Japanese Wakizashi Sword in Handachi Mounts and Lacquer Saya
Japanese mid 19th century Wakizashi in full Japanese polish. The sword is a scaled down version of a katana in formal handachi mounts, the blade has a high quality habaki of black shakudo with gold edging. The tsuba is Yogoro school moko gata form, in wave pattern shakudo highlighted with gold & silver. The tsuka is wrapped in blue silk over high quality same (ray skin) with very fine quality shakudo, gold & silver menuki, depicting on one side the travelleor's rain cape & wide hat, & on the other a money bag & drum, traditional symbols of a prosperous & safe journey through life. The handachi mounts are in silver grey shibuichi, on a green lacquer saya with black lacquer overlay of flowers, with slots for kozuka & kogai. The lacquer work is of high quality & excellent condition with no damage or repairs. Unsigned. Condition, good, the blade is flawless with a gunome tempering & itame-hada forging, the original silk binding is fragile across one of the menuki, Nagusa length, 13.90 in.
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- Shakudo - Japanese shakudo is a traditional alloy that has been used in Japan for centuries. It is primarily composed of copper and gold, with the copper serving as the base metal and the gold adding a yellowish hue to the alloy. Shakudo is known for its beautiful dark blue-black or black colour, which is achieved through the addition of a small amount of a patina-inducing element like silver or arsenic.
The word "shakudo" itself can be translated as "red copper" in Japanese, referring to the reddish-brown color of the pure copper base metal before it is patinated. The gold content in shakudo is usually around 4-10%, but this can vary depending on the specific purpose or desired appearance.
Shakudo has been traditionally used in various forms of decorative arts and crafts in Japan. It is particularly associated with metalwork, including sword fittings (such as tsuba, menuki, and kashira), jewelry, and small ornamental objects. The alloy's dark color provides a striking contrast to other metals like silver or gold, making it ideal for intricate inlay work or as a background for other decorative elements.
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