Abuse, Reuse, Or Art?

[Gordon Sanders]

Found in FB

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/100000866651145/posts/1708837335821805/

[Katsujinken]

My vote is for reuse.

 

I’m in Japan right now actually, and it is always a good reminder that the supply of junk is seemingly limitless.

 

It’s totally fine in my opinion if the low end stuff finds a new lease on life in another capacity.

 

Honestly it might not even be a menuki. I’ve seen a lot of antique leather tobacco pouches with what look like single menuki on them, but the shopkeepers do not call them menuki.

 

Who knows...

[Brian]

That is a menuki, and a pretty decent one.
So abuse imho.
I'd like to fix him with 2 rivets

[TETSUGENDO]

This repurposing of Kodogu has been going on for some 140 plus years, its shock value has long lost its sting.  Well done (reversible ) reuse of mediocre pieces gives them a new life and purpose, better than languishing neglected and forgotten.  This material exists in truly surprising quantity, years back there was a well known dealer of Asian Art in lower Manhattan who had multiple plastic bins filled with fittings.  Occasionally you come across a mangled masterpiece...that is painful.

 

-S-

p.s. pins affixed to the back are easily removed.

[kissakai]

When I see so many orphans on the NMB that didn't sell I'd love to repurpose some and get them back in circulation

[Ray Singer]

An interesting way to repurpose old saya.

 

https://www.trocadero.com/stores/thekura/items/1380097/Antique-Tobacco-Set-Katana-Saya-Sword-Scabbards

[Blazeaglory]

I think it's cool. Better than being discarded I think.

 

I was thinking about using a really beat up 11th century Viking sword that no-one wanted by cleaning it up cutting it into menuki sized pieces and using for modern made tsuka menuki.

 

Hurts to think about it but better than being recycled into a iPod

[Ray Singer]

I would suggest keeping it intact. Even if it is in poor condition, something which has survived for a millennium should be preserved...

[rkg]

Here's my contribution to the desecration of Japanese artifacts:

 

and things have been so crazy that I -still- haven't had time to cut it to the right length and crimp the ends on

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[Blazeaglory]

I would suggest keeping it intact. Even if it is in poor condition, something which has survived for a millennium should be preserved...

Yah I agree. I was thinking of a really bad one or broken into pieces but I guess it would depend on the exact condition of the sword

[TETSUGENDO]

rkg,

 

Déjà vu, even better the second time around.  The perfect repurposing, looks great, object completely unscathed.

 

-S-

[b.hennick]

I have a tie clip that has a tachi menuki on a silver base. I haven't worn a tie in a long time.

[TETSUGENDO]

Sounds like a good reason to wear a tie Barry, maybe it could also work on a lapel.  Whatever, you should break it out for your next Nihonto related event.

 

-S-

[Baka Gaijin]

There is a special level in Hell for those, things.............

 

Seriously though, here's how the idea was marketed way back in the day, commissioned in 1880 by Atkins Brothers who were Silversmiths and Cutlers in Sheffield:

 

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-set-of-twelve-Japanese-kozuka-meiji-5868181-details.aspx

 

http://www.waxantiques.com/antique-silver/d/antique-silver-and-Japanese-kozuka-cutlery/269017

 

In fact, I think a lot of the Kozuka were manufactured in the Hamamono workshops with Cutlery in mind, as they are often double sided.

[TETSUGENDO]

Yes Malcolm, excellent links.  The early products of the Japonisme/Japonaiserie craze were first made by the better Jewelers in Europe and the US.  Initially, authentic kodogu were used and later supplemented with works commissioned, en masse, from Japan.  Eventually copies, both good and bad, were produced on both sides of the Atlantic to fill an ever growing demand.  

 

-S-

p.s.- Special hell, INDEED.....warranted but seldom applied!

[Ford Hallam]

Funny enough I have a set of 6 blades and 6 forks, sterling silver and hall marked that are the same pattern as those Malcolm linked to.

I took them off a dozen kozuka some years ago.

No-one seems to want the silver parts to remount so this week-end I was planning on melting it all and casting a new slab of silver to re-use.  

[TETSUGENDO]

Ford,

 

Although most here are interested in the disassembly of these pieces, there definately exists a faction who are interested in maintaining them in their complete state.  If you haven't already, check with dealers of antique silver before assigning them to the pot, they are usually interested in material for restorations. Or you could list them in trade journals, or on appropriate websites, if you want to bother. It seems a shame to melt them even though their reincarnation will, undoubtedly, be a beautiful one.

 

-S-

[Gordon Sanders]

Do you think these were real saya or were samples that the sayashi had to show his clients?   sort of like "paint samples"

 

 

An interesting way to repurpose old saya.

 

https://www.trocadero.com/stores/thekura/items/1380097/Antique-Tobacco-Set-Katana-Saya-Sword-Scabbards

[b.hennick]

It would be difficult to find saya of the same width and taper in a random group of saya. I think that these were purposefully made.

[Ron M]

On 9/13/2018 at 5:51 PM, b.hennick said:

I have a tie clip that has a tachi menuki on a silver base. I haven't worn a tie in a long time.

Hi Ben, I know this is an old thread but do you still have the tachi menuki tie clip?? Thanks

[Spartancrest]

7 hours ago, Ron M said:

 menuki tie clip

https://www.etsy.com...uki-shakudo-Japanese

https://www.rubylane...Mix78ed-Metal-Horses

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334648709652

https://www.ebay.com/itm/141013825908

https://www.etsy.com...ronze-foo-dog-menuki

 

You should see how many cufflinks there are!

 

There is a heck of a lot of recycling going on! 

[Tensho]

Here's some tsuba turned into drawer pulls. 

[Spartancrest]

From the placement of the twin holes on these tsuba I think they were strung together forming a belt or suspension 'chain' such as we see in the Tiffany collection? Whatever the purpose I do wish they had used sukashi guards instead!

These ten are found in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria [Australia]