Ivory kozuka

[DirkO]

Came across this on Yahoo. Seeing you don't see many of these, thought I'd share:

[Soshin]

Hi Dirk,

 

Can't clearly see the attribution on NBTHK shinsa origami. Can you post better photos? Overall a interesting piece and worth discussing. I didn't know they made kozuka out of ivory.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[DirkO]

Hi David,

 

Sorry, but that's all the pictures the auction has :

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n104401809

 

I ran it through Google Translate and it clearly states ivory.

[sanjuro]

Nice piece! More of a curio rather than a serious piece of tosogu but very charming. Ivory sword furniture is not usually seen in quantity because ivory does not react well to stress. This kozuka for instance, if mounted with a kogatana would ultimately split open because of the sustained (yet light) pressure from the nakago being a friction fit within it. (if you own this piece please dont mount it with a kogatana blade). They were given as gifts... a mark of esteem and wealth to honoured recipients. There is an ivory tanto tsuba illustrated in BW Robinson's book 'Arts of the Japanese Sword" Plate 47. Like this and your example, All that I have encountered have been exquisitely carved and I think therein lies their value. Wood and Tortoiseshell examples of kozuka and tsuba were also made during the Edo and Meiji periods.

 

There was a thread on this forum in which ivory and bone tosogu were discussed. (sorry, I cant locate it at the moment) The various qualities of bone and ivory were explored if my memory serves me.

[Bugyotsuji]

Guessing it says: "Water Dragon picture Kozuka, Mumei, Netsuke-Shi (Bakumatsu) Ivory Ji, Takabori"

[John A Stuart]

"...from the nakago being a friction fit within it." Although most kogatana seem to be placed within the kozuka by bending the nakago to wedge it tightly, I believe, that the proper method is to use 'kusune' to set the blade. These wedged kogatana do not hold place safely. John

[Pete Klein]

I would agree with John on this as it would need to be affixed by a glue of some sort. I also find the paper interesting as the NBTHK will not paper a fitting if it is not considered to be legitimately usable with a traditional sword / mounting. Therefore, they apparently look upon this as an actual kozuka and not an 'art-work'.

[Grey Doffin]

If the kotsuka is mounted with a kogatana it must be stored in a very dry environment. Since iron expands when it corrodes, and since ivory would crack more easily than soft metal, it wouldn't take much rust to break this piece. If it were mine I think I'd leave it unmounted.

Grey

[kuromido]

Hello all, I thought I should add a (not so great) pic of a wood kozuka . It has an ebony top with a rosewood

case. Nicely carved but missing a small amount of silver wire inlay.

I am not sure of age but guess it to be late edo.

Cheers,

PeterD