What is it? Koshirae with Green Specks

[Winchester]

Hope all is well wherever this message finds you. 

 

Reason for my post is that I recently purchased what I believe to be a later Edo koshirae. It has a composition I am not familiar with and would appreciate any help. 

 

There are green 'specks' which are very fine and in the light it can transition from these green 'specks' to a deep purple and almost pink depending on the light. I did some reading to try to identify but really not sure... Thank you in advance for your help or any feedback you can share.

[Matsunoki]

I believe it is Aogai (spelling?!) lacquer ie it contains crushed flakes of abalone shell which are iridescent.

[Matsunoki]

Eg……

 

[Winchester]

Thank you, Colin for the response and confirmation. 

 

Also, thank you for posting an example that is probably one of the best in the world, right after my humble koshirae... LOL 

[Bugyotsuji]

Be aware that the carapace of a certain beetle was also used for this. We had a discussion about this earlier this year, if I can find it...

 

 

Yes... see  30 April post: 

 

[Matsunoki]

7 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Be aware that the carapace of a certain beetle was also used for this

Perfectly true but the abalone was far more commonly used  for several reasons. It was more easily available in quantity and after its repeated boilings to separate the layers it was easy to grind and sort into whatever size flakes were needed. It’s is also 100% waterproof and its hardness made it very suitable for saya. It also survives the lacquer polishing stages as the colour goes through the whole shell and the small flakes (although it can change from kingfisher blue to violet to green to pink etc as you degrade it). 
I have used it a lot in restoration work…..it’s an amazing natural product……..

 

[Spartancrest]

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

 

There are at least seven "abalone" species in and around Japan.

[Stephen]

Nice koshi Brian,  may we see the tsuba as well?

Housing a blade? if you have shone I apologize. 

 

[Winchester]

Hi Stephen, sure thing buddy. I have some last minute shopping to do for Christmas and have to get some coffee…

 

I will circle back later today. Take care and Merry Christmas, Stephen.

[1kinko]

There's a company in NZ that sells pieces or sheets of the abalone nacreous layer. This material was (is?) also used for tosogu and I recently bought a fuchi/kashira set from an NMB member. The Met in NYC also has a tsuba, possibly made by the Somada School. The method is known as raden maki-e. 

[1kinko]

The fuchi/kashira. Yes, one missing kashira.

[Spartancrest]

Something not as ambitious https://www.jauce.com/auction/l1118849583 Mother of pearl inlay?

 

[Matsunoki]

2 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Mother of pearl inlay?

Hi Dale

Probably one of the pale colour abalone varieties or perhaps pearly turban shell which was also often used. It has more of a pink colour. When you get those green tints or pink hues it isn’t mother of pearl.

True Mother or pearl also comes in a variety of colours….usually encountered is the  “normal white” but there are other species….yellow lip and black lip are the next most common.

Seasons greetings!

Colin.