Questions about a Tosogu Set

[Jimmy N.]

Hi,

I have a thread in the main Nihonto discussion section about the wakizashi that this Tosogu came on, but I thought I would post over here as well to try to get some more information. I hope that's ok. The thread in the other section is here

 

RE: the posting guidelines, I fully intend to keep this wakizashi and its koshirae, so any information that you give will be used purely for my personal edification.

 

To be very brief, my father brought this wakizashi back from Japan on a tourist trip in the late 50's/early 60's, and it ended up lost in a crate in the attic of his parents' house. He told me about it years ago, but thought it had been stolen as he had looked for it and couldn't find it. Unfortunately, he passed away several years ago, so I can't ask him any more about it. I have picked up that it is an authentic Nihonto, and am in the process of trying to learn all that I can about it.

 

Anyway, here are the pictures (thumbnails... click on the little picture to get a big one):

 

A closeup of the tsuka:

 

The habaki:

 

The menuki:

 

The tsuba:

 

The fuchi:

 

Signature (I assume?) on the fuchi:

 

The kashira:

 

I'm just interested in anything that you can tell me about them. I am aware that the fuchi and kashira are waves with droplets, and that the habaki is rain with droplets, and that the tsuka is dragons. I'm not sure what the menuki are. I may have them upside down in the picture? Someone mentioned that they might be a butterfly on flowers but wasn't sure.

 

I have been told that the fuchi, kashira, and habaki are shakudo, and that the signature on the fuchi is Inaba with a kao.

 

Basically, I'd just like to know more about them - if anyone can give me an estimate as to age of the different parts, or if anyone recognizes the Inaba and/or kao and can tell me about that, or if anyone can tell me what the menuki are.

 

Also, I'm sorry the picture of the tsuka is out of focus. I intend to take some better pictures of it, and will take pictures of anything else that will help in my search for information, but I will not be back home for several weeks and will not be able to take the pictures until then (I'm a college student).

 

Thank you for looking and any comments, advice, or opinions you may share.

 

Jimmy

[Rich T]

Hi Jimmy, not a bad set.

 

The tsuba is Namban. That is a school that was prolific in tsuba with designs primarily based in Chinese art. A typical design of rain dragons and floral arabesques. The Namban school was predominately in the Edo period, with the earliest examples actually coming from China.

 

The Fuchigashira are in the Omori tradition and are signed Inaba with Kao as described. It looks genuine to my eye. His usual name was Hokyô and later signed Osawa Inaba. He was born in Shinano province and later moved to Shinshu Matsumoto ju. He dies between 1775 and 1800.

 

I agree the menuki look like butterflies over blossoms. What school they are is too hard to tell for me. The detail looks nice.

 

The habaki is the driving rain pattern finished in Shakudo. The droplets are with out shakudo revealing copper.

 

Hope that helps a little.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Jimmy N.]

Rich, thank you for the comments.

 

A quick question for clarification. It is my understanding that Shakudo refers to an alloy of mostly copper with a little gold which has been chemically treated to have the nice black patina. Does the term "Shakudo" refer to the black patina, or the alloy?

 

Thanks,

Jimmy

[Brian]

Jimmy,

 

Shakudo is the name of the alloy itself. When treated with special patina formulas, it takes on a deep rich black or blackish purple sheen, and is often used for fittings. You are correct about the composition.

It is likely that the habaki is a thin foil covering the underlying material.

 

Brian

[Jimmy N.]

So it's probably Shakudo foil over a base of copper?

 

Thanks,

Jimmy

[Brian]

I've seen both...solid shakudo habaki and also foiled ones. Looking at the base of the habaki and inside will show you if there is a foil wrapped and tucked under there, otherwise it may be solid. Either way, not too serious as the habaki is probably one of the least important part of the koshirae artistically speaking (but still very important to the use and integrity of the mounting)

It would probably be replaced with a new one if the sword was professionally restored oneday.

 

Brian