stewart73
Forum Supporter
Found this the other day in the misty hills of Kyoto. It's called a 'menuki' and they were decorative pieces attached to the handle of katana. They came in all sorts of shapes and were usually plated in gold. This example is pretty beat up but you can see that it is two fans joined together...and you can still see tiny traces of gold leaf in the grooves. Pretty hard to date but I'm pretty sure it wasn't made yesterday. Not worth anything in this condition but it's the first one I've found so I'm pretty happy.
Trying to imagine under what circumstances the menuki would come off though...they are attached to the handle and firmly wrapped in fabric. I scanned the area for any more sword bits but to no avail. I have included a stock picture to show you where this piece would have gone. Hoping to get back up in the hills again tomorrow! Until the winter storms take some of the sand off the beaches here my time is probably better spent on land.
Trying to imagine under what circumstances the menuki would come off though...they are attached to the handle and firmly wrapped in fabric. I scanned the area for any more sword bits but to no avail. I have included a stock picture to show you where this piece would have gone. Hoping to get back up in the hills again tomorrow! Until the winter storms take some of the sand off the beaches here my time is probably better spent on land.