquerwork gets some restauration from time to time. 
 

http://makie-yukarim.com/national-treasure-accessory-raden-maki-e-box-with-fusenryo-design/
 

Our blades also get a polish from time to time 

[sabiji]

However, there is a difference between trying to save and preserve an original condition and trying to recreate a partial one (in the case of missing parts) - in other words, restoring.

 

I think there would be an outcry among the masses if someone repainted the paint box of your example according to his own taste.

 

How many really old examples of saya before the late 18th or 19th century still exist? How many tsukaito have seen at least pre-1868?

 

The comparison with polishing blades does not fit. 

[vajo]

I see no problem with his description and the pictures. Its an old koshirae and yes it was restored. When? I don't know but it looks not like restored yesterday.

[sabiji]

2 hours ago, vajo said:

I see no problem with his description and the pictures. Its an old koshirae and yes it was restored. When? I don't know but it looks not like restored yesterday.

Chris, my point was this sentence:

 

If you want to ask us to re-wrap the Tsuka-Ito and re-paint the Saya, the additional cost will be JPY15,000　for each.

 

But never mind, let's drop the subject! It must be probably on me and my sensibilities. But I just can not imagine it, for the equivalent of about EUR 100.00 each to destroy the charm and the patina of this old ensemble. Especially since a high-quality result could hardly be expected for the price. 

As already written, let's leave the subject. Even if it has taught me a few things...

[vajo]

Ah ok i understand your point. 

[Rivkin]

I don't think he appraises the items as Momoyama period's. 

More like Kambun to Genroku in poor condition.

 

[DoTanuki yokai]

Just want to add that black Urushi is always transparent and the color pigment from charcoal won’t change its color.

In my opinion this is a variation of dark red Urushi with Seshime instead of Kijomi for finish that makes it darker.

If you want black Urushi to be really black most of it depends on the foundation work and multiple layers, any small spot of wood that show through the foundation will be visible in light.