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Traditional or not?


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Friends, I don't want to bother you all with a lot of text, as my question is simple. I received a saya, refurbished sometime in the 1990's, fitted with an ornamental band about two-thirds down the length of the saya, which seemed to me a kind of match with the kashira. It looks silver, but I'll establish that eventually. Please see the pics. I would like to know whether the band and the kashira are a true reflection/reproduction of some traditional Japanese emblem or design. Or is it just some blingy art creation that has no bearing on things nihonto? I can't go back to previous owners to enquire as that avenue is unavailable, but I do recall that it was said that these fittings were already on the saya and tsuka when they were handed for refurbishment. Please let me know what your is on these fittings. It would give me greater enjoyment of the koshirae to know the emblems seem traditional. Thanks. Johan      

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Dan K, thank you. I do agree with your kind notion that the saya band looks like the sacred rope shimenawa. But the shide streamers are not cut as regularly as those on the kashira. They have a distinct staggered appearance.

Also to Ed H, thank you, you are correct in what you said, but it so happens that I was fortunate to get part of the story of the katana from the previous owner. See, he had a swordsmith in Pietermaritzburg refurbish the koshirae. This smith specialises in Japanese swords, forged in the traditional way. He re-coated the saya with black lacquer and rewrapped the tsuka with cord. He also cast two menuki from an original he had. The previous owner then had a jeweller make fuchi and koiguchi with 925 silver. These are nicely made but merely engraved with a kind of leafy pattern. No tradition there! And no association with the kashira and saya band. BTW, the swordsmith did not do any work on the kashira and saya band - the previous owner had purchased the sword with them already in place.

Thank you also, Brian, you might be 100% correct. Of course, if a fire could talk, it would probably say it never really liked having cold water thrown on it! :roll:      

Any more ideas? Johan.

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Understood, Jean. At the moment it looks to me (and I'm trying to be very positive) as if the kashira and saya band was created by a non-Japanese artist/metalworker, but I had hoped there was some resemblance to traditional Japanese emblems, so that I could say something like: "the artist had a xxxx in mind when he sculpted the kashira and band". I do believe the saya itself is ancient, but somewhere along the line the original fittings were lost. I wish I could know what they looked like.

Johan

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