Help In Determining The Koshirae.

[nektoalex]

Hello!

I ask to express opinions regarding the manufacture period and the school koshirae both in general and in separate parts.

Thanks in advance!

[nagamaki - Franco]

based on the Kashira, would say Hamano for F/K.

[nektoalex]

Dear Franco, thank you! Brevity is the sister of talent, but my English does not always provide an opportunity to understand the ambiguity of expressions

[SteveM]

Hard to say what any school or era for koshirae is. The parts are all replaceable, and old menuki can be put on a newly-built tsuka, just as easily as new menuki can replace old ones on a tsuka that is getting re-wrapped. So I think you are shooting at a bit of a moving target.

 

To my eyes your koshirae looks like a mid-to-late 19th century piece. No signatures on the fittings, and they seem fairly generic, so we can't pinpoint an artist or era for those. I don't know if the themes are unified or not... Daruma for the kashira, bamboo for the rim of the tsuba, not sure about the fuchi, and I don't know who the figure is on the kozuka. The workmanship doesn't look particularly fabulous, so I could guess that this might even be a koshirae that was thrown together for the tourist trade (although this is just about synonymous with "I have no idea".) 

 

All in all, while not a museum piece it certainly looks to be a nice antique. "Cheap and cheerful" is the phrase one of the founders of this site used, meaning; it won't find its way into a Sotheby's catalogue, but it is still worthy of being cherished. 

 

re: Franco's comment above, I think he is referring to the Hamano school (浜野) of metalworkers. "F/K" means fuchi and kashira. 

[Bazza]

FWIW I think the F/K are a unified theme - Daruma and a whisk of some sort??  The patina, metals and gilt finish all seem to underscore a unified pair - but exactly what I'm not sure.  Overall, indeed a nice antique koshirae.  Can we see the blade, please??

 

BaZZa.

[TETSUGENDO]

Yes Bazza, definately a set, Daruma with fly whisk, mokugyo,and begging bowl.

[Barrie B]

Alexsandr,

 

I agree with Steve and BT.. If you really wanted to draw a long bow, then this would (or could) be a 'Merchant Koshirae' but, it may also be an early Meiji 'put together'.. Antique fittings and a (really) nice saya with good same' under the ito.. Enjoy it for what it is..

 

Barrie.

[TETSUGENDO]

Barrie,

 

Daruma, bamboo, minogame....all motifs condusive to success in business. I would say your "merchant" assumption may well have hit the mark.

[nektoalex]

I used your target designations for the character portrayed on F / K and found a prototype from which the set was copied (close enough to the original) https://darumasan.blogspot.com/2004/11/menuki-sword-fitting-and-tsuba.html

[nektoalex]

FWIW I think the F/K are a unified theme - Daruma and a whisk of some sort??  The patina, metals and gilt finish all seem to underscore a unified pair - but exactly what I'm not sure.  Overall, indeed a nice antique koshirae.  Can we see the blade, please??

 

BaZZa.

The blade looks good - but not original by 2/3 ... http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/25486-identification-of-the-sword/

[Guido]

Wakizashi with mediocre fittings are often called “merchant swords” here – but actually the opposite is true. Rich merchants usually had high class fittings on their (equally high class) swords, they kept the machibori in business. For the wealthy merchant who had everything else, a sword was a status symbol – like a Rolex would be nowadays – and they usually had the money to only buy the best.

They went for the iPhone X, not the Xiaomi A1.

[TETSUGENDO]

Just as today merchants came in differing income levels, not all could afford top level machibori work.  This sword is definately not a rich merchants sword', but it is not an impossibility that it could have belonged to one of modest means.   BTW, Rolex is a mid-range timepiece...nowhere near the best .  Better examples would be A.Lange, Patek, Journe, or a legion of other top-range watches.

 

[Jean]

I had to sell my Rollex when I decided to change my bathtube for a shower ROFLMAO!!!!

[TETSUGENDO]

LOL,good one Jean,

 

Rolex, if kept in reasonable condition,  do hold a good resale value.  Glad to hear you were able to convert it into something you needed!

[christianmalterre]

do prefer the watch  then....