Quick question about one menuki "rule"

[Nicolas Maestre]

Hi all,

 

Very quick question regarding one "rule" that I have read about, on menuki. 

I just got a new koshirae made for my nihonto, and there is one thing I'm not 100% satisfied with, it's the fact that the "face" of the dragon is partly hidden by the ito...

 

I like that the menuki is well centered across the diamonds, and that we can see it across its entire length. But is the face being hidden an absolute "no" in your mind? Is this considered a fault from the craftsman?

Or is it something more of a personal preference?

 

I think the craftsman did it because on the other (ura) side, menuki is well centered, full length is visible, and face is also visible. So both of them are positioned the exact same way, which is nice when you look at the tsuka as a whole. Could also be because he made the dragon's pearl being visible a priority over the face? 🤔

 

Anyways, what do you guys think? 🤔 

[Jacques]

Who made it ?

[Nicolas Maestre]

Michaël Sabatier 😉.

The koshirae is just amazing in my opinion... (Will post pictures when I can get decent lighting).

 

Was just wondering about that detail. What do you think?

[Jacques]

I know, he hasn't had any proper training, he's self-taught, so the work leaves a lot to be desired.

[Nicolas Maestre]

Oh ok.

And based on your experience, is the topic of this thread considered a 'fault'?

Or is it down to preference, necessity during wrapping because of proportion, etc.?

 

[Jacques]

Apparently he doesn't know how to place the ito on a menuki (neither do I), which gives a wobbly effect.

[Nicolas Maestre]

Has to be distortion due to the smartphone lens... I can assure you that he's done an awesome job in that regard. Don't understand why you are being so harsh on Michaël. I have had in hand several swords from him and they were of top quality... 

And I couldn't be happier with my koshirae. I think I am nitpicking with this question around menuki's animal faces. As a matter of fact, a 10min search on Aoi or other websites got me several instances where faces would not be entirely visible under the ito (and those were made by Japanese skilled craftsman I assume).

 

Go check here and please tell me what is so bad with his work:

 

[Tensho]

IMO, the "diamonds" are very small, and I personally do not like this style of tsukamaki. I believe this is the main reason it is hiding most of the menuki.

 

 

[Benjamin]

Dear Nicolas,

 

IMO, and it's a personal thinking that can be discussed : to date, Michael Sabatier's working has nothing to do here, and that's not a quality matter.

He honestly says it himself on his website and on interviews, he's not making things as the Japanese traditional way, he say himself "being in margin" and assume that. He is autodidact and never learned traditional techniques. He may be amazingly good, he's not doing more Nihonto than Chinese makers of katana.

Nihonto collectors are not searching for a tool, a toy or a decorative object, they collect essence of antique art in an object that "embodied" the ancient tradition inherited by the craftsman, generations after generations.

That said it seems to be a very talented guy, doing well lots of things.

[Nicolas Maestre]

9 hours ago, Benjamin said:

Dear Nicolas,

 

He may be amazingly good, he's not doing more Nihonto than Chinese makers of katana.

Agree regarding the forging. But regarding new koshirae, I thought and still do, that he has all the legitimacy to do that. The guy has spent almost 20 years learning on his own, from books and trials and errors, and has achieved very good quality of craftsmanship. Woodworking, lacquering, and tsukamaki is all I was talking about here, and on the post where I show my new koshirae for my Unokubi Zukuri Sukesada blade. 

 

9 hours ago, Benjamin said:

Nihonto collectors are not searching for a tool, a toy

Come on, no need to say that... 

 

 

[Nicolas Maestre]

19 hours ago, Tensho said:

IMO, the "diamonds" are very small, and I personally do not like this style of tsukamaki. I believe this is the main reason it is hiding most of the menuki.

 

 

Thanks for your input. Indeed, the ito used is thin, making for smaller diamonds. I personally like it this way though.

 

But anyways, since this thread has gone way off topic, this is my last comment on this one.

[Benjamin]

I must disagree, I think it is the same thing for koshirae as for blades that are all part of Nihonto field and all are traditional craftmanship.

But I understand your point defending your sword, your tsuka is not perfect but is beautiful whereas I think I can see the difference with a traditional one. And I understood you had worse before.

 

3 hours ago, Nicolas Maestre said:

Come on, no need to say that... 

 

My apologies If I offended you, I was not targeting you or someone specifically.