Kozuka handled flatware

[doctordotcalm]

I just purchased a knife and a fork from Switzerland which were part of a silver flatware set whose handles were fashioned from kozuka. The ones I've seen before used the entire kozuka as a handle. These two pieces have handles where the "fancy" sides of two similar kozuka were joined to form the handle of the fork, and similarly of the knife. Is there any value in such things or did I waste my money?

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning doctordotcalm.

 

Is there any value in such things or did I waste my money?

 

These are quite decorative items and survive as interesting documents of a period of transition for Japan.

 

As far as I am aware, they were constructed specifically to Western requirement and sold in both the Tourist areas and exported.

 

If the flatware is Sterling Silver, they would fall into the category of "Novelty Silver" which does have a following.

 

Cheers

[John A Stuart]

John

[Loco Al]

Hello Dr. Dot,

 

Curious about these fork and knife kosuka cutlery, I did some googling.

 

Came up with this http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21702/lot/79/, and then this http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/ ... ID=4661128

 

Then, I came up with this: http://www.trocadero.com/stores/galerie ... 08142.html, presumably where you purchased your items.

 

Man, kosuka must have been as common as toothpicks (for them to have been made available for the construction of "novelty silver" as Malcolm calls it).

 

No price mentioned, but why would you worry that you wasted your money? Were you just speculating, or did you buy them because you liked them? Couldn't have been that expensive. I would only buy stuff like this on a whim because I liked it, not as a potential investment. Otherwise, I would have researched it before buying. I am under no illusion that the swords I have already bought were a good investment. I bought them because I fancied them.

 

I edited the post and deleted the silly bit at the end. One too many Mohitos last night, perhaps.

By referencing the items at the past Bonhams and Christies auctions, I was attempting to show that there is a demand for such items. However, these were more complete sets (rather than just a single pair of knife and fork). The more expensive set at Bonhams, probably more desirable because of the quality of the hallmarked silverware and the completeness of the set.

 

At any rate, I wouldn't say you made a mistake unless you bought this pair purely as a speculative investment. If you bought them for their curiosity value, and presumably they didn't cost all that much, then you should just enjoy them.

 

Alan