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Various Katanakake

Bugyotsuji
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Bugyotsuji Grand Master

Bugyotsuji

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Barry Hennick wrote: Piers please start a new thread on katana kake. I have several and am always looking for others. I do not particularly like most lacquered ones. Some are so gaudy. I think that the sword koshirae or shirasaya should be the focus not the lacquer work on the kake.

 

Well, we have had threads showing some of the excellent hand-made creations by members here, but the search engine did not turn up a dedicated katanakake thread. So, ladies and gentlemen here is a thread to show what you have. :clap: I hope to add a couple of photographs here myself.

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Eric H Mentor

Eric H

Posted
Posted

Barry Hennick wrote: Piers please start a new thread on katana kake. I have several and am always looking for others. I do not particularly like most lacquered ones. Some are so gaudy. I think that the sword koshirae or shirasaya should be the focus not the lacquer work on the kake.

Everyone to his taste!... The connoisseur is well prepared to differentiate between a high quality lacqerwork and a poor one...and to appreciate the one (Kake) and the other (Koshirae)

 

Eric

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sanjuro Veteran

sanjuro

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Malcolm

 

The deer antler racks are also widely used to rack other things. I have seen them used to rack flutes, parasols and walking canes also. As a katanakake they are often unsuitable as the fork in the antlers is too wide to support the saya without it leaning somewhat either to the front or the rear. Usually however, if it looks like a katanakake it probably is a katanakake.

I must agree with Barry however, most katanakake are too garish. A true sword connoisseur would not display his swords on a katanakake that competed with the koshirae it supported for the eye of the viewer. :D Western tastes however sometimes run the other way and we see garish katanakake overpowering the koshirae that stands upon it. Given that most Koshirae are relatively restained in their decoration, the combination of an elegant koshirae racked on a heavily decorated and garish katanakake is very bad taste.

IanB Veteran

IanB

Posted
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All, Herewith a somewhat different folding katana kake I bought a couple of years ago from dear old Po of blessed memory. It was a Christmas present from me to me - always better than socks. It was missing a couple of hinges when I bought it, but a few hours with sheet brass soon fixed it. I just love the lacquer work, which is as good on the back as the sides. The fold-down shelf part is recessed into the back part when folded up. I have a theory (and that is all it is) that these folding stands may have been used in inns for when a samurai was staying. They store in a small space but could be put out in a room when needed. I'm probably wrong on this but who knows.

Ian Bottomley

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Eric H Mentor

Eric H

Posted
Posted
A true sword connoisseur would not display his swords on a katanakake that competed with the koshirae it supported for the eye of the viewer. Western tastes however sometimes run the other way and we see garish katanakake overpowering the koshirae that stands upon it. Given that most Koshirae are relatively restained in their decoration, the combination of an elegant koshirae racked on a heavily decorated and garish katanakake is very bad taste.

 

 

The insinuation of bad taste touches firstly those highly qualified lacquer artists who made outstanding kakes...for whom?...for Samurai who would appreciate them and could afford them... and secondly to „Westerners“ who suffer equally in bad taste.

 

A fine Daisho on a finely lacquered Daishokake is as a tribute to the swords on it.

Imagine a feastful dressed man with Smoking... but barefoot.

 

There are Westerners trapped in prejudices trying to enlighten people.

 

If „true sword connoisseurship“ is reduced to simple „black or white“ then I whistle on this connoisseurship.

 

When a sword is placed on its rack, the sageo should be wound neatly round the scabbard at the kurikata. The colouring of the sageo corresponds to that of the scabbard to which it is attached; if the latter is in good Japanese taste, quiet and sober, the sageo will be similar, but gaudy and variegated braid is often found on a flashily mounted weapon. The sword-rack should if possible, contrast in colour and decoration with the sword placed upon it.

(by a knowledgeable Author)

 

Eric

Bugyotsuji Grand Master

Bugyotsuji

Posted
  • Author
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Chaqu'un a son gout, or as the Japanese say 「十人十色」　Ju-nin To-iro (Ten people, ten colors/colours).

 

Here are a couple of slightly different "-kake", ie Teppo-kake. (Just going off-topic for one quick second! :lol: )

 

NB If you find the second version with not square but large rounded rests, it is probably for an elephant tusk.

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Ford Hallam Grand Master

Ford Hallam

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True elegance and style cannot be regulated by prescriptions and rules nor is the slavish adherence to rules a sign of cultured refinement, it's merely an indication of a willingness to conform. Good taste is the last refuge of the artist. 8) :beer:

sanjuro Veteran

sanjuro

Posted
Posted
The insinuation of bad taste touches firstly those highly qualified lacquer artists who made outstanding kakes...for whom?...for Samurai who would appreciate them and could afford them... and secondly to „Westerners“ who suffer equally in bad taste.

 

Really, Eric????? Most of these garish katanakake were made mid to late Edo period, when most samurai were in hock to the rice merchants and there were very few rich samurai. In fact there were more merchants wandering around wearing swords than there were samurai. As to the westerners who suffer equally from bad taste as the Edo merchant class did... Well you made the call.... :D

Eric H Mentor

Eric H

Posted
Posted

Well I spoke from Samurais who were wealthy, this narrows down to higher ranking Samurais. More than 250 Daimyates with all their vassals, a respectable number...it is not the issue of merchants...what should they do with a Kake for Daisho.

 

When appreciating an art object, f.e. a sword stand exclusively made for 2 swords, a Daisho...look carefully at the Koshirae, the Kake, assumed the latter is worth to be appreciated, and then the whole, how it harmonises. And then make up your mind.

 

To downgrade high quality lacquered sword stands in globo as garish is incomprehensible.

 

Why do you not show your Kakes?...at best a Daisho-Kake with a Daisho upon it.

 

respectfully

 

Eric

sanjuro Veteran

sanjuro

Posted
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Eric

 

I'm not downgrading all lacquered katana kake as garish at all. I have seen some very tastefully lacquered katana kake. My argument is with the ones that are garish and the rather tasteless effect they have on a display of decent quality koshirae. What I consider garish and what you consider garish may differ of course and you have every right to admire whatever you consider to be high quality.

Just for the record, I do not own a daisho (Nor do I wish to). My permanent collection consists almost entirely of tachi, about half of it in shirasaya. I have only two katanakake which are quite plain, one lacquered and one in unlacquered zelkova wood. I doubt you or any of the NMB members would find either of them remarkable. :)

jamesicus Community Regular

jamesicus

Posted
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I am actually searching for traditional Japanese stands in plain black lacquer -- mostly out of nostalgia, although I do like their understated elegance.

 

In the meantime, I am temporarily using portable stands that I made to display antique blunderbusses and military flintlock carbines ..........

 

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.......... to display my Nihontô ..........

 

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James

drbvac Mentor

drbvac

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I wonder how far the decoration has to go to be considered "garish" and lacking taste? I sort of like this one although that said it is the only one I have with any decoration at all. Does this make me a heathen < :freak:

 

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CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
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True elegance and style cannot be regulated by prescriptions and rules nor is the slavish adherence to rules a sign of cultured refinement, it's merely an indication of a willingness to conform. Good taste is the last refuge of the artist.

 

_________________

Ford Hallam

 

Elequently said! :clap:

 

Curtis

Jean

Jean

Posted
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To you also Piers, and your family and all NMB members, special mention to those who live in Tokyo with the new earthquake event... Guido's family, Henry, Bob, Piers....

 

BTW I did not even know it was a poem ... :D

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