Coiled dragon menuki

[Ron STL]

Hi all -

 

Perhaps a few of you are not at the Tampa show at this time? I'm trying to pull together an article for the JSS newsletter on The Year of the Dragon, showing various dragon representations on tosogu. One such pair is of gold, attributed to Goto Tokujo; beautiful menuki. Initially, I was trying (unsuccessfully) to learn the significance of the "coiled" dragon. So that is one question. Question two. Then I realized that both menuki depict male dragons since both dragons have the ken at their tails. They are definitely a pair (papered to Tokujo) but I'm puzzled by the use of two male dragons. Any ideas about this??? I'm puzzled! Hopefully a photo is attached.

 

Ron

STL

[Surfson]

Very nice set Ron. The one on the left appears to have a jewel, while the one on the right doesn't. They are nearly symmetrical though.

[Eric H]

  Ron STL said:

I'm trying to pull together an article for the JSS newsletter on The Year of the Dragon, showing various dragon representations on tosogu

The Japanese dragon has only three claws, whereas the chinese common dragon has four claws, and the five claws dragon is representative for the Chinese imperial family.

 

A variety of dragons

 

Eric

[John A Stuart]

Nice menuki. What is different is that both when mounted would look towards the kashira. A kind of nomenclature was for one aft and the other forward. John

[drbvac]

They are all beautiful - have no tosugu not mounted but have two blades mounted with all dragon themes.

 

 

 

 

Kinai :

[Ron STL]

Thanks everyone, some beautiful fittings displayed here! Certainly "what it's all about," I'd say! John mentioned the coiled dragons facing the kashira as opposed to the fuchi (or tsuba) but really, the left menuki does face forward (towards the tsuba) and the other does the same when placed on the "inside" of the tsuka.

 

Also, I didn't notice the "jewel" on the left menuki. It is rather hard o see but these menuki are so small, being thumbnail sized, some of this detail is difficult to pick out. Amazing that these carvers could place so much "detail" on something this small. As for why both dragons have a "ken" showing on them, I wonder if because these are so small (perhaps intended for mounting on a tanto or kowakizashi is why they look so similar. If the left one does carry the "jewel" then it would be the "primary" menuki either way, I would say.

 

Interestingly, last evening I thumbed throught he "17 Generations of Goto" and also the very large taikan sized book on Goto (name escapes me) and found not one example of Goto dragon menuki made in the round - coiled dragon - fashion. This leads me into thinking the "coiled dragon" design is not so common among Goto works.

 

Thanks for all the imput guys and gals. Now if I could just pull out some of those wonderful fitting into my own collection...(sigh)

 

Ron

STL

[Eric H]

Finally some dragon menuki

 

Eric

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Ron,

 

Wonder, in fact, I have to think this pair was part of a daisho at one time that became separated, where someone wasn't paying attention or just didn't know any better about the male/female and assumed the look alikes belonged together. I say this after going through the Fukushi Shigeo Goto book and viewing a dragon set of menuki by Tokujo, where quite clearly there is a male/female. Also, even though the set in the book are not coiled dragons, it is readily apparent why they papered this coiled pair to Tokujo as the detail is amazingly exact. The fact that the set you posted are round menuki make me suspect even more that this was part of a daisho at one time, as the daisho sets by Tokujo in the book which are Paulownia mon have round menuki. Otherwise, it would be far too outrageous to believe so blatant an error would be committed. This leads me to suspect that there is a female set of Tokujo coiled dragons out there somewhere searching for their matching male counterparts.

[Ron STL]

Amazing to see the "set" of female dragons you posted! But I see both of the "female" dragons are looking left (into tsuba if mounted on ura of tsuka) whereas the two male dragons of my set face opposing, one right (as for the omote side of a tsuka) and the other left (as for the ura side). I've looked closely again at my dragons and while both have a "ken" at their tails, I can not see any trace of any "jewel" on either menuki. The primary one (facing right) does have his tongue showing, the other does not. Perhaps there is an explanation of this puzzle but we may never discover it, at least for awhile.

 

An interesting aside, while at the DTI a few years ago, I believe it was Mr. Saito who pointed out the small mark placed on the tongue of the dragon on a pair of Goto menuki. He said that this was an identifying mark used only by that master. Unfortunately, I do not recall which master that was, Tokujo perhaps? Looking closely, I see a small chizel mark centered on the tongue of my primary dragon menuki. As I said, an interesting detail to notice while examining these menuki.

 

Ron

STL

[Ron STL]

Eric, I'm wondering if it would be okay to use a couple of the dragon kozuka photos you posted in my JSS/US on the Year of the Dragon? Maybe you just pulled these off the internet, but then again you may have these in your collect (lucky you!). The photos are so clear and give me a little variety to use for my (short) article.

 

Ron

STL

[Eric H]

All photos are from my internet library, I have posted them just with the purpose you can use them in your article as top- grade references.

 

Eric

[IanB]

Gentlemen, Apparently you have never read 'Every Boy's Own Book of Dragon Sexing'. Gentlemen dragons have a tail ending in a ken sword blade, lady dragons have a tail that is rounded at the end, or sometimes with spiky scales ( I suspect we all know some ladies of that would fit that description). I have always been of the impression that all animal menuki should always faced the blade, hence one in each set looks back over its shoulder. The pair of coiled up males shown by Eric might well be from two sets - such menuki were common enough for tanto. Finally, note the dragon kozuka shown by Eric with a mallet in the dragon's paw. What is going on there? A dragon DIY enthusiast or is she chasing the male with intent to do damage?

Ian Bottomley

[Tcat]

  IanB said:

Finally, note the dragon kozuka shown by Eric with a mallet in the dragon's paw. What is going on there? A dragon DIY enthusiast or is she chasing the male with intent to do damage?

Ian Bottomley

 

Ian, she is obviously on her way to inspect a nakago.. The 'mallet' is clearly a mekuginuki.

[johnb]

Here'a another one.

 

John B

[Alan Morton]

Hi John,

 

what is that thingymebob with the coiled dragon on it ?

Does it go round a wak or tanto handle? IF so do you have the

other half

 

Regards AL

[johnb]

Hi Al

 

Yes, it's all there...two dragons.

 

John B