Title: Katchu Sode Zu
Description
The motif of this Menuki is the Sode (袖, sleeve) of Katchu (甲冑, Samurai armor). Especially, this type of armor’s sleeves is called the Ōsode (大袖), which means the big or great sleeve. Among the sleeves of armor, the Ōsode is the part worn on the shoulder part to protect from the shoulder to the upper arm. In battle, arms must be protected to handle weapons. If the arms get injured, it is almost impossible to keep fighting or protect oneself. It was also used as a shield to defend enemy blades and arrows in emergencies as it is a component which is not glued to other parts.
The Ōsode is composed of small leather and iron plates called the Kozane (小札), and those parts are bound together with beautiful silk threads, braided cords, leather cords, and other threads. On this Menuki, this pattern is engraved beautifully using gold and black colors.
Also, this Menuki is made of Shakudou (赤銅). The Shakudou is an alloy of copper and gold. This material has often been used for sword mountings. It is because of its rollability (easiness of processing), adhesiveness, ease of plating, and the beauty of black coloring. The Shakudou is easy to be attacked by acid; therefore, it is better to avoid touching it with bare hands. Since the Shakudou is made from copper and a small quantity of Shirome (しろめ, an alloy of tin and lead), and gold, Shakudou Tsubas have black color. That is why this material is also called the Karasu (烏銅, Shakudou’s black color is likened to crow. Crow is called Karasu in Japanese).
We hope this piece will become a valued addition to your impressive collection.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
What is Menuki?
Menuki is a kind of metal fitting of the Japanese sword, which was initially put into the handle’s hole. It covers Mekugi (nail) so that the blade of a sword will be fixed. Originally, Menuki was used to hold Mekugi, but they became separated over time. And then, Menuki had developed its practicality and beauty for the decoration of the Japanese sword.
Menuki became more decorative than in early modern times. Since it had been attached under the Tsukamaki (the handle of the Japanese sword wrapped by thread), Menuki played an essential role in making it easier to grip the sword’s handle.
Why is it that the sword mounting was important for Samurai?
The sword mountings of the Japanese sword have many kinds of decorations such as handguards (Tsuba), sword hilt (Menuki), pommel (Fuchi Kashira). The Japanese sword worked as a weapon and as an object to show who he was. For example, it shows their personalities and beliefs. You could say that it is like decorations for smartphones today. We recommend you zoom in on the pictures of the sword fittings. When you do so, you can see the skill of Japanese metal engraving techniques. They are mainly made of iron and copper with inlays of gold, silver, and bronze. When it comes to handguard (Tsuba), each one has a different outline and weight. These sword fittings that have lived with Japanese swords of the same age might be worth as much as the Japanese swords. They are inconspicuous parts of the Japanese sword. Nevertheless, if you are knowledgeable or particular about it, you will become a connoisseur of the Samurai.
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【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Payment method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping duration】
We normally ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. It usually takes at least 5-14 days to deliver the package after you place an order. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please contact us.
We will inform you of the order’s tracking number via email. Please make sure you fill out your valid email address correctly.
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of Menuki and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
Would you like see some more Menuki for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite Menuki.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/decorations/menuki/
