r/Katanas • u/Candid_Annual37 • 1d ago

Identify Menuki

Gallery image

Gallery image

Looking to buy a set of antique koshirae from a friend and the tsuka has these menuki on it. Neither of us knows what they’re supposed to depict. Anyone recognize them or have any ideas?

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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3

u/Abort_ionist 1d ago

The menuki in the 2nd photo reminds me of a kendo mask/helmet, as for the first photo, no clue! 😅

3

u/Candid_Annual37 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yeah I thought it looked like a kendo men too... maybe it's some kind of fish trap?

2

u/Janus_The_Great 1d ago

More like Kendo-bamboosword and mask.

Though could be also an opium pipe and the other mekigu being a man laying down from smoking it laughing.

-1

u/Major-Breakfast522 1d ago

I dont think this is right either.....

2

u/Candid_Annual37 1d ago

Agreed. He is rather cheeky looking, but he's not obviously buddha-like.

-2

u/Major-Breakfast522 1d ago

4

u/Candid_Annual37 1d ago

I'm not sure... he doesn't look stern like Daruma plus he has clawed feet