Ko Kinko menuki 古金工 目貫 with Shakudo-ji 赤銅地 from the Momoyama period 桃山時代. These menuki are Katachibori Iroe 容彫色繪. They are Koshi takaku yutaka na hainiku ni tukurikomu 腰高く豊かな配肉に作込む which means they have high, raised carving with thick relief. The menuki are 肉は厚く堅牢である (niku ha atsuku kenro de aru) or thick and solid. There is 随所に金色絵を施す(zuisho ni konjikie wo hodokosu) gold plate here and there. The bottom edges of both menuki are 抱込む際端を配し (kakaekomu Kibata wo haishi) equipped with a hollow Kibata (Kibata 際端 refers to edge or side of a menuki where a mei usually carved). These menuki are however mumei. It is very interesting that an area was set aside for a mei, as signed Ko Kinko pieces are extremely rare. I believe there is only signed Ko Kinko piece in existence.

The theme depicts Kuchinashi no Zugara 梔子の図柄 (Fig. of gardenia) and shows Gardenia fruit, flowers and leaves. The fruit are finished in shakudo and gold, while the leaves are a mixture of shakudo and gold, the flowers in gold. There are small gold droplets on the leaves. The shakudo on these menuki is described as 上質な赤銅地 Joshitsu na Shakudo ji or fine quality Shakudo material. The gold is rich with a wonderful patina and shows its age.

There is a book titled Haikai Saijiki Kanzo 俳諧歳時記栞草 written by the famous Edo period author Kyokutei Bakin 曲亭馬琴 (1767 - 1848). In this book Bakin writes, "Shi (巵) is a vessel for alcohol (sake). The shape of the fruit of the gardenia looks like these sake bottles, so it was referred to as Shishi (巵子 a child of Shi). The Kanji for Shi is made as follows, 梔 = 木 + 巵." The use of Kuchinashi in this sense then refers to the shape of the fruit and their resemblance to sake bottles.

The sizes are as follows. Hidari 左: 17 mm x 50 mm x 7 mm. Migi 右: 16mm x 48 mm x 6.5 mm.

These menuki come with Hozon Tosogu Kanteisho (保存刀装具鑑定書) attributing to Den Ko Kinko (伝 古金工). They translate as follows.

No: 403824

Kanteisho

Kuchinashi no zu Menuki ( Gardenia theme Menuki )

Mumei, Den, Ko Kinko ( unsigned, school, Ko Kinko)

Shakudo-ji, Katachi-bori, Iro-e. ( Shakudo base, carved with the motif in full, inlayed metal used to depict a design )

Migi wa tokyokai ni oite shinsa no kekka hozon tosogu kanteshi kore wo shosuru ( Examination by our association has resulted in the decision that the item to the right is a sword fitting that is worthy of preservation )

Showa Rockujuni Nen Shichi Gatsu Nijuhachi Hi (July 28, 1987)

Zaidan Hojin Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai ( Incorporated foundation Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai)