metallurgical question

[christianmalterre]

question to the Katchu collectors here...

Whom of you could please explain me what is meant by "Uchidashi"?(see description in text)?

Christian

 

Iron horse mask

bamen, attributed

to Fukutake Ichiro

(1928 - 2002)

Japan, Showa period, 20th century

Length: 24 1⁄2 inches, 62.5 cm

Width: 15 3⁄4 inches, 40 cm

An iron horse mask, bamen, in the form of a fierce dragon’s head, hammered

in separate sections that are riveted together and with two side panels that are

attached to the main mask with leather straps. The expressively modelled and

contoured head has large, bulging eyes with protruding eyebrows, antler-like

horns, distinctive, pointed ears and long whiskers. Traces of gilding are visible

on the mask, particularly on the eyes.

 

This unusual sculptural dragon’s mask was made as a head protector,

bamen, for a horse. Masks such as this, accompanied by full body armour, were

originally employed in Samurai battles, but at this late stage of manufacture

probably had a largely ornamental purpose and were used in military

parades. The mask is attributed to Fukutake Ichiro, one of the last traditional

armour makers in Japan, renowned for his ability to manipulate sheet

metal to make it look like iron, a technique known as uchidashi. Fukutake lived

and worked in the Kurashiki area of Okayama Prefecture, where he was

active from the 1950s to the 1970s. Stylistically this horse mask can be compared

to earlier, 19th century masks, examples of which can be found in the

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston1, and in the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller

Museum in Dallas, Texas.2

1 Museum of Fine Arts Boston, gift of gift of Dr. Ernest G. Stillman,

accession number 47.998

2 Barbier-Mueller, J.G., Art of Armor, Samurai armor from the Ann and

Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection, Dallas 2011, cat no. 97, 98 and 99

[Brian]

Christian,

You must have a bit more faith in our own little forum :lol:

search.php?keywords=uchidashi&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Basically, hammered out work. Hammering out the profile from behind, I assume.

 

Brian

[christianmalterre]

LOL!

Thank´s Brian

well-this(term,wording) is known to me of course-

 

I would but ben glad to see an close up picture of an such applied process...

Such must ben available especially from Katchu-publications...(Maybe???)????

Close ups showing the very details...

 

from Tosogu the word/technique does refer to:

A method of making (Tsuba),the surface of which is raised through hammering

or: Uchidashi-baika

A style of mounting(tachi) wherein the hilt is covered with silver sheeting embossed with wave crests resembling a row of plum blossoms.

This style was in fashion during Ashikaga Yoshimasa shogunate.

Same as uchibaika,uchisame,oshisame

(Hawley)

 

somehow puzzeled refering to the text/description given here...

Is it same process meant?(constructional)

or is the wording taken different from Tosogu terms-?

What exactly is meant here in this description:

"renowned for his ability to manipulate sheet

metal to make it look like iron, a technique known as uchidashi"

Christian

[Markus]

@Christian: It is basically as Brian suggested. The term "uchidashi" means just "embossing"

or "hammered out work", regardless of a sheet is embossed to resemble a same or a menpo.

I guess "to make it look like iron" is just an infelicitous wording. Maybe the writer meant

that his special skill was to perform an uchidashi which makes the piece look like solid iron.

[cabowen]

repousse is another word for hammering from the rear...

[estcrh]

Masks such as this, accompanied by full body armour, were

originally employed in Samurai battles,

Great picture, I have been told that horse armor such as this was not actually used during the warring periods but instead was more likely to have been used during the Edo period for Daimyo processions etc. Maybe some one here has some information about this subject.

[christianmalterre]

Thanks Eric,

 

that´s but certainly nostalgic legend...

Ba-men were not intended for conflict-use,in fact,never...

The thickness of those very rare to ben seen made out of iron would very certainly not cover an even light blow,either by weapon,nor by arrow...

Equally "the horse"itself was never held in such high esteem by the Bushi like it did happen/was common in Europe or China for example...

late use of "protection" for the horse is known rater from continental asia,spreading via Orient to Europe...

tradition and custom shall not ben confused....

 

Such "headgear" were made for ceremonie´s,processions,festival events only.

There are two magnificent iron forged ones depicted in one of the first Robert Winter fair catalogues,one or two further ones(equally forged,at least made out of iron)in some issues Robert Burawoy did publish in past...

Most of them(Ba-men)but known,and still existant are but made from conglomerate of wood,paper,lacquer....many do depict dragon heads(like the example i did post)or faces of demon-dogs....(the ape as an animal depiction ben present quite very ofthen equally)

 

An military backround certainly is out of any reasonable and functional consense.

 

Either way,they are extremely seldom and due this,equally very valuable and priced rather exorbitantly...(depending on condition and collector of course)

An still active French dealer into armour once offered me one-it did cost the price of an mid-class Mercedes-Benz...and this was an very good price!-i have seen one made out of embossed iron(plate thickness maximum 2 mm if not even less) sold for equivalent of an high class car in past.

I have never seen any,nor heard of one,dating pre mid-edo times...

 

Christian

[estcrh]

Christian, your explanation is much closer to what I have read, unless someone can come up with an drawing or description from a book etc from a previous period that proves that samurai armored their horses before the Edo period I would doubt any such claims.