Handmade Jewelry by Nao goldwork

I found a small jewelry die at an antique market in Paris.

I pressed out gold parts of earrings and
I found that it was a wonderful mold.

Gold earrings of Repoussage

Traditional metalworks of Japan

Menuki（目釘）Mekugi is the pin inserted through the holes in
the hilt and sword to hold them firmly together.

Menuki（目貫）is the ornamental cover of mekugi.
Menuki is a pair of Japanese sword fittings
attached to either side of a sword hilt.

Highly regarded goldsmiths created Menuki
with superb designs for swords of Samurai.

Menuki: Ear of rice (稲穂)

Size:4.9cm x 1.4cm

Ear of rice

The ears of rice grow up to about 20 cm in length,

and each rice stalk bears approximately 80 to 100 grains of rice.

Menuki : Yarn winder

Size:2.8cm x 0.9cm

Japanese antique Yarn winder

Mae-Kanagu（前金具）is the Metal fitting attached to
a portable pouch of pipe tobacco leaves.

Mae-Kanagu : Ladle (柄杓)

Size:3.7cm x 1.1cm

This Mae-Kanagu has a jet black ladle which has a gold inlay
of the family crest Roku-yo, also known as Six Stars.

Roku-Yo was the family crest of
the Toda Matsudaira clan of the Shinano Matsumoto Domain,
the Toda clan of the Shimono Utsunomiya Domain, and
the Toda clan of the Shimotsuke Ashikaga Domain.

The catch of Mae-Kanagu(Silver)

Front

Back with Silver Hall-mark

Ajiro is a wickerwork made by thin pieces of bamboo or grass,
weaving them alternately vertically and horizontally.
Using Ajiro, a holder of a Kiseru, shaped like a cigar tube is
woven, then, black lacquer is applied on it to harden the holder.

Ajiro Black lacquer Kiseru holder

As you can see in the photo below, when the outer tube was pulled out,
you will see another wickerwork tube: the wickerwork tube was doubled!!

　

Then, I examined the inside of the outer tube, I found that
a gold glittering Maki-e tube was fitted just inside the outer tube.

Gold Maki-e is a Japanese lacquer decoration technique
in which gold powder is sprinkled and fixed
on the surface of the lacquerwar that has not hardened yet.

　

This gold Maki-e tube hidden secretly inside can be used
in combination with the tube cap to hold a Kiseru pipe.

　

　

In March 1624, Tokugawa Shogunate issued an order to the general public
prohibiting sumptuary, deciding that the use of the gold is, of course,
not allowed for combs, hairpins and other decorative items .

When I purchased this Ajiro Black laquer Kiseru holder,
there was no residual tobacco scent inside.

Silver Kiseru TOBACCO pipe of Japan

　

This types of kiseru is called Rau Kiseru,
which are made of three parts:
the mouthpiece (吸口, suikuchi), stem (羅宇, rau),
and shank (雁首, gankubi).

In the photo,stems are rare and beautiful
chinese red eyes spotted bamboo.

It is Xiangfei bamboo 湘妃竹(xiāngfēizhú),
also known as red spotted bamboo(紅班竹).

Return to the top of this page

Copyright 2022 by Nao goldwork
All rights reserved.