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Fine collection of sixteen bokuto [doctor's swords]
bidding is closed
Description
Fine collection of sixteen bokuto [doctor's swords]
signed, 18th/19th century
comprising: a rare wakizashi-type bokuto, with a decayed rusted blade with many chips and o-suriage tang, encased in a mottled black and red lacquer scabbard, the wood tsuka with Ezo-style shakudo menuki of peony and a shibuichi hamidashi tsuba; a flat wood bokuto with indented corners decorated in gold, silver and iro-e hiramaki-e with lotus buds, leaves and a scepter, inscribed Zeshin; another inlaid and decorated in various materials with tea ceremony utensils on mokume-pattern, with a dark wood kozuka, signed Gyokuzan; a plain flat bokuto with pampas grass; another decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e with a Bugaku hat, hanging scroll paintings and characters Teijo; a dark wood bokuto, inlaid in metal and decorated in lacquer with an oi [priest's creel] and geese, with an inscribed date Genkyu ni nen [1205] kinoto ushi aki and signed Yamato no kuni Jisshinbo renjo insu no zu and with a kao; a carved wood aikuchi ebi [shrimp] zaya form, the himotoshi of oak leaf with a dark wood pair of goat menuki simulating shakudo, signed Bunkyu mizunoe inu [1862] Aki Chosanken shujin oju -ko hakuo Gyonin kore saku; a thin wood bokuto decorated in iro-e hiramaki-e with a stag under maple; carved wood in the form of a desiccated fish; a wood jutte shape, with inlaid shakudo dragon menuki; a flat wood piece with carved seals; a curved bamboo piece with inlaid stag antler of ikkanshi looking into a well and a metal brush for tea; a flat bokuto, with metal mounts, with a motto reading Hyakusen hakusho tada ichinin [Hundred victories for hundred battles, always endure]; a long roiro-nuri aikuchi-style, rattan bound tsuka with shakudo Nio menuki; a thin leather-covered bokuto with a figural design; a long wakizashi-style, with an inlaid stag antler tsuba, kojiri and kashira and a pair of shakudo kiri menuki (16)
the longest 25 1/2 in. (64.8cm.)
Provenance:
Dr. Nathan Rosenbloom
Illustrated:
four bokuto illustrated in Gabor Wilhelm, "Bokuto", Netsuke Kenkyukai Journal, vol. 10, p. 14 and 22.
The term, bokuto [wooden sword], originates from the 16th/17th century tradition of wearing a token sword carved from a single piece of wood. While in feudal Japan the carrying of arms signified the "gentlemanly" privilege of the Samurai class, this practice became obsolete at the end of 16th century when the internal peace was established after much civil rivalry between the Shogun and his enemies. During this time, the Samurai class started replacing the heavy and cumbersome military swords with small and lightweight dummy swords usually in the form of an aikuchi [short sword mounts without a guard]. As there was no legal ban on the use of the bokuto by civilians, many, especially doctors and artists, came to carry them as symbols of social and professional status. And during the 18th and 19th centuries, the bokuto started losing its sword-like appearance and size and started taking more abstract and decorative form.
A rare collection of bokuto presented here demonstrates various forms and techniques. One of the earlier forms called kenka bokuto [fighting bokuto] is included. This form came about in order for the wearer to protect himself from thieves and robbers who were roaming the streets in search of defenseless victims. For example, the first item, in the form of wakizashi, is small but actually fitted with a steel blade which could have been used for self-protection. The other forms vary from a simple shape of faceted sticks to more elegantly curved bamboo form. Evident even in this small collection of bokuto, a wide variety of techniques and materials such as lacquer, coral, ivory and metal inlays and carvings is reminiscent of its kin, netsuke; whilst a range of creative and ingenious designs despite its limitations is not dissimilar to that of kozuka and kiseruzutsu. However, the production and usage of this unusual form of practical art seems to have ended with the abolition of sword wearing in 1876.
signed, 18th/19th century
comprising: a rare wakizashi-type bokuto, with a decayed rusted blade with many chips and o-suriage tang, encased in a mottled black and red lacquer scabbard, the wood tsuka with Ezo-style shakudo menuki of peony and a shibuichi hamidashi tsuba; a flat wood bokuto with indented corners decorated in gold, silver and iro-e hiramaki-e with lotus buds, leaves and a scepter, inscribed Zeshin; another inlaid and decorated in various materials with tea ceremony utensils on mokume-pattern, with a dark wood kozuka, signed Gyokuzan; a plain flat bokuto with pampas grass; another decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e with a Bugaku hat, hanging scroll paintings and characters Teijo; a dark wood bokuto, inlaid in metal and decorated in lacquer with an oi [priest's creel] and geese, with an inscribed date Genkyu ni nen [1205] kinoto ushi aki and signed Yamato no kuni Jisshinbo renjo insu no zu and with a kao; a carved wood aikuchi ebi [shrimp] zaya form, the himotoshi of oak leaf with a dark wood pair of goat menuki simulating shakudo, signed Bunkyu mizunoe inu [1862] Aki Chosanken shujin oju -ko hakuo Gyonin kore saku; a thin wood bokuto decorated in iro-e hiramaki-e with a stag under maple; carved wood in the form of a desiccated fish; a wood jutte shape, with inlaid shakudo dragon menuki; a flat wood piece with carved seals; a curved bamboo piece with inlaid stag antler of ikkanshi looking into a well and a metal brush for tea; a flat bokuto, with metal mounts, with a motto reading Hyakusen hakusho tada ichinin [Hundred victories for hundred battles, always endure]; a long roiro-nuri aikuchi-style, rattan bound tsuka with shakudo Nio menuki; a thin leather-covered bokuto with a figural design; a long wakizashi-style, with an inlaid stag antler tsuba, kojiri and kashira and a pair of shakudo kiri menuki (16)
the longest 25 1/2 in. (64.8cm.)
Provenance:
Dr. Nathan Rosenbloom
Illustrated:
four bokuto illustrated in Gabor Wilhelm, "Bokuto", Netsuke Kenkyukai Journal, vol. 10, p. 14 and 22.
The term, bokuto [wooden sword], originates from the 16th/17th century tradition of wearing a token sword carved from a single piece of wood. While in feudal Japan the carrying of arms signified the "gentlemanly" privilege of the Samurai class, this practice became obsolete at the end of 16th century when the internal peace was established after much civil rivalry between the Shogun and his enemies. During this time, the Samurai class started replacing the heavy and cumbersome military swords with small and lightweight dummy swords usually in the form of an aikuchi [short sword mounts without a guard]. As there was no legal ban on the use of the bokuto by civilians, many, especially doctors and artists, came to carry them as symbols of social and professional status. And during the 18th and 19th centuries, the bokuto started losing its sword-like appearance and size and started taking more abstract and decorative form.
A rare collection of bokuto presented here demonstrates various forms and techniques. One of the earlier forms called kenka bokuto [fighting bokuto] is included. This form came about in order for the wearer to protect himself from thieves and robbers who were roaming the streets in search of defenseless victims. For example, the first item, in the form of wakizashi, is small but actually fitted with a steel blade which could have been used for self-protection. The other forms vary from a simple shape of faceted sticks to more elegantly curved bamboo form. Evident even in this small collection of bokuto, a wide variety of techniques and materials such as lacquer, coral, ivory and metal inlays and carvings is reminiscent of its kin, netsuke; whilst a range of creative and ingenious designs despite its limitations is not dissimilar to that of kozuka and kiseruzutsu. However, the production and usage of this unusual form of practical art seems to have ended with the abolition of sword wearing in 1876.