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Posted

Here is a shakudo kogai signed by Mitsuyuki, who is also Ryujo Teiho, 6th generation of Shichirobe family, son of Goto Kyujo. The motif, which looks like a scroll, is what I'm trying to identify. In Elements of Japanese Design I came across a similar motif under "Amulets." In the text is some interesting comments on Christian crosses which may or may not relate to this kogai. The NTHK(NPO) has some description of the motif which I can not translate without help. Does anyone know if this scroll-like motif is indeed an amulet or is there another name for this motif. As always, I am trying to correctly describe favorite items from my collection. Photos show the details and the books comments. As always, thanks for your help.

Ron STL

754 amulets 1a.jpg

754 amulets 1b.jpg

754 h.jpg

754a.jpg

754b.jpg

754c.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted

A nice kogai, but the hidden cross is not so hidden… Moreover its placement is slightly asymmetrical, and this could be suspicious for a later addition.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

The cross becomes hidden with the kogai is placed into the saya. I too figured it may be a later addition but interesting to think about possibilities. 

Ron STL 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

The NTHK attribution states ‘scroll in bamboo grass’ [sasa no makimono no zu 笹に卷物の図], and I think that’s all the design is supposed to be.
The Gion mamori [祇園守り] (amulet) is a very specific design, of two scrolls in the centre of two gingko leaves. It’s a nice kogai with an interesting addition though.

  • Like 2
Posted

Anyway the description on the paper just report 笹に巻物の図 - sasa ni makimono no zu

 

(ops, Kyle was faster than me)

  • Like 1
Posted

Interesting I agree. The Ikeda were not only Christian, but they used a version of the Gion-mamori above, which is still said today to have been a way of hiding their Christian past. *They were from Sakai where there were a lot of converts and the crossed scrolls is said to take its origins from the cross of St. Andrew. Among their various kamon, they also used a version of the sasa-lindo mon, which is made using lindo flowers and sasa (low ground cover leafy bamboo) leaves.

 

*大名家の家紋 高橋賢一

Daimyo-Ke no Kamon, Takahashi Kenichi

  • Like 2
Posted

Thank you all for explaining this motif and verifying it for me. I would have never gotten to that conclusion along. I am also so pleased to learn more about the Ikeda and their use of the crossed scrolls amulet. I did not notice the "crossed scrolls" positioning resembling a cross. It's what the eyes "see" when looking at these mon and pointing out the importance of observing things more closely. I will share this information with our few local fellows today when they visit. 

Ron STL 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I did have another question regarding the hidden cross on this kogai. This photo shows the section on the NTHK origami that covers motif, I believe. Can someone tell me if the cross is mentioned here?  Thanks, Ron STL 

IMG_7873.jpg

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