My first Japanese art piece

[Guzewski]

Hello dear forum members.
As a student, I don't have the funds to purchase a Japanese sword yet, but I can't hide my great interest in Japanese culture.
I searched for a very long time at local online flea markets for something budget that might interest me and finally bought this letter opener.
A very simple and beautiful work, the seller is a very reputable person, said that this is a relatively new item and belongs to the period of Emperor Meiji.
I have 2 questions for you. First, what kind of character do you think is depicted on this product? It seems to me that this is the god Fujin. He has a similar style, a bag, and he clearly towers above the sea storm. Perhaps you have alternative opinions?
And the second question is, what is the black patina on the "blade"? Unfortunately, I can't verify this shakudo or any other material, but apparently this is clearly an age trace. Would you clean up these black streaks? And if so, with what?

[Tcat]

Looks like table cutlery and with the tarnish the blade is likely silver.

[Guzewski]

7 minutes ago, Tcat said:

Looks like table cutlery and with the tarnish the blade is likely silver.

Thank you for the answer!
Wherever I found similar items for sale, they were listed as letter/paper knives. With such an outline but different characters, there are many different knives on sale produced in the late 19th and early 20th century. All of them differ in the degree of detail and complexity. This one, without a hint of sharpening or something like that, is clearly a stationery item.

[Tcat]

1 hour ago, Guzewski said:

Thank you for the answer!
Wherever I found similar items for sale, they were listed as letter/paper knives. With such an outline but different characters, there are many different knives on sale produced in the late 19th and early 20th century. All of them differ in the degree of detail and complexity. This one, without a hint of sharpening or something like that, is clearly a stationery item.

 

Yes you are probably quite right, paper knife is a good bet. I stick with silver for the blade. Cheers.

[Matsunoki]

The subject is Fujin and this is a late Meiji period paper knife.

They often look very impressive but were made in huge numbers for the foreign market ie the Gaijin in Japan at that time and also for later export.

The handle is usually made from two alloy pressings that are joined together and often filled with a pitch type substance that holds them and the blade tightly. Can you see a seam where they are joined?

The blades are usually a brass type alloy and it unlikely that silver was used due to the cost. It could be silver plate.

They are often multi-patinated to look like expensive mixed metalwork. Some even are signed to add to the illusion.

The dark stain is simply age tarnishing.
Personally I would not clean it at all but it depends if you like an original patina or prefer bright and shiny. A general rule is never clean Japanese metalwork. 
 An excellent example of the Japanese innovative  ability to create something that looks high quality but is actually a more modest item.

Many kozuka are made using similar methods and often fool people.

 

 

[Guzewski]

31 minutes ago, Matsunoki said:

The subject is Fujin and this is a late Meiji period paper knife.

They often look very impressive but were made in huge numbers for the foreign market ie the Gaijin in Japan at that time and also for later export.

The handle is usually made from two alloy pressings that are joined together and often filled with a pitch type substance that holds them and the blade tightly. Can you see a seam where they are joined?

The blades are usually a brass type alloy and it unlikely that silver was used due to the cost. It could be silver plate.

They are often multi-patinated to look like expensive mixed metalwork. Some even are signed to add to the illusion.

The dark stain is simply age tarnishing.
Personally I would not clean it at all but it depends if you like an original patina or prefer bright and shiny. A general rule is never clean Japanese metalwork. 
 An excellent example of the Japanese innovative  ability to create something that looks high quality but is actually a more modest item.

Many kozuka are made using similar methods and often fool people.

 

 

Thanks a lot for the reply! I have not received the item yet and have not examined it live. I'll look for seam marks and so on after it comes to me. Of course, it is a pity that the subject is absolutely not interesting, it seemed to me very detailed, plus it came to a person from a member of a weighty old family in my country, there were no "very simple" objects in their house, it even has the status of a museum here.
Anyway, I got it for pennies. What is the approximate cost of these products? 30-50 dollars?

[Matsunoki]

5 minutes ago, Guzewski said:

What is the approximate cost of these products? 30-50 dollars?

Best to wait until you actually receive it so we can tell for sure if it’s made the way I suspect but yes, you are probably in the right ballpark although I’ve seen them make much more when people get fooled.