PAPERWEIGHT

[When Necessary]

I thought that folks here might like to see the lovely paperweight which I was gifted many years ago by Iida sensei of the NBTHK.

It contains a beautiful piece of tamahagane and I treasure it so much I haven't even taken the cellophane off!

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Cool, Dee!  What does the writing say?

[Hokke]

Very cool, had no idea they even made such things, but I definitely want one now.

[Rayhan]

Apparently the person who gave you this read your tastes like tea leaves in a cup, they just knew, divine provenance. 

[John C]

1 hour ago, When Necessary said:

piece of tamahagane

Lucky, Dee! I personally think you also have a good eye for swords so I'm a bit envious.

John C.

[When Necessary]

1 hour ago, When Necessary said:

I thought that folks here might like to see the lovely paperweight which I was gifted many years ago by Iida sensei of the NBTHK.

It contains a beautiful piece of tamahagane and I treasure it so much I haven't even taken the cellophane off!

 

As I recall Bruce, the top says something like 'Tatara Tamahagane' and the lower line is 'Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai'.

[When Necessary]

21 minutes ago, Rayhan said:

Apparently the person who gave you this read your tastes like tea leaves in a cup, they just knew, divine provenance. 

It really is like shooting fish in a barrel with you, old son. 😂

[Mikaveli]

So that's what a non-Juyo sword looks like! 🤣

[When Necessary]

Just now, Mikaveli said:

So that's what a non-Juyo sword looks like! 🤣

😂😂😂

[Bugyotsuji]

They were giving these to participants in the national meeting at the Keio Hotel some years back. If you were lucky they even had a flash of colour in them.

 

(As I understand it, they are designated 'cultural materials', only supposed to be for swordsmiths and not for general release.)

[When Necessary]

9 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

They were giving these to participants in the national meeting at the Keio Hotel some years back. If you were lucky they even had a flash of colour in them.

 

(As I understand it, they are designated 'cultural materials', only supposed to be for swordsmiths and not for general release.)

Actually Piers, you are absolutely right.

Looking back through my records, I wasn't given it by the NBTHK itself but by a swordsmith whom I got to know some years ago. It's funny how memory can play tricks on you.

Despite my awful photography and the cellophane wrapping, you can indeed see flashes of iridescent colour in this example.

[Rivkin]

There was a "serious academic" article recently arguing during Edo period jutte and to lesser extent shoto were used as paperweights and sized accordingly. Driving this logic forward, Sadamune tanto would weight done very important papers.

[When Necessary]

53 minutes ago, Rivkin said:

There was a "serious academic" article recently arguing during Edo period jutte and to lesser extent shoto were used as paperweights and sized accordingly. Driving this logic forward, Sadamune tanto would weight done very important papers.

That certainly makes sense! 
 

My cats used to make wonderful paper weights before they passed (whether I needed one at the time or not😁).

 

I suppose those who wish to make their desk more ostentatious could use a heaped box of Tokuju origami as a workable paperweight.