Jingo Bells or just Junk again?

HI all,

I have this fuchi Kashira that i got a while ago and i have no idea of what period or school it may belong to.

I have had a look in the Catalogues and it appears to be a bit like something called "Jingo" style.

I am sure this is not the case but it appears to be Iron with silver wire inlaid in what appears to be Roof Thatching Bales AKA Wheat Sheafs?

There is no copper on this at all its all iron and silver wire inlayed.

regards

shan

while they are not national treasure, i wouldn't call them junk.

Some people prefer iron tosogu, it seems the " condition" problem are usually not taken as seriously as soft metal where one scratch on shakudo means a 100 bucks haircut !!

p.s. it seems they don't fancy your Eton joke................

milt

Hi Milt,

I wonder how old the Fuchi-Kashira might be,would you sugest later Edo or is it likely earlier?

Would the silver be steel?

Re the Other post and the "Eton Joke",

No it was clearly in poor taste and had the potential to "upset" people so it was removed with good reason,It may also have been off topic.

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

Have you ever heard of a Koshirae that was entirely made of Brass metal and inlaid with Copper, silver and gold in the form of flowers and mythical animals? No sam`e or Ito, no Menuki just the bare metals.

regards

shan

Hi Milt,

I wonder how old the Fuchi-Kashira might be,would you sugest later Edo or is it likely earlier?

Would the silver be steel?

 

Re the Other post and the "Eton Joke",

No it was clearly in poor taste and had the potential to "upset" people so it was removed with good reason,It may also have been off topic.

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

I must not make jokes at other peoples expense...

 

Have you ever heard of a Koshirae that was entirely made of Brass metal and inlaid with Copper, silver and gold in the form of flowers and mythical animals? No sam`e or Ito, no Menuki just the bare metals.

regards

shan

when in doubt.........always mid edo.

From what you described about all brass koshirae............ first thing that comes to mind is tibetan sword? Or..........ezo fittings/sword mount ?

milt

Soft-metal koshirae in brass, with inlay is usually indicative of Meiji period "tourist" pieces. Not always junk, some of them can be quite attractive and show the work of some good metalworkers. Then there are the pressed brass ones with aoi mon etc that are just so-so. I have one like this but with an earlier blade mounted. So you see all types in these fittings. Obivously a pic would help.

I can't tell you more about your f/k set. Frankly, unless fittings fit into one of the major schools such as Higo, Goto etc, I don't see many being attributed here to a school or style. Most are just what they are, and date through the Edo period.

Brian

Soft-metal koshirae in brass, with inlay is usually indicative of Meiji period "tourist" pieces. Not always junk, some of them can be quite attractive and show the work of some good metalworkers. Then there are the pressed brass ones with aoi mon etc that are just so-so. I have one like this but with an earlier blade mounted. So you see all types in these fittings. Obivously a pic would help.

I can't tell you more about your f/k set. Frankly, unless fittings fit into one of the major schools such as Higo, Goto etc, I don't see many being attributed here to a school or style. Most are just what they are, and date through the Edo period.

I don't want to get away from the original topic but since we went there I thought I show these pics that were sent to me from a guy wanting to know what it was worth, smith, etc. I suggested it was probably post Meiji tourist stuff...with a shunga theme - unusual I guess. Is this the sort of stuff that you were talking about Shan/Brian?

Rich Thomas

Rich,

I'm not convinced that is Japanese. Maybe Chinese

That much sori in a short tanto, and with a nakago looking like that? Even cut down from longer wouldn't result in that.

Brian

Rich,

I'm not convinced that is Japanese. Maybe Chinese

That much sori in a short tanto, and with a nakago looking like that? Even cut down from longer wouldn't result in that.

 

Brian

:lol: Brian actually my words to him exactly first time were:

Ok so I believe, (and this is only my humble opinion), that this is not a genuine blade, (sorry) the shape is all wrong, the hamon (temper line) looks to be etched/ground on? Not a usual shape for tanto of any era, even if it was the top portion on a larger blade cut down, it’s shape is wrong. It’s a Japanese shunga theme, but the mei (signature on the nakago) doesn’t seem right… a bit Chinese fake fake. Looks to me more like a Chinese copy?

so looks like we agreed almost word for word :D ....but he was adamant it came from Japan after WW1... so I said it might be post Meiji tourist stuff then.....anyway just thought I'd share.

cheers

Rich Thomas

Its still with customs but i have some small images from the web.

I think it is a tourist piece that never got out of Japan.......until now.

It seems fairly well done and as i have a need for a koshirae will do for now.

Until i see it i will not know how well done it is for sure.

Regards

Shan

Hi again,

Re the other blade Rich posted of the shunga theme.

I think the mounts are quite possibly a very late themed item but i cannot judge the blade from the images as well as some.

I could see a cut down Naginata having a sori as great as that and even to a lesser degree a variant of degree an Osaraku tanto.

It worries me a little that from a poor ebay image the blade does not look "that bad" at all.

It would be the mounts i would be put off by as i don`t think the theme consistent with Samurai.

On ebay that blade on its own would get good bids i think if the Fake patination (Paint?) were cleaned up a bit to "end" tidily under the habaki area.

regards

Shan

Yep...does seem to be the touristy stuff. However if it was in Japan until now, there is a chance it has a better blade in it. You get these with older blades infrequently, however usually they are mass produced low quality blades of the type you see in those carved bone mounts. Sometimes you get lucky, we will see.

Brian

OTOH there's that all silver koshirae tachi that were sold arounf meiji times with good sword inside ( that's what i heard years ago ).........one ended in Indonesia owned by that dictator ( in the 50's and 60's )who had a Japanese wife ( Sukarno? spelling ? , not Suharto )

milt