Museum RETURN TO MUSEUM
 
Pocket Type Match Safes - Orientalia RETURN TO POCKET TYPE
 
 
PMO-039 Sword Ware with Monkey Motif
 

[+] Enlarge


[+] Enlarge


[+] Enlarge


[+] Enlarge
 
IMSA #: PMO-039

Estimated Date: 1900

Country of Origin: Japan

Manufacturer: Unknown (possibly Komai (either O. or S. Komai))

Catalog No.: No

Material: Shakudo, an alloy of gold and copper, usually a blue-black color & various inlays of shibuichi (silver & copper).

Markings: Maker's mark in Japanese

Patent/Design No.: No

Patent/Design Date: No

Size (Inches): 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/2

Reverse: Different monkey motif, see photo

Description and Comments: Monkey motif with striker on bottom. Some parts of this safe was made from sword fittings, the KASHIRA (fitting at end of handle), nakago ana (the almost triangular opening where the striker is on the vesta, sekigane (the oval shape around the opening of the striker). The metal working technique used is:Zogan (inlay). Inlay involves the embedding of relatively soft metals such as gold and silver into a harder ground made of materials such as copper, iron, brass, shakudo or shibuichi. There are a number of techniques, including line inlay (sen-zogan), flat inlay hira-zogan), high relief inlay (takaniku-zogan), polished out inlay (togidashi-zogan) and thread inlay (ito-zogan). Here is some background info: The metalsmiths drew inspiration for their themes from folk tales, historical events, religion, heraldry, nature, and the works of the greatest Chinese and Japanese painters. Our appreciation of the difficulty of the guard maker's (the portion of the sword that was turned into a vesta) task increases as one considers the physical limitations of shape, size, and function with which the tsuba (sword guard) challenged the creativity of the maker.

Submitted By: From the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Carol B. and Stephen W. Brener.
 



 
Disclaimer: This web site is intended for the enjoyment and edification of IMSA members and other interested parties. The information provided comes from a variety of sources. IMSA cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the information presented herein, and the data presented should not be regarded as the definitive last word on any subject. Diligence and care are used in the web site's preparation, but no liability or responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions by IMSA, its officers, members or webmaster.
GENERAL INFORMATION DID YOU ENJOY YOUR VISIT QUICK LINKS PO Box 227, Riverdale, NJ 07457
PH: 856-981-2955
 IMSA@matchsafe.org
 IMSA, Membership Chairman
Copyrighted © 2001-2020 International Match Safe Assoc. All Rights Reserved.