Photo Credit: matsu-kaze-japan
Antique Japanese Fuchi and Kashira Set with Inlaid Mother of Pearl
Buy It Now Price: $255 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This is an antique Japanese fuchi and kashira set from the Edo era, the time of the samurai.
-These pieces are traditional Japanese samurai sword fittings. The fuchi was the “collar” of the sword, and was placed just underneath the tsuba, or sword guard, near the start of the blade. The Kashira was equivalent to the pommel of a western sword and capped the end of the sword handle.
-The fuchi measures 17.4 mm (0.69 inches) wide by 32 mm (1.26 inches) long while the kashira is 12 mm (0.47 inches) wide by 27.9 mm (1.10 inches) long.
-This Japanese fuchi and kashira set is from the 18th or 19th century and features the branches of a persimmon tree rendered in magnificent high relief.
-This Japanese fuchi and kashira set is made from bronze, shakudo and gold. Shakudo is a traditional Japanese metal alloy composed of copper mixed with 3% to 7% gold. It ages to a wonderfully mellow, velvety-black patina.
-These samurai sword fittings also have mother of pearl decoration that cleverly represent persimmon fruit.
-Samurai sword fittings like fuchi, kashira and tsuba were one of the few ways that a samurai could advertise his high social status during the tightly controlled Tokugawa shogunate. As a result, many Japanese samurai commissioned local artisans to craft exceptionally fine pieces for their personal use.
-The the beaded shakudo background contrasts subtly with the bronze, mother of pearl and gold persimmon branches that stand in relief. This produces an exquisite overall effect that is highly desirable.
-This Japanese fuchi and kashira set exemplifies some of the finest traits found in traditional Japanese antiques. I believe it is a bargain at only $255.
Cons:
-Mother of pearl is a very fragile substance and has a propensity to dry and crack with age. Although no cracking seems to be present on our specimen, the mother of pearl appears to have lost its iridescent qualities. This isn’t surprising considering this Japanese fuchi and kashira set may be as much as 300 years old.
-Although the size of this Japanese fuchi and kashira set is fairly standard for the period, it is definitely small on an absolute scale. The largest dimension is only 1.26 inches (32 mm). This means these samurai sword fittings will have less visual impact than larger specimens would.
-Despite being ruled by samurai, the Japanese Edo period was actually quite peaceful. Therefore it is highly probable that these sword fittings were meant for display purposes rather than actual samurai sword fights.
