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Saya repair materials


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    I recently purchased this wakizashi and am looking for information on the saya materials used so I can hopefully restore.  From what I can figure out so far, the white pieces are some type of fish bone.  Does anyone know what this material is for sure, and where I may be able to get my hands on some?

 

Thanks,

Paul T.

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I would think its abalone shell, which is often used in lacquerware. (Usually it is pulverized into an almost glitter-like material). I wouldn't attempt to restore this yourself. It's very unusual, and its the kind of thing that requires specialized knowledge. If you absolutely wanted to see if it could be repaired, i would ask a Japanese lacquerware specialist. Maybe one of the sword dealers here could recommend someone. 

 

Very interesting piece. I've never seen anything like it. It looks beautiful as is.

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I would lean more towards it being "Mother of Pearl". It is very similar to abalone shell, and can be found on Japanese beaches. This type of shell is very commonly found on the decorated black lacquer screens that are used as room dividers or a place to change your clothes. This style is mainly Chinese, but was also used in Japan.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacre

 

Shell Screens and Room Dividers - 16 For Sale at 1stDibs

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See attached photo of everything.  I do not see any trace of iridescence in the material, and it is too hard to be egg shell.  The koshirae appear to be a matched set.  The tsuba and kojiri are shippo, I would estimate from the mid 19th century.  I made and attached the green kurigata to match the shippo colors.  The blade itself is also intriguing since it is one of the more what I call "optically flat" ones I have looked at.  I will be trying a few different shells readily available, clam and oyster.  Would either of these have a significant place in early/mid 1800 Japan?

 

Paul T
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I did some more research.  I made a few replacement pieces out of the hinge area of a clam.  They were a good visual match until I tried a UV light on them.  The new pieces had a blueish glow compared to a yellowish glow from the original pieces, which would make them either bone or ivory.  When compared to both an older bone and ivory gripped swords under UV light, it is closer to the ivory grip.  

 

Paul T.

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Paul,

I would choose an available material that has the same look and can be polished to the same sheen. Ivory piano keys might work well, but on the photo in post #3 the material does not look like ivory.

Concerning the testing with UV light: This did not have a significant place in early/mid 1800 Japan. :glee:

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