Kashira and Fuchi

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Artist/Maker	Iwamoto Ryokan (maker)
Place of origin	Japan (made)

The fuchi-kashira are the pommel and collar of the hilt of a sword. This pair are made of the copper-gold alloy shakudo and modelled with nanako, which is where the surface is punched so that is resembles fish-roe. They are decorated with gold, silver and the copper-silver alloy shibuichi depicting large raised gold fish swimming with smaller fish among gold seaweed and foliage.

Object details

Category	Arms & Armour
Object type	Kashira and fuchi
Parts	This object consists of 2 parts. Fuchi Kashira
Materials and techniques	copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudo</i>) and other metals Copper Gold
Brief description	Pommel (kashira) and collar (fuchi) of a sword-hilt, copper-gold alloy (shakudo) and other metals depicting large raised gold fish swimming with smaller fish among gold seaweed and foliage, signed Iwamoto Ryokan, Japan, ca. 1760-1800
Physical description	Pommel (kashira) and collar (fuchi) of a sword-hilt, copper-gold alloy (shakudo) and other metals depicting large raised gold fish swimming with smaller fish among gold seaweed and foliage, signed Iwamoto Ryokan
Marks and inscriptions	signedIwamoto Ryokan
Subjects depicted	Fish Seaweed Foliage
Summary	The fuchi-kashira are the pommel and collar of the hilt of a sword. This pair are made of the copper-gold alloy shakudo and modelled with nanako, which is where the surface is punched so that is resembles fish-roe. They are decorated with gold, silver and the copper-silver alloy shibuichi depicting large raised gold fish swimming with smaller fish among gold seaweed and foliage.
Collection	East Asia Collection
Accession number	M.88:2-1952

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Record created	April 20, 2000
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O38974/kashira-and-fuchi-iwamoto-ryokan/

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