What a history

David · 20th September 2017, 07:11 PM

Seems strange that a Japanese Shogun would make a gift of a non-Japanese dagger as a diplomatic offering, especially considering the world renown bladesmithing of the Japanese culture.

Gustav · 20th September 2017, 08:07 PM

The workmanship on some scabbard details certainly looks off, as look the calligraphy on the box (the three lines with smaller characters - quite careless work).

And Tokugawa Iesada wasn't the last Shogun.

estcrh · 21st September 2017, 12:41 AM

The workmanship does not look like the quality that a Shogun would send as a gift to an important foreign Diplomatic envoy.

mariusgmioc · 21st September 2017, 07:08 AM

The history is fascinating but the dagger doesn't appear to live to it.

I find extremely strange that a Japanese shogun will present a foreign dignitary with an Indian dagger.

Why not a Katana or a Tanto. Why not a Japanese fan with cranes a Mt. Fuji, why not some Japanese Maki-e or some Satsuma/Arita/Kutani ceramics?

Japanese are deservingly proud of their arts and crafts, so again, why present a foreign dignitary with an Indian dagger?!

ALEX · 21st September 2017, 10:34 AM

Considering a combination of an item and provenance, not history alone, is a proper approach. This particular item calls into question the story as a whole. Firstly, it is an Indian Mughal style, but was it made in India? Could it be made in Japan, which could explain anomalies from traditional Indian Mughal craftsmanship? Secondly, and as noted by others, the integrity and workmanship of the dagger and the case is questionable for supposedly high status item. The theory of put-together item, and the provenance, is also quite plausible, considering all the above and the Italian auction houses reputation... there's a meat cleaver being pitched as rare important executioners sword by one of them... also hope I made no offence sharing this.
The auction's description about a tassel being "definitely added on shogun order" falls right in with the rest of the story... the provenance based on a small porcelain ball and carved characters on the wooden box.
This well could be as claimed, and seems like those who bid on it thought as such. the opinion expressed is strictly personal.
Also, below is an image with the blade shown.

mariusgmioc · 21st September 2017, 06:39 PM

Hi Alex,
It is an Indian dagger all right. I don't discern any Japanese style/influence. Not even the small painted ball (which looks more Chinese to me).

I also got asimilar dagger but without such a history... and price tag. The red stones are rubies, the orange, agathes and the green... glass. For my knife, the ruby eyes are mounted in gold... while for the "shogunal gift" ... I'm not so sure...

estcrh · 21st September 2017, 06:50 PM

Someone believed the story. No close ups of the blade and copper kundan work? Maybe it was an early Chinese knock off of an Indian khanjar!! Has anyone here seen an Indian scabbard with jade on it like this one?

ALEX · 21st September 2017, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Hi Alex,
It is an Indian dagger all right. I don't discern any Japanese style/influence...

Yes, it is certainly Indian dagger, not Japanese in neither style nor influence. But was it (entirely) made in India? Is it original... or Mughal style dagger made elsewhere like in Japan, China, etc.? Also, is it 19thC work really?
Your dagger looks more Indian. The eyes do look proper kundan, although the rest is not kundan as I am sure you know.

Roland_M · 22nd September 2017, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustav

And Tokugawa Iesada wasn't the last Shogun.

But he was the last Shogun with power. After the Meiji-restoration in 1868 the Shogun became politically totally meaningless. A person of honor and well reputation but nothing to say, which tangents the country's fate.

Roland

Gustav · 22nd September 2017, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

But he was the last Shogun with power. After the Meiji-restoration in 1868 the Shogun became politically totally meaningless. A person of honor and well reputation but nothing to say, which tangents the country's fate.

Roland

To say Tokugawa Iesada was the last Shogun simply is historically incorrect. There were 2 Shoguns after him.

But if for you a person with the title of Shogun is imaginable in Japan after 1868 as it seems, correct facts are not something you are looking for.

Roland_M · 22nd September 2017, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustav

To say Tokugawa Iesada was the last Shogun simply is historically incorrect. There were 2 Shoguns after him.

But if for you a person with the title of Shogun is imaginable in Japan after 1868 as it seems, correct facts are not something you are looking for.

I said he was the last Shogun with political power, not the last Shogun!

"correct facts are not something you are looking for"
A gentleman reads this and kept silent.

Gustav · 22nd September 2017, 12:16 PM

Political power is a very questionable and relative thing. According to some historians Iesada was a very weak Shogun. The last one, Yoshinobu, was much more capable.

Quote:

"correct facts are not something you are looking for"
A gentleman reads this and kept silent.

And it is wise to do so.

estcrh · 22nd September 2017, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

But he was the last Shogun with power. After the Meiji-restoration in 1868 the Shogun became politically totally meaningless. A person of honor and well reputation but nothing to say, which tangents the country's fate.

Roland

There was no shogunate after the Meiji, you can argue the exact date...some were between 1867 and 1868 but the title was abolished. Yes the former shogun was still around and involved but not as "shogun".

The last shogun was Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837–1913), shogun from 1866-1867, the 15th and last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, he officially gave up the title of shogun in 1867, he was granted the rank of prince in 1902.

estcrh · 22nd September 2017, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

But he was the last Shogun with power. After the Meiji-restoration in 1868 the Shogun became politically totally meaningless. A person of honor and well reputation but nothing to say, which tangents the country's fate.

Roland

Tokugawa Ieyoshi was really the last of the powerful shoguns I think, his son Tokugawa Iesada who became shogun when Ieyoshi died was seen as being at the forefront of the decline which eventually let to the elimination of the shogunate. Ieyoshi died while working out a treaty with the Americans. The events which happened after his death led directly to the end of the samurai era.

The Tokugawa shogunate, which at one time owned vast resources along with being seen as the worlds largest estate as far as land holdings held almost total control over the entire country. In a very short period of time they managed to lose everything. A good lesson for the modern world.

21st September 2017, 07:08 AM	#4
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	The history is fascinating but the dagger doesn't appear to live to it. I find extremely strange that a Japanese shogun will present a foreign dignitary with an Indian dagger. Why not a Katana or a Tanto. Why not a Japanese fan with cranes a Mt. Fuji, why not some Japanese Maki-e or some Satsuma/Arita/Kutani ceramics? Japanese are deservingly proud of their arts and crafts, so again, why present a foreign dignitary with an Indian dagger?! Last edited by mariusgmioc; 21st September 2017 at 06:37 PM.

21st September 2017, 10:34 AM	#5
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Considering a combination of an item and provenance, not history alone, is a proper approach. This particular item calls into question the story as a whole. Firstly, it is an Indian Mughal style, but was it made in India? Could it be made in Japan, which could explain anomalies from traditional Indian Mughal craftsmanship? Secondly, and as noted by others, the integrity and workmanship of the dagger and the case is questionable for supposedly high status item. The theory of put-together item, and the provenance, is also quite plausible, considering all the above and the Italian auction houses reputation... there's a meat cleaver being pitched as rare important executioners sword by one of them... also hope I made no offence sharing this. The auction's description about a tassel being "definitely added on shogun order" falls right in with the rest of the story... the provenance based on a small porcelain ball and carved characters on the wooden box. This well could be as claimed, and seems like those who bid on it thought as such. the opinion expressed is strictly personal. Also, below is an image with the blade shown. Attached Images Last edited by ALEX; 21st September 2017 at 12:28 PM.

21st September 2017, 06:39 PM	#6
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Hi Alex, It is an Indian dagger all right. I don't discern any Japanese style/influence. Not even the small painted ball (which looks more Chinese to me). I also got asimilar dagger but without such a history... and price tag. The red stones are rubies, the orange, agathes and the green... glass. For my knife, the ruby eyes are mounted in gold... while for the "shogunal gift" ... I'm not so sure... Attached Images Last edited by mariusgmioc; 21st September 2017 at 07:15 PM.

21st September 2017, 06:50 PM	#7
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,492	Someone believed the story. No close ups of the blade and copper kundan work? Maybe it was an early Chinese knock off of an Indian khanjar!! Has anyone here seen an Indian scabbard with jade on it like this one? Attached Images

20th September 2017, 07:11 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Seems strange that a Japanese Shogun would make a gift of a non-Japanese dagger as a diplomatic offering, especially considering the world renown bladesmithing of the Japanese culture.

20th September 2017, 08:07 PM	#2
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,275	The workmanship on some scabbard details certainly looks off, as look the calligraphy on the box (the three lines with smaller characters - quite careless work). And Tokugawa Iesada wasn't the last Shogun.

21st September 2017, 12:41 AM	#3
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,492	The workmanship does not look like the quality that a Shogun would send as a gift to an important foreign Diplomatic envoy.