What is this?

[David McDonald]

Dear All

 

This item was found in an old garbage pit. Most of the trash was from the early 1900's.

Looks like nice work but what was it from or used for???

 

Thanks for any comments.

 

later

david

[loui]

How big is it? Interesting!

[sanjuro]

As a wild stab in the dark. I would guess this to be a paper weight like the ones they use in calligraphy. It obviously doesnt fit on anything yet it appears more robust than a mere decorative plaque. It was obviously meant to be admired and the work seems quite good. Yep...... paper weight, or whatever the Japanese name is for one.

[cabowen]

That is what I was thinking...called a bunchin 文鎮

[sanjuro]

Thanks Chris... I was racking my brains for that word. :D

[Henry Wilson]

It could be off the front of a tobacco pouch

 

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&su ... a=N&tab=wi

[David McDonald]

Dear All

 

Sorry I forgot to include the size.

 

width 2.8 cm (1 1/16 inch)

height 2.2 cm (7/8 inch)

thickness 0.15 cm ( 1/16 inch)

 

If it was for a pouch how would it be attached?

 

thanks again

david

[cabowen]

Too small for a bunchin...

[sanjuro]

a Bunchin for a Munchkin??????......... Maybe not.

 

Perhaps it was once set into something, a rim that carried some attachment device like a brooch.

[Henry Wilson]

It would have been attached using a glue. Possibly a pine resin as used to fix menuki in a tsuka.

[Surfson]

It could possibly be some sort of pin. The groove on the back may have accommodated a fastener.

[blekk]

Perhaps off a snuff box??

[David McDonald]

Dear All

 

Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

Makes you wonder what else my be left

in the old garbage pit.

 

later

david

[kokyo jin]

It is not a Bunchin.

Seems like a part used by metalsmiths for decoration of tansu or other artifacts.

 

Such items sometimes come up on the collectors market.

 

Attached examples of such..

 

[David McDonald]

Dear Hilik

 

Great pictures and thanks for the information.

 

later

david