Shakudo / Bronze

[Gasam]

Heyas,

 

Sorry for the newbie question, but buying more and more tosogu it seems :-)

 

Can shakudo readily be mistaken for bronze if you are not generally dealing in Japanese antiques?

 

Might be getting a pair of menuki described by antiques dealer as "patinated bronze", they look really black, shakudo like to me. Not that I am a connoisseur of shakudo, but from what little I know.

 

 

Cheers,

[John A Stuart]

I have heard shakudo refered to as bronze before. Some good bronze will look similar after some time. John

[Ford Hallam]

Shakudo might be mistakenly be described as a black bronze but beware ... fakes may also be cast in brass/bronze alloy which can easily be patinated a convincing black colour. Genuine antique menuki are unlikely to be brass or bronze.

[Gasam]

Thank you both. I was able to purchase the menuki.

 

Somehow, somewhere, someone decided converting them into cufflinks was a great idea.

 

Not sure I agree, but here are some pics anyhow. Should be fairly easy for knowledgeable person to take off back plate if I decide to someday.

 

The menuki are Kirin, originally Chinese (since also Japanese) fable animal. I like them. Might even see if someone can redo the gold decor :-)