Antique Fuchi and Menuki

[gtstcactus]

Hey,

 

I picked these up, purely to display as decorative pieces. 1 Fuchi and 1 Menuki...... Apparently they came off a very old blade, where the blade and other bits gone nobody knows!

 

Can anyone tell me anything about them from the pictures?

[paulb]

Hi Jason,

Fittings arent my strong suit but these look to be rather late pieces (i.e post 1800) and of lowish quality. They are the sort of thing you tend to see on numerous country made swords.

They may very well have come off an old blade but this doesn't mean they are old. As you know blades were refitted for different koshirae throughout their history. One of the many blades I have spent a lot of time with dates from around 1320 but has a koshirae made in the mid Edo period.

I am sure others may be able to place them better regarding likely school and timing

Best Regards

Paul

[Ian]

Hi Jason

 

The bamboo and tiger themed menuki represents strength and courage!

 

Regards

[Ford Hallam]

From a stylistic point of view I'm fairly certain the fuchi is a Ko-Mino piece. The relatively high relief of the design and the 2 tones of gold as well as the extensive working up of the strip of the shakudo visible on the inside all confirm the technical aspects for me. It's not of the highest quality one can find from this group but I think it may be pre-Edo at least.

 

Here's a very similar tsuba for comparison.

 

 

I've heard the motif of tiger amid wind blown bamboo (take ni tora) explained as meaning even the most powerful earthly force (the tiger, dragons represent heavenly power)) is no match for the power of nature. A rather sobering reminder given the recent terrible events in Japan. Bamboo is generally said to represent flexibility and resilience. The menuki are most probably quite late and are not particularly remarkable examples in my opinion.

[gtstcactus]

Ford,

 

Wow that is a very similar styled tsuba, almost looks like they (fuchi and tsuba) belong together!

[BMarkhasin]

Jason,

 

Ford is close to the mark. This is definately Mino bori, as characterized by deeply carved design, with essentially vertical walls. In very fine examples of early Mino work (koMino), the motif is actually undercut, giving the impression that the motif is floating above a fine nanako-ji. This work is a bit later, but still early to mid Edo. It is very representative of the group. The menuki are Edo, and also Mino. Good find.

 

PS -- this is an addition, as I had to leave my computer... To expound slightly, Mino work apart from being characterized by the vertical carving, also favoured floral motifs, especially flowers and vines, as well as insects and to a lesser degree animals. This Fuchi incorporates these 'kantei' points. The use of these motifs had a great longevity. Ultimately grades of Mino (and KoMino) works are judged and differentiated by the quality and depth of the mino bori technique, the application (and retention) of the gilding, the use of negative space among the high relief elements, and the quality of the nanakoji in the negative spaces. Determination of age is sometimes tough in Mino works, especially in the late Momoyama to early Edo. This makes my age determination a little speculative. I said early to mid Edo due to the general coarseness of the design and that it is quite generic. It lacks the vibrant quality of Momoyama works, and for lack of any better qualifiers, simply does not 'feel' like Momoyama work. I think early to mid Edo is a safe and supportable estimate. I think if you scoured a few books on the subject, you would come to the same conclusions. I'm not near my books now, but I am sure others could quickly suggest the best titles. I think one is Kinki Mino Bori (1973?), and there is another exhibition catalogue by Gifu Prefecture on the subject... Anyone?

 

Best,

Boris.

[docliss]

Yes, Kinkō Mino Chō, a paperback catalogue published in 1993 by the Gifu City Museum of History, of a Special Exhibition held there in 1993. John L.

[Brian]

Thanks Boris, good to have your input.

 

Brian

 

Edit to add: Damn Pete...that's some good timing there: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10061

:D

[Pete Klein]

Well, the post reminded me I had an extra copy of each so I figured what the heck...

[gtstcactus]

Thank you very much for the replies! It's become apparent that my literature is seriously lacking in regards to the fittings side of things....

[Jean]

Jaso,

 

Ko Mino, Mino goto .....whatever they are called are quiet easy to spot, like this one. Once you have seen 2/3 examples you won't forget them. flowers, leaves or fruits on nanako ....