Very Fine Ornate Japanese Samurai Sword Scabbard Katana Wakizashi Wild Boar Mon

  

A VERY BEAUTIFUL and decorative heavy Japanese sword scabbard of ABALONE SHELL and black lacquer to the background. The shell work is most impressive and truly a work of art! It is difficult to do it justice with photographs. The metalwork is copper, which has been gold lacquered (this would have been in Japan, many years ago), which is rather attractive. I have never seen this ever before!

The metal resembles an old armour plate or fitting, with the holes for the stitching, which could be symbolic, or from the leftovers of a family armour, perhaps with significance!!! Plus three filagree Chrysanthemum'Mons' on the Koi Guchi, which I thought might have been later additions, but hard to say!!! Heavy and weighs well over 400grams, and approx 700mm long (just over 27 and a half inches). Please see photos for other measurements of the'sori' and koi guchi............ I have never removed the sageo hanging cord, but it looks very good underneath in keeping with the other shell inlay. The Abalone shell seems very solid, and to my eye, I cannot see any obvious losses, but occasionally some lacquer between the shells appears to have peeled slightly, but this is VERY MINOR! Generally in great condition for age!!! I bought this direct from Japan, many years ago, so long I cant remember!!! The MON on the scabbard (saya) is a slight variation of the TOYOTOMI MON (please Google this and look'Wikipedia to discover the rich and exciting history with the Tokugawa Emperor), which was also adopted as a'Government' Mon. If fifty years of sword collecting, I have seen few scabbards (saya) as elaborate. The different colours, patterns and hues of the Abalone shell is mesmerising!!! Fitted to the correct sword, it would look truly impressive!!! THEREFORE COMPLIES WITH THE RULES!!! Please see my other interesting items!