O-Midare 106 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Here is a link to a set of kozuka dinner knives. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/ANTIQUE-MIXED-METAL-Japanese-KNIFES-SET-OF-6-KOZUKA-HANDLE/193146298942?ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11021.m43.l1120/7?euid=bbfbdfa790e4477b9beda38d17993784&bu=43332463097&ut=RU&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.ca%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F193146298942&sojTags=bu=bu,ut=ut&srcrot=e11021.m43.l1120&rvr_id=0&rvr_ts=abe48f6116d0a4d1f4774423fffe4393&ul_noapp=true&pageci=44b806ea-fa03-4bd5-bdaa-ddcf0e24e655&redirect=mobile Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PietroParis 214 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Hi, I presume I am stating the obvious here: the decoration on both sides of the handle means that they were "born like that", i.e. they are not actual kozuka adapted to kitchen knives, but rather "kozuka-like" decorations of regular knives' handles. I saw a set of twelve such knives sell for 562.50 EUR (including fees) at a recent auction in Paris. The ones in your post appear to be more-finely chiseled to my untrained eye (but the picture of the Paris knives is very poor). Cheers, Pietro P.S. I would also wonder why "Meiji period Japanese knifes" are marked "Mappin & Webb" on the blade... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
O-Midare 106 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Do you think these are over priced?, I was thinking they are kinda neat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geraint 674 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Dear Dwayne. Pietro is quite right and be aware that they are pressings so as part of a collection they are overpriced, removing the blades will not make them suitable even as replacement kozuka in koshirae so the question is do you want some cutlery? If so then I guess the value is up to you. All the best. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PietroParis 214 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 There appears to be a market for those sets, see e.g. this Bonhams lot, but indeed my understanding is that they should be viewed as fancy cutlery. Cheers, Pietro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
O-Midare 106 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 I understand this, just like the look. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
O-Midare 106 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Matching fork set is nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian 6,167 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 The price is cheap currently but won't stay there.I would appreciate these as an example of Japanese metalwork/art, and not sword related. They do stand up just fine on their own. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PietroParis 214 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 The price is cheap currently but won't stay there. I would appreciate these as an example of Japanese metalwork/art, and not sword related. They do stand up just fine on their own. The blades in Dwayne's set are marked "Mappin & Webb - Sheffield", and the ones in the Bohnams set are marked "Jules Piault". Does this mean that European jewelers were importing the handles from Japan and fitting them on locally-made blades and forks? Cheers, Pietro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian 6,167 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Yep, or supplying the hardware to their agents in Japan for fitting?Mappin & Webb are famous for their silverware etc. I have some bowls by them. Probably was the "in thing" during the early 1900's to have these as your tableware. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PietroParis 214 Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Well, if the ultimate destination was the European market importing the handles would have made more sense... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
