Saya

[tim89]

I purchased this old saya a long time ago cause I found interesting due to the carving.

 

I know nothing about it.

 

 

 

Timothy N.

[Bugyotsuji]

Hmmm. it does not seem to have any function there towards the end of the saya, being purely decorative. Does it refer to an exotic sake jar, from Okinawa for example, or the Ainu perhaps?

[tim89]

Piers,

I was wondering that. When I bought it I took it to my sensei and he said it is perhaps "mountain peoples".

I was not sure if he ment ainu or yamabushi.

Timothy N.

[Bugyotsuji]

I have a Netsuké cup with ‘overflowing’ designs indicating saké perhaps, shōchū, or doburoku, Korean style cloudy saké.

 

The only shot I can find. Apologies!

 

 

[tim89]

The cups interesting. I see a little similarity with the over flowing design.

I will take updated pictures of the sake jar later this week. I'll use a magnifier so I can get better details. 

 

Timothy N.

[tim89]

I removed the strings so we can see the inside.

 

Timothy N.

[Seiko]

What a curious piece

[peterm1_nihonto]

I suspect that the knob on the end is to substitute for a more conventional kaeritsuno (obi hook.) The purpose being to prevent the sword and saya from coming completely out of the obi when worn and more particularly when drawn with a single hand. The whole looks very unusual however. 

paart budo buki: Saya with KAERITSUNO (paart-budo-buki.blogspot.com)

[John C]

At first I was thinking bokuto but it has the slot for a kozuka, so...?

 

John C.