Sea creatures

[Henry Wilson]

Has anyone seen examples of whales or squids being used as a motif / theme for fittings? I have seen a few for octopus, starfish, shellfish, fishermen etc and feel that whales and squids may be under-represented.

[Rich T]

Hi Henry, never seen a whale, plenty of carp, fish of good fortune, and I cannot say I have seen a squid either for that matter.

 

Rich

[Henry Wilson]

I have never seen a whale or a squid too. Any ideas why?

[Rich T]

Thanks to Pete Klein for pointing this out

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/kozuka/05238.html

 

Rich

[Nobody]

I found a squid(cuttlefish) on a Kozuka.

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/350-399/05379.html

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks everyone. I think that these kind of motifs are not very common and don't seem to have been popular with people in the past. Does any one know or can speculate why?

 

Thanks again.

[Patrick Hastings]

Hi Henry,

my first post on this board. I have seen Squid on a kozuka also. Page 158. of The book Lethal elegance.

As to the why? I often wonder why a particular animal has been left out so to speak. There is such a large body of antiques in existence that no one has seen it all. Each persons experience is a small cross-section of what exists. Usually animals I have written off pop up eventually as Menuki or in other fittings. Menuki have a vast diversity. I would bet that there are some whale Menuki floating around somewhere. Why does one animal become a main stream motif and others remain in obscurity? I think that is influenced by the nuances of old Japanese culture. I am working all the time to increase my cross-section. If I see some whales I'll let you know.

[SteveM]

I have admired that whale kozuka on Aoi Art for some time. Not a classic beauty, but I thought it had a mysterious, rare quality to it. I like the squid, ray, shark kozuka as well.

 

Maybe one reason we don't see a greater variety of animals is the limitations imposed on artisans concerning "acceptable" motifs (i.e. the 12 animals of Chinese zodiac calendar, family crests, other seasonal motifs, etc..).

[Stephen]

thru Po's items for sell on ebay this AM and found your squid and other sea creatures on fuchi and kashira... heres the link

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/8364-JP-SWORD-Fishe ... dZViewItem

[Nostro Titus]

Hi Henry

 

This picture is from a museum cataloge of the Kaplan collection.

 

Nostro

[Henry Wilson]

That is a nice set. Thanks for sharing!

[Bungo]

check out the book " Lethal Elegance " by Joe Earle of Boston.........

page 158, item #99

A most exquisite kozuka with two dried squids by Otsuki Mitsuoki.

 

Almost make you say............ to hell with the rusty ole iron.

While you are reading this book, be sure to read the first chapter..........Joe gave some insights as to why some people " prefer " ooooooollllllllddddddddd iron.

 

milt THE ronin

[Rich T]

but Milt reminded me of the famous dried Benitto of Akao fame. I know both tsuba and menuki.

 

Rich

 

 

[Brian]

Found this set for sale today. I guess it's an octopus and shark..not a squid, but interesting nonetheless.

Unusual theme. Quite nice to me.

 

Brian

[sencho]

looks like a squid to me Brian..... especially with the two longer tentacles.... I don't think it is a shark either!!

 

Cheers

Nigel

[Nobody]

looks like a squid to me Brian..... especially with the two longer tentacles.... I don't think it is a shark either!!

I agree with Nigel. That looks like a squid to me.

As for the shark, I thought it was a shark at first, but now I think it might be a sturgeon.

 

[Mike]

An interesting design combining sumo wrestler and huge catfish.

Mike