Bugyotsuji

Hi Billy, yes, but not necessarily just because the holes are the same size. Where to start? Someone has quickly created a Netsuke-like object, hoping for a sale, but the all-round quality is completely missing for a ‘genuine’ old Netsuke.

This topic is surely worth expanding. Looking to post a coarse powder flask I found over the weekend, I discovered this good old thread! These old black-powder flasks can show astonishingly fine work. If you can find one with matching bits (frills), then all the better! See below the collar of the spout, the top of the powder measuring cap, the heads of the pegs, and the flask side-attachment seat. Detail Pouring spout

Thanks Pietro for the great feedback, and for showing us your examples. The various coloured glazes do make them more attractive. Surely elements of the finer detail were added by hand at some stage.(?) John, I am not sure if these would be more expensive than bone or metal. Metal Netsuke are rare enough in their own right.

Agreed that it’s a pretty ugly thing to look at, but to some people therein lies the very charm of pottery netsuke.

The other day I found a Netsuke with simple ojime and Inro attached. The dealer said the Netsuke was ‘stag antler’, but when I objected that it looked more ceramic, he grabbed it, looked more closely and then bumped up the price. I should have kept my mouth shut. Golden Rule of bargain hunting in Japan that I have oft broken and later rued. Not that I am particularly collecting ceramic Netsuke, but this one just drifted along the stream in front of me and begged to join the others. Compared with several examples in Toledo Museum’s Silverman collection I would have to call it as they do: “Hirado ware; porcelain with matte bisque glaze and stain.“ Tsuru Sen-nin, a Chinese immortal/sage, carrying a crane. Edo Period Right view Left view Back view. Big chunk missing, probably dropped at some stage. To left, imprint of maker’s seal?

PS These are written in old-style (pre-simplification) kanji that most Chinese and Japanese today could not read.

Even upside down it looks like gimei characters. A Chinese fake?

You must have a private theory…(?)

Inverted heart, boar’s eye ‘inomé’.

Since then I retired it, using a much lighter but genuine 20-Monme Ōzutsu from Ki-Shū, Wakayama, and subsequently, more recently, a 50-Monme from Sendai. For static displays, however, it’s great to have three Tazuke school matchlocks.

What a trip down memory lane! Since then I fired that gun at blackpowder displays about eighty times over ten years, even taking it to celebrate Japan Week in Portugal later on in 2010. It had to be de-registered to leave Japan. Sadly on return the Tokyo Board of Education re-measured the bore at 2.1 cm, dropping it from a 20-Monme Ōzutsu to a 15-Monme Ōzutsu. But then it got married and had a family. •Ōzutsu •Gunyōzutsu •Bajōzutsu (Kagozutsu)

岡田兼定　作 Okada Kanesada Saku https://kako.nipponto.co.jp/swords2/KT215403.htm

The history of guns floor at Nagoya Tōken world, however, has made great efforts to provide accurate and readable English signs for almost every display. The curators for each floor seem to be markedly different, left entirely to their individual devices, with insufficient overall museum policy. The blades are generally good, and plentiful, but the displays could certainly be improved.

Fairly common Hira-sankaku Yari indeed, but heavily damaged. I’ve never before seen a gimei Yari, but 大吉 作sounds more like a fortune telling than a real smith’s name. The slightly longer kerakubi could indicate a little more age, possibly early to mid Edo period(?), but I’m just guessing.

重 ‘Shige’ can also be a nickname or short form of a person’s name.