Menuki Depicting What?

[hddennis]

Any idea as to what these menuki depict?

 

Thanks in advance,

Howard Dennis

[Curran]

Most likely it is Horse Tack.

[hddennis]

  On 1/14/2023 at 6:19 PM, Curran said:

Most likely it is Horse Tack.

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That was my thoughts as well. I think possibly bit & abumi?  I tried to locate that theme but turned up nothing.

 

Howard Dennis

[Curran]

It could be abumi, but also more likely this tack here:

https://eirakudo.shop/tosogu/menuki/detail/363556

 

I forget the name and the Japanese equestrian purpose, but Robert Hughes was good enough to explain it a while back on his Facebook feed. I need to look it up again.

 

[SteveM]

I thought it was bridle/bit (馬具・轡) when I first saw it, too. Take a look at something similar on the site below. 

 

https://www.seiyudo.com/me-011115.htm

 

 

[hddennis]

  On 1/14/2023 at 7:50 PM, SteveM said:

I thought it was bridle/bit (馬具・轡) when I first saw it, too. Take a look at something similar on the site below. 

 

https://www.seiyudo.com/me-011115.htm

 

 

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Thanks Steve, It looks like you found it. Curran, appreciate your help.  

 

Howard Dennis

[Curran]

Yes, I think so.

Though I learned to ride when I was young, and family and my girlfriend had horses- I was never very fond of it.

The past month I've been dealing with a lot of equestrians due to another interests, and I even picked up that horse saddle Bushu from Jimi-san.

Bushu is totally outside my Owari - Higo interests, but I do seem to be more attuned to the equestrian and hawking pieces right now.

 

I am regretting having sold a "hawk feeding basket" iron Higo tsuba (NBTHK Hozon). SwordGuyJoe put it up on eBay a number of years ago.

I wish that one would pop up again. If anyone here has it- please PM me.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

I have a pair of menuki somewhere showing falconry bait baskets, indicating the lord’s falconer. One has legs protruding, indicating an upside-down bird inside it. Bagged game.

 

Back on thread, I recently acquired a set of kutsuwa bits with the ropes still attached, nothing fancy, just indicating to me how they would have looked. I agree with the opinions above.

 

[hddennis]

  On 1/15/2023 at 2:53 PM, Bugyotsuji said:

I have a pair of menuki somewhere showing falconry bait baskets, indicating the lord’s falconer. One has legs protruding, indicating an upside-down bird inside it. Bagged game.

 

Back on thread, I recently acquired a set of kutsuwa bits with the ropes still attached, nothing fancy, just indicating to me how they would have looked. I agree with the opinions above.

 

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We need pictures, Please.

 

Howard Dennis

[Curran]

  On 1/14/2023 at 6:33 PM, Curran said:

I forget the name and the Japanese equestrian purpose, but Robert Hughes was good enough to explain it a while back on his Facebook feed. I need to look it up again.

 

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This is what I was thinking before:

https://eirakudo.shop/tosogu/menuki/detail/363556

Called "Shihode", which is described in one of my Goto books as a form of horse harness

 

[Bugyotsuji]

The "Shiode" pull rings are etymologically apparently a corruption of 'hands of the four directions'. 四方手　Shi+hou+te, softened through usage to Shi+o+de, each of which hung from the two holes in the four corners of the kura saddle, to which vital ropes were attached.

Many years ago I had a lovely example in leather and silver trimmings with inome sukashi, just one, which I eventaully gave to someone as a gift. No photos unfortunately. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Howard, here you go. Apologies. Just took these.

One set with original strings/ropes attached. Not of Daimyo quality though.