Photo Credit: Matsu-Kaze Japan
Silver Fuchi & Kashira Set from the Bakumatsu Era
Buy It Now Price: $285 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This solid silver fuchi & kashira set from the 19th century Japanese Bakumatsu era features gilt trim, exquisite decoration and a prominent kamon motif.
-The fuchi in this set measures 42.6 mm (1.68 inches) long by 22.3 mm (0.88 inches) wide.
-The Bakumatsu period was a turbulent time in Japanese history, extending from the arrival of U.S. Commodore Perry's "Black Ships" in Edo Bay in 1853 until the final collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868.
-Antique Japanese samurai sword fittings, like this silver fuchi & kashira set, are incredibly popular with collectors today. The fuchi was a metal collar that fit underneath a sword's tsuba, or hand guard. The kashira was the butt-end of a sword handle, also known as a pommel in Western parlance.
-This silver fuchi & kashira set is being sold by Matsu-Kaze Japan, a respected antiques dealer located in Japan. In addition, the set comes in a traditional Paulownia wood case for storage purposes.
-The kashira (pommel) in this set is engraved with a kamon, or family crest, consisting of two crossed feathers within a circle (not visible in the photo above). Kamon were a visual way to advertize your family connections during the feudal Tokugawa shogunate, when status was often determined by lineage.
-It is rather unusual to find a set of antique Japanese samurai sword fittings constructed from solid silver. It is more common to find them made from bronze, iron or specialty alloys like shakudo or shibuichi.
-I am of the opinion that antique samurai sword fittings are egregiously undervalued in today's antique market. This is particularly puzzling given that Japanese culture is taking over the world via anime and manga.
-Although the seller does not mention its exact weight, this fuchi & kashira set contains a considerable amount of silver and would have been equivalent to at least 4 Bu worth of Japanese silver coins in the 1860s.
-It is shocking to me that you can buy genuine 150 year old samurai sword fittings that have been meticulously hand-crafted from solid silver for less than $300. This fuchi & kashira set would make a superb investment for the discerning Japanese antique lover or samurai fan!
Antique Japanese Fuchi & Kashira For Sale
Cons:
-Are you kidding me? There are no cons here, only upside. The worst you could possibly argue is that the set would be more valuable if the kamon (family crest) could be identified. But that seems more like a (future) pro to me, than a con.
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