Interesting fuchi kashira

[EdWolf]

I have purchased a small wakizashi with some nice and unusual fuchi kashira. Just for sharing with you guys. It's made of three types of metal. I believe this is called mokume. Can't find similar sets to compare. Related to a school?

Any information will be highly appreciated.

Regards, Ed

[vajo]

Thas nice Ed

[EdWolf]

Thanks Chris!

[Ford Hallam]

The invention of the non-ferrous mokume gane technique is attributed to Shoami Denbei so probably dates to around the start of the 18th century.  Various layers of copper, silver, gold and other alloys are fused into solid billets and then forged down to sheet to be used as a decorative veneer, in the classical approach. The patterns are created by carving through the layers of metal between rounds of forging.

[EdWolf]

Thank you very much Ford for the detailed information!

[EdWolf]

Anyone with a similar fuchi kashira and willing to share pictures? Thanks in advance.

[ROKUJURO]

Ed,

a basically similar technique is used in GURI-BORI. If you look that up you may find TSUBA as well as FUCHI-GASHIRA items. 

[EdWolf]

Thank you Jean!

[EdWolf]

It's such a beautiful technique and a pleasure to watch. So some extra photos. The menuki is also nice. A shishi dog and what looks like a human body with a dogs head. Is it also called a shishi dog?

[rkg]

There's a book on this technique:

 

https://smile.amazon.com/Textbook-Mokume-gane-Masaki-Takahashi/dp/4990498216/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/144-9206018-4513831?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=4990498216&pd_rd_r=13d45af6-7da1-40ef-891c-4c2268c6c543&pd_rd_w=x2Klj&pd_rd_wg=jEuv8&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=ZDXVEFSARDFGDZAR7HQ0&psc=1&refRID=ZDXVEFSARDFGDZAR7HQ0

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[EdWolf]

Richard, thank you! Interesting book.

Regards, Ed

[Tanto54]

Hi Ed, based on the gold shorts with tiger stripes, the bangle bracket on the wrist, and the three claws, I think that the “standing” menuki is definitely an Oni (a demon not a shishi).

[Guest]

You may find this to be of interest:

 

https://www.mokumegane.org/e/news.html

[EdWolf]

Thank you all for your input. Interesting site. I had never heard of an Oni. Still a lot to learn.

[Oshy]

I've seen some modern pieces with fuchi/kashira/tsuba fittings done in damask but I'm really digging the darker black with brown/orange.