Ivory Tsuka

[raaay]

I know not good karma these days to own anything ivory, but it came my way about 15+yrs ago , obviously made around the Meji period, I would suggest circa -1860/1880 !! any idea what the signature may be , supplied both ways not even sure what is the right way up.

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Ray.,

 

I'm going to make a wild guess  which is an archaic Chinese version of the  character 龍 for dragon?

 

Can you please show a side view wide and side view close up of the complete tsuka?

[UnoKubi]

There were a large number of these produced for the export market after the opening of Japan.  The vast majority are actually bone, not ivory.  Look for Schreger lines to see if they are there.  You'll find them on the ends of the piece.

[raaay]

Malcolm , very interesting as the whole thing is covered in dragons ,I always thought it was maybe a signature, many thanks,

[Stephen]

Great dragon's!! Better than avg tourist item.

[raaay]

 

Stephen , yes they are, I need to check , but from memory at least 7 dragons!

[TETSUGENDO]

Very nice quality Meiji export work, not the common stuff.  As Stephen noted, beautiful dragons indeed!  Do you have the Saya?

 

Cheers,

     -S-

[raaay]

yes , Steven , i have the saya , there 10 dragons carved all over the tuska and saya diving in and out of the clouds , in fact a small portion of the saya is in the second photo.

[TETSUGENDO]

That's great Ray,

 

Ah, now I see it peeking out shyly, something this nice deserves a full display......Don't you think?

 

Cheers,

     -S-

[raaay]

As requested, some more photo's of the saya

[Stephen]

I have seen a few high end ivory koshirae.

Yours is right up in the top end.

Blade with this?

[raaay]

Hi Stephen

 

yes , not sure if I have posted this before, but here is the blade that came with the Ivory mounts.

[raaay]

Stephen

 

and one more ,

[TETSUGENDO]

Ray,

 

Ah that's better, fine example of Meiji ivory carving. You are fortunate to live in a climate that's kind to ivory, no doubt why the condition is so good.  99% of blades in this style koshirae are nonsense, any possibility yours is part of that 1% exception?

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[Stephen]

Well the blade is looking to old to be nonsense.

Koto? Signed?

Nice to see one of these with such long blade.

[TETSUGENDO]

"Nonsense" blades include repurposed "tired" and fatally flawed blades in addition to fake ones, did not feel it necessary to spell this out here.....I'll be more explicit in the future!

 

-S-

[Brian]

Those would usually be in the poorly carved "all flash, no substance" mounts. Bone and poorly done ivory.
This one is very well carved and of high class, so I wouldn't expect it to be a poor blade or even a repurposed one. Possible, but those are usually put into the bad bone carving koshirae.

[raaay]

Steven /Stephen

 

 

It is a good blade, that was submitted to the 2008 Uk - NTHK -Shinsa , papered with what looks like 100 points on the score sheet, then they scored through the 100 and changed to

70+ points , so my theory is what did they think it was before they changed the score and made there final assessment ?? and I know they do not issue point scores that high outside of

Japan ! unfortunately on the day I could not stay for the question and answer sessions after the event to ask why they changed the score.

 

 

 

I think this one will be heading to Japan for a polish .

[TETSUGENDO]

Brian.

 

To paraphrase Aesop- Fine feathers don't necessarily make fine birds.  I have seen many of these, including incredibly fine Shibayama one's that had blades of little value,  good one's are the exception.  These were costly curios to grace the.drawing room or parlor of the clueless afluent, things Japanese were all the rage.....the target consumer was not the "serious" sword collector.

 

-S-

[Baka Gaijin]

Many years ago, when God wore short trousers, there was a very long example on display in the Horatio Nelson Museum in Monmouth.

[TETSUGENDO]

One of my favorite artists.

[Jean]

Ingres

[Baka Gaijin]

Oedipus & the Sphinx - begun 1808, enlarged to what we see in 1827.

 

I had (briefly) a fragmentary pentimento drawing by Ingres.

[TETSUGENDO]

Well done Gents,

 

Pardon my neoclassical moment, I could not resist posting this beautiful painting by an artist who was (sometimes) patronized by a God who wore short pants.  Malcolm, sounds like a difficult parting, what a wonderful thing to own.....even if only for a short while.

 

-S-

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Steven.,

 

Back in the day before the interweb, works on paper, even by old masters, were not regarded very highly.

[TETSUGENDO]

Malcolm,

 

Sounds like someone did well.....Oh to turn back time!

 

-S-