Cloisonne Fittings Enlightenment

[tokashikibob]

Fellas,

      After looking at a few blades in Cloisonne in the RIC catalog, can anyone enlighten me to their use in koshirae.  I'm guessing early 20th century export of limited interest and value but not sure if I should give these type of blades a closer look when I see them on the table.

 

Best Regards,

  Bob

[ROKUJURO]

Bob,

do you really mean blades with cloisonné or just the TOSOGU? It is not uncommon to see the latter with very nice cloisonné (SHIPPO) by HIRATA, e.g.

http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.silk-road.us/hirata1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.silk-road.us/hirata1.html&h=714&w=700&tbnid=ht_JbTzesRjDdM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=88&docid=g4_g-dn1-nRB9M&usg=__XyV3IPjFL67v7VjgAQqKdcHhZRg=&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiy-6mSteTLAhVFaQ8KHS0kA2YQ9QEIHjAA 

[tokashikibob]

Jean,   That is a nice tsuba!   Here is the link to the best one on the RIA auction.   What period were fittings like this produced?  http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/67/lid/305

[Lance]

Most cloissonne mounts  like  in the auction seem to be Meiji period.  Some may have been made for export but I'd bet some of the higher quality work was ordered at the time by Japanese as well.. While not intended "for battle" or daily wear, and  maybe a little flashy for some,  I think the workmanship on good examples can be very enjoyable for what they are.  A  well made example also,  might have a decent blade,   lesser quality of this type might have a blade  similar to ivory/bone mounts, basically a metal tsunagi.

Couple nice examples below, 

 

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18256/lot/2276/

 

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/arms-armor/a-fine-cloisonne-tachi-signed-owari-kuni-5761088-details.aspx

 

 

Regards,

Lance

[ROKUJURO]

 What period were fittings like this produced?  http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/67/lid/305

Bob,

 

the TACHI you saw and those Lance provided are probably end of EDO JIDAI (19th century) as I read in the descriptions.