Questions on a Dragon Fuchi-Kashira: School, Period, and Technique

FruitSamurai · Friday at 03:51 AM

Hi everyone, I have a few questions about this set of Fuchi-Kashira featuring a Dragon in Clouds (Unryū) motif on a Nanako ground. What school and period style is this piece? Compared to some of my other high-relief (Takabori) pieces, the dragon on this pair feels relatively lower and flatter in relief. While my other Takabori Fuchi often have contoured interiors from being chased from behind (Tuchidashi / repoussé), the interior of this Fuchi is completely smooth, making me wonder if it was carved directly into a thicker wall or applied as an overlay (Tenka-bori). What specific technique was used here

Matsunoki · Friday at 04:42 AM

Are these modern?

Something not quite right with the dragons.

FruitSamurai · Friday at 05:54 AM

1 hour ago, Matsunoki said:

Are these modern?

Something not quite right with the dragons.

They don't look like modern castings to me, but what specific details on the dragons make them seem off to you?

Matsunoki · Friday at 06:09 AM

See what others think…

Victor? @Exclus1ve

Exclus1ve · Friday at 09:50 AM

Hello)

I don't see any crime) It feels like the relief has been somewhat worn down through use. I'd guess it's kyo-kinko.

Edited Friday at 10:07 AM by Exclus1ve

ROKUJURO · Friday at 10:18 AM

Looks like TAKA ZOGAN to me, which does not necessarily include TSUCHIDASHI.

Matsunoki · Friday at 12:03 PM

I still suspect that these could be new.

1. they actually look brand new with zero wear including the inside of the fuchi

2. the treatment of the dragons “feelers” is very clumsy and lacks Japanese refinement (see image)

3. Enlarged you can see what looks like black paint encroaching over the claws, that would not normally happen with true inlay. (See image)

4. the dragons scales look clumsy and flat

5. the black patina does does not look like shakudo patination. It looks more like a paint of some sort

6.they remind me of the tsuba I posted in the attached thread which was new - but scarily impressive

FruitSamurai · Friday at 01:11 PM

1 hour ago, Matsunoki said:

I still suspect that these could be new.

1. they actually look brand new with zero wear including the inside of the fuchi

2. the treatment of the dragons “feelers” is very clumsy and lacks Japanese refinement (see image)

3. Enlarged you can see what looks like black paint encroaching over the claws, that would not normally happen with true inlay. (See image)

4. the dragons scales look clumsy and flat

5. the black patina does does not look like shakudo patination. It looks more like a paint of some sort

6.they remind me of the tsuba I posted in the attached thread which was new - but scarily impressive

Thanks for your detailed feedback, Matsunoki! I really appreciate your reply, and your observations are quite sharp.

However, I respectfully hold a different perspective on several points:

The dark areas near the claws are not black paint. The design likely uses shakudo inlays alongside mercury gilding. If gilding was selectively applied and missed tiny corners, those un-gilded shakudo areas would naturally turn dark during the boiling process (煮色), creating that exact appearance. As for the "clumsy" feelers and scales, this can simply be attributed to the work of a lower-tier provincial craftsman or a less refined workshop, rather than being proof of modern production.

I've uploaded a few more photos below. A reliable way to spot modern cast pieces is to check the tenjo-gane (天井板). Modern reproductions rely on chemical blackening agents, whereas this piece retains a natural, traditional boiled copper (素銅煮色) color. I've also attached photos of a known modern cast tsuba and a complete matching set that you referenced in your linked thread. Cast pieces look very stiff and rigid in comparison.

Edited Friday at 01:42 PM by FruitSamurai

Exclus1ve · Friday at 01:27 PM

Everything is fine with this F/K set.

Edited Friday at 01:45 PM by Exclus1ve

Matsunoki · Friday at 04:13 PM

Thomas, just to be clear you are confirming that the tsuba below complete with mei and Kao is modern?

ROKUJURO · Friday at 09:40 PM

I don't believe it is OMORI work.

FruitSamurai · 2026-08-01T07:18:22Z

15 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Thomas, just to be clear you are confirming that the tsuba below complete with mei and Kao is modern?

Yes. This screenshot comes from a Chinese secondhand platform.

In fact, some katana enthusiasts and modern katana makers produce replicas like these—usually by casting from silicone/wax molds made directly off original antiques, or via modern 3D CAD modeling—to assemble on modern custom katanas.

FruitSamurai · 2026-08-01T07:27:54Z

5 minutes ago, FruitSamurai said:

Yes. This screenshot comes from a Chinese secondhand platform.

In fact, some katana enthusiasts and modern katana makers produce replicas like these—usually by casting from silicone/wax molds made directly off original antiques, or via modern 3D CAD modeling—to assemble on modern custom katanas.

Here are a few photos showing the process of making a modern tsuba using a wax pattern

Matsunoki · 2026-08-01T07:47:38Z

12 minutes ago, FruitSamurai said:

Here are a few photos showing the process of making a modern tsuba using a wax pattern

Thank you Thomas. I was aware of these (and many other copies) but your images are a most welcome confirmation of the process. It is very clever and can provide a cheap but almost exact cast copy of some very expensive things. Obviously not with inlay but the multi-patination (not true oxidisation) and masked gilding can be extremely deceptive/convincing (at first glance).

re your original F/K, well I don’t have it in my hands so will say no more.
Thank you again for your images.

Best wishes

C.