Kozuka identification

[dir]

Could anyone help me please with the significance (if any) of this kozuka? It appears to be a tethered hawk on a perch atop a decorated stand above a recumbent ferocious-looking shishi. The lengthy tether has many loops and tassels at the end.

 

I thought it was an eagle at first - but a little research revealed that hawking/falconry was popular with samurai in Japan and are often depicted on a perch with a tether in paintings and prints. The hawk was considered a symbol of endurance and status, while the shishi, of course, is a symbol of strength, courage and protection. 

 

I couldn't find anything relating to a shishi being depicted with a hawk and whether the end of the stand actually is thrust into the shishi is hard to decide. It may simply be two favourite symbols used together to signify that the kozuka belonged to a brave elite samurai!

 

I think the metal is perhaps sentoku or shinchu and there are copper highlights on the hawk, shishi, decoration and cords. 

 

If anyone has any ideas I'd be pleased to hear them.

 

Thanks and regards

 

David

[Kurikata]

Some explanations there: https://www.samuraim...-samurai-sword-k-12/

[Spartancrest]

A little off topic but there are a few "Tethered Hawk" Mino-Goto tsuba getting about [Not great quality] Perhaps the kozuka was meant to pair up with fittings like these? 

[dir]

17 hours ago, Kurikata said:

Some explanations there: https://www.samuraim...-samurai-sword-k-12/

Thank you, Bruno! Apart from the metals, the kozuka depicted is virtually identical to mine and the information provided is similar to my own thoughts. Much appreciated!

 

Regards

 

David

[Ford Hallam]

Hello David

 

I note that you didn't actually ask about the authenticity of the kozuka itself but never the less I feel a sense of responsibility to make some observations.

 

It looks to me to be a brass casting (shinchu in Japanese, Sentoku is a very different alloy btw). I think this from the general appearance of the detail on the front but the reverse also appears to exhibit a fair bit of porosity (tiny air bubble holes) which tend to be fairly good indicators of a cast metal.

 

The piece has been enhanced with gold and silver electro-plating. Often, to provide a good adhesion for gold and silver, a casting will be given a copper undercoat plating. This is what we can see and might be misunderstood as 'high-lights'. The sort of complicated mix of plating is not seen in older mercury gilding, which implies that the work was done after electroplating technology was introduced to Japan. This introduction of plating technology occurred at the very end of the Edo period but was initially very limited and expensive. It is only in the mid Meiji period that the new process was adopted more broadly and is seen on many of the cheaper goods made for an undiscerning tourist market. 

 

As to the craftsmanship of the original model I would say it was not particularly fine, the hawk in particular is pretty simplistic and inelegant in the way it's been rendered. The the arrangement of the cords and tresses etc. are very messy, whereas on a fine example of the subject they would form a strong and coherent composition, seeing as they occupy so much of the kozuka surface.

 

And finally, as a plated cast copy I would suggest it is not the sort of piece that represents genuine traditional tosogu in any meaningful way.  My advice would be to learn to recognise the sorts of technical details I've tried to describe and to avoid them in the future.