rare silver menuki

[Jack Zacao]

Hi guys,

 

Could anyone find similar examples to the menuki below? It has silver back plate but the willow tree seems to have gold color, may be plated with gold. I tried to search online for similar examples but not seem to have any success. The design with egret and willow tree is very common in Japanese art and I have seem it often on kozukas and Tsubas. Based on the style I would say it is Goto school because I have seen one example from the 10th mainline master on a kozuka where four egret almost of the same design/gesture on a willow tree. However, I have since lost the link so not able to find it again. The closest example to it is the link below:

https://collectorsfirearms.com/39515-kinko-menuki-mgj428.html/ 

but it has lower quality than the one I post. If anyone has something similar or can identify the possible school or maker I would appreciate it very much. My guess is a Goto school artist mid edo. BTW, I also wonder how gold is applied to silver base and why there aren't many silver based menuki around whereas shakudo and gold menuki seem to be more common. Thank you.

 

Jack

[Jack Zacao]

After searching the internet again I finally found the Kozuka that has the same design and made by Goto 10th geberation head:

https://tsuba-kanshou.hatenablog.jp/entry/dcf90a14c54397050ddd0d72b9cd8e85

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

You’re correct. There do not seem to be many silver menuki. I still have two pairs but very different themes. I’m not sure how well gold plates onto silver.. (?)