Tosogu Netsuke

[Bugyotsuji]

Sometimes we see tosogu fashioned into other things. 

 

This is a fuchi, covered with a badly scratched silver or shibuichi (?) kashira top plate. The fuchi is inlaid with gold, silver and shakudo flowers and leaves. The nakago ana has been plugged in silver, and the Netsuke is fitted there with a ring and chrysanthemum seat.

 

The copper top plate of the fuchi itself is inscribed with 後藤光照 Goto Mitsuteru + kao. This is apparently one of the alternative names used by the 11th Goto Honke Master, 通乗 Tsujo in early mid-Edo.

 

 

 

 

[John C]

17 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Sometimes we see tosogu fashioned into other things.

The center of my tanto tsuba netsuke has a very similar attachment, though overall not as nice as your example.

 

John C.

[Bugyotsuji]

Mmm, yes, I am liking that John. Quite unusual. Nice find. Looks heavy at first glance, but it could be a Netsuke. Sometimes spare tsuba were used to anchor sagemono to the obi, so it would be an easy and logical step to making a specialized one. 

 

(I have various other articles fitted with such seated rings, some of which are removable/reversible.)

[Bugyotsuji]

The other day a friend offered me a sagemono purse/fold with a rather nice ‘Mae-Kanagu’ front fastener. Without removing it, I cannot tell if it was once a Menuki before.

 

(The original netsuke had already been snaffled by another friend.)

 

They both looked lonely, so…

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

I’ve just restrung it with real silk cord and a better ojime. Sadly I can’t find the shibuichi one which would have been perfect.
 

(That string was awful quality, too thick, and the clay ojime would not slide at all!) 

 

 

and the maé-kanagu