Matsunoki

Maybe Lewis is referring to the yawning gap that appears to exist below the shikoro to the back and sides where tare and nodawa offer no extra protection? Lewis …..anything else you can tell us? Location, age etc? Looks in near perfect condition

Indeed depending on your local laws. Illegal to sell in UK.

Hi Mal Agree with Piers…..elephant ivory and fairly “modern”. As for function….most likely (imo) a tourist souvenir of modest quality. Is there a small hole going into the mouth in which case could be pendant or a key ring having lost its loop.

Possibly……you ask em? I’ve never had dealings there……🙂…..bit too posh for me…

Is that really the reverse Piers?….seems strange if it isn’t seen…..but I know nothing about this type of netsuke

And…….?🙂

B4me🙂

Sometimes, searching and then finding “stuff” like this is far more enjoyable than shelling out big bucks for something that was sitting highly visible in the spotlight. Wish I woz there🙂

I give up.

Well maybe you have now? Please read what I have said. I have never said that these tsuba were made in Ryukyu. I agree with you that they were not…..but they were made elsewhere using Ryukyu techniques and borrowing Ryukyu subject matter (these geometric Shippo designs) and this tsuba viewed against the other images I show are pretty solid evidence of that (imo) I agree…..it is best to be accurate when discussing such things.

In the light of the images above do you still stand by that statement?

No, most of them refer to Ryukyu lacquer, not “style” OK…compare the tsuba (shown first) to the other images of items described as Ryukyu lacquer. How on Earth can you say there is no match in style? The use of the small geometric inlays is a major characteristic of Ryukyu lacquer and I simply said ………

I’d have bought it. Love these wild looking hirazukuri wakizashi, something rather “lethal and menacing” about them.