Is it shakudo?

[zanilu]

Dear All

 

This kozuka was one of my latest acquisition. I think that it will fit nicely into the Kaga Zogan bin. Dimensions are 98.1 mm x 14.1 mm x 4.5 mm.

 

 

I have some doubt about the base material used for its construction. In  the shots from the seller auction I thought it to be shakudo due to the black/blue color shown. Now that I have it in hand it looks more brown than black in most of the shots I took and also under direct sunlight.

 

 

So my question; could it be shibuichi or it is a shakudo, that due to is composition is more brown than black (from some of the Ford Hallam post here on NMB I come to understand that shakudo could show brown patina depending on its composition)? 

 

What lead me to question the shakudo option, for the base material, is the color of two of the books covers that is definetly black and I assume to be shakudo. Am I seening here two different different types of shakudo or shibuichi for the base and shakudo for the books?

 

I have also tryed to take some close up shots with a USB microscope to see if there is the mottled structure of shibuichi decribed by Ford Hallam many times.

 

 

I do not see it!

 

Your opinions are welcome.

 

Best Regards

Luca

[rkg]

Looks like shibuichi to me - you can get quite a variation in color depending on the alloy and to a lesser extent age.

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[vajo]

Its shibuichi, like George said. The color from the patination is typical.

[zanilu]

Thank you guys!