Do you like these fuchi koshirae?

[jason_mazzy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MEBIDX:IT

 

I am noticing a trend in swords on ebay either a: suck, or b: really expensive. But it does seem to be a good place to find ornaments.

[sanjuro]

Without trying to be a smart ass. I think the question is 'do you like them?' If you do, then why?

(a) They are relatively low priced. (There is a reason for that).

(b) You appreciate the aesthetic they represent and therefore you find them appealing.

© They are appropriate for a sword you own and you would like to use them as a mounting.

(d) You feel the urge to buy 'something' and you cant find better.

(e) Other reasons not found above.

 

We all find different things appealing for a number of reasons according to what we like and according to whatever specialisation our collecting has led us to. Do these fit into your collecting plans? Have you seen better examples that you would prefer to these?

 

Just trying to promote some discerning thought into what you acquire. What you decide and what you answer is neither right nor wrong in anyones eyes but your own.

[jason_mazzy]

Thank you for your answer. But it truely was a do "you" like these question. I know what I like, and what I was thinking, but wanted to hear other more knowledgable people's answers on why or what they do or don't like. Such as I like the design and over all layout, but the quality is bad becasuse bla bla blah and thats why the are still low priced. There is a method to my madness. I'm going to "school here" and asking the questions needed to help me learn what things the more knowledgable people here would think or ask.

 

edit: added y to truely

[sanjuro]

OK.... Then I'll venture an opinion. Bear in mind however that my opinion is coloured by my own preferences and prejudices.

 

IMHO I think basically that this set of fuchi kashira is a 'made for export' set.

They are late Edo, apparently never mounted, and manufactured probably after the edict banning the wearing of swords. Ergo they are strictly for show or made as a presentation set.

The reason they are cheap is because they are not a particularly high quality or rare item.

The design is nicely executed but without any character or feeling. They are pretty but not functional. I have no idea what school or style they represent, if in fact they do represent either of those things. I wont belabour the aesthetic qualities or lack thereof.

Do I like them? decidedly not! Having said that, it is only fair to say also that this type is fairly popular with new collectors, or with collectors who specialise in late Edo art pieces. My own preference is for earlier examples (Much earlier).

By the way, I would be interested to know, do you like this style? If you do, thats fine. You made no mention of your like or dislike of them in your post.

[raven2]

Hi Jason,

 

I do not like the set either. It appears to me that they rather cheaply made and the decoration, while somewhat decent, doesn't do anything for me. The cost is about what you might expect for a set of this quality. Remember, you get what you pay for.

[estcrh]

Thank you for your answer. But it truel was a do "you" like these question. I know what I like, and what I was thinking, but wanted to hear other more knowledgable people's answers on why or what they do or don't like. Such as I like the design and over all layout, but the quality is bad becasuse bla bla blah and thats why the are still low priced. There is a method to my madness. I'm going to "school here" and asking the questions needed to help me learn what things the more knowledgable people here would think or ask.

Jason, maybe someone will post some pictures of fuchi etc that they have in their collection that are worthy of owning so you can see the difference...

[jason_mazzy]

Thank you for your answer. But it truel was a do "you" like these question. I know what I like, and what I was thinking, but wanted to hear other more knowledgable people's answers on why or what they do or don't like. Such as I like the design and over all layout, but the quality is bad becasuse bla bla blah and thats why the are still low priced. There is a method to my madness. I'm going to "school here" and asking the questions needed to help me learn what things the more knowledgable people here would think or ask.

Jason, maybe someone will post some pictures of fuchi etc that they have in their collection that are worthy of owning so you can see the difference...

 

 

that would be very helpful and much appreciated.

[estcrh]

Thank you for your answer. But it truel was a do "you" like these question. I know what I like, and what I was thinking, but wanted to hear other more knowledgable people's answers on why or what they do or don't like. Such as I like the design and over all layout, but the quality is bad becasuse bla bla blah and thats why the are still low priced. There is a method to my madness. I'm going to "school here" and asking the questions needed to help me learn what things the more knowledgable people here would think or ask.

Jason, maybe someone will post some pictures of fuchi etc that they have in their collection that are worthy of owning so you can see the difference...

Jason, here is a set I consider to be nice.

 

 

that would be very helpful and much appreciated.

[Jean]

Nice set :

[estcrh]

Nice set :

That is nice Jean, that boat scene is awesome!

[Brian]

Jean, WOW. Can I have them? :D Pretty please?

Personally I don't think the f/k set asked about originally is bad at all. Maybe not top class work, but a heck of a lot better than a lot out there. I would be happy to own them. Valid opinions, but maybe a bit exaggerated? You could do a lot worse imho.

 

Brian

[cspage]

Never pass up a chance to show stuff. This is the only kashira I have, but, while somewhat run-of-the-mill, is just dandy on a sword. Fuchi matches, but I don't have a photo at hand at the moment. There is a string some time ago on the folk tale depicted.

 

Colin

[leo]

Dear Jason,

do not let youself be confused too much. This set of fuchikashira is made of sentoku(patinated brass) and the workmanship is of good quality. Off course it is late Edo, but this is no reason for disqualification. With a matching tsuba it would look pretty on any tanto or wakizashi.

The price was very reasonable. Please note that a fuchi size of 3,6cm is only suitable for wakizashi or tanto. For a katana you would need probably 3,9cm or larger.

 

Regards, Martin

[Ford Hallam]

forgive me, Martin

 

but I must be pedantic and disagree.

 

The set is indeed brass, whether patinated or not is not relevant in this case, the Japanese terms for brass is "shinchu" and typically it comprises copper and no more then 15% zinc. There is frequently a trace of lead present also.

 

Sentoku is an altogether different alloy that lies between brass and bronze in terms of composition and is unsuitable for forging out into workable sheet such as is needed to make fuchi/kashira.

 

Judgements of quality will naturally always be subjective so I will only offer my opinion to say that while I don't think these are terrible I would hesitate to call them good. They are honest pieces of production work that I'd rank as being only barely a step above "completely dismiss-able". The design is "pretty" but obviously simply taken from a design book. The workmanship is tidy enough but lacks any sort of feeling at all and borders on rudimentary/crude.

 

Just my view on these pieces...

 

regards,

 

ford

[raven2]

Nice set :

 

Most definitely a nice set. Wish I had one like it.

[Ford Hallam]

Most definitely a nice set

 

I envy your absolute certainty ...would you care to elaborate what you mean by "nice"?

 

in anticipation,

ford

[Brian]

Just to clarify that Fred was talking about Jean's set, and not the original ones in the thread.

 

Brian

[Jean]

I won't say anything about this set, except that the kozuka is shakudo and that the mai is the same on all pieces. Haynes thinks that the Kozuka is first generation, the other pieces being later ones. I say "later ones" because the artists were all working in the same technique (it exists also on iron) and nobody knoxs how many generation exist, some says only 2, others several without telling how many. (Hosono shozaemon Masamori school)

[Ford Hallam]

My apologies, Fred. I thought you were commenting on the f/k that started the thread ...and I won't say anything disparaging about Jean's pieces as I still plan to make a dent in his wine cellar when next I'm in Paris.

[Jean]

Ford,

 

The invitation (as for any NMB members) is still opened :D

 

I have just tasted 3 days ago, 3 fantastic wines :

 

1 - a champagne - the owner has less than 1 ha (100m x 100m). His champagne is rated 98/1OO by R. Parker

 

2 - Alsace - A Pinot Gris Grand Cru -Schlossberg - 2002 - unbelievable, such an extraction, you could almost chew it

 

3 - The top of the Jurançon (SW of France - Bearn - 2000) - could easily beat some 1st cru Sauternes (and believe me, in Sauterne, I am a specialist )

 

To come back to Masamori, he excels in "exercice de style", Ford finds him more on the technical side than on the artidtic one. I agree partially, due to the kozuka which ie really fantastic. Here is the ura side of it where you can see 3 men towing the boat.