Tcat Posted December 6 Report Posted December 6 This late Edo period Kyoto koshirae comprises a coherent suite of Komai-school gold hon-zōgan fittings executed in the classic Unryū cloud-dragon motif. During the late Edo and Meiji periods the Komai school developed the highly refined iron-ground gold inlay technique that would later become internationally recognized in their production of inlaid boxes, cigarette cases, and decorative objects. The fuchi is signed Yoshitaka saku, identifying the maker as Komai Yoshitaka. The accompanying tsuba bears a kinzōgan signature Tadanobu saku, and employs a closely aligned decorative style and gold coloration, suggesting manufacture potentially within the Komai milieu or by an affiliated craftsman. Gold menuki depicting two pairs of mandarin ducks are mounted on the tsuka under black silk ito. The saya is finished in bengara-nuri (iron-oxide red lacquer) applied over a tōmaki rattan spiral wrap. This results in the characteristic helical relief beneath a high-gloss finish associated with Kyoto workmanship of the late Edo–Bakumatsu period. Playing with the phone camera and sharing these attractive mounts just for fun. I have seen a sister Fuchi/Kashira set mounted on a well-known Kiyomaro sword, so take them to be high class examples of the style. Questions / comments welcome. 6 7 1 Quote
zanilu Posted December 6 Report Posted December 6 It is indeed a lovely set! Congratulation! Regards Luca 1 Quote
Jake6500 Posted December 6 Report Posted December 6 Wow! Very nice set you have added to your collection there! I will have to add the Komai school to my radar for future reference! 1 Quote
Tcat Posted December 6 Author Report Posted December 6 2 hours ago, Jake6500 said: Wow! Very nice set you have added to your collection there! I will have to add the Komai school to my radar for future reference! Thanks - there are a couple of tsuba posted here on the board, but I think the school only really lasted two generations as far as sword fittings go. After the sword ban the shop converted to other decorative damascene work - cigatette cases, bonbonnières etc. There's an article about the history of the shop up on the smoking samurai website under S. Komai. Quote
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