Handmade jewelry by Nao goldwork:Traditional metalworks of Japan (Menuki,Mae-kanagu,TOBACCO pipe holder and silver Kiseru pipe)

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Kiseru pipe holder of woven Ajiro, black lacquer applied

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!!

Inside this Kiseru pipe holder, there is another tube of woven Ajiro.

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.

Hidden inside is a gold glittering holder with Maki-e.

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

This hidden gold maki-e holdder can be used to hold a pipe with tube cap.

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

Silver kiseru TOBACCO pipe with a stem of rare red spotted bamboo.

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).

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