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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Silver Jewelry
 pre-1920s Japanese silver hallmarks
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| Author | Topic: pre-1920s Japanese silver hallmarks |
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watchking99 Posts: 1 |
posted 09-08-2004 11:04 PM
  
I have a heavy silver bracelet with 6 different, very distinct Japanese silver hallmarks (some repeated on various parts that were later assembled into one finished bracelet). Some of the marks can be recognized as
How could I do that? IP: Logged |
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nihontochicken Posts: 289 |
posted 09-09-2004 01:01 AM
Re Japanese "hallmarks", I'm afraid there aren't many of note. Tardy lists very few (late) Japanese hallmarks, mostly the fineness (e.g., "950"). The multiple stamps on your piece would seem to me to indicate a late, mass-produced piece. Most Japanese metal artwork, at least prior to WWII, was either unsigned, or was hand cut with the maker's art name in Kanji (Japanese ideograhs). A few studios used a stamp in addition to, or in lieu of, the maker's name. A very few makers used a kao, an ideograph-based stamp. I am aware of no widely used Japanese system of stamps to denote dates or places of manufacture akin to the British system, at least prior to WWII, but I have no knowledge of the jewelry sector, as western style jewelry does not appear to figure heavily in Japanese tradition. [This message has been edited by nihontochicken (edited 09-09-2004).] IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 09-09-2004 10:20 AM
Hi Nihon-to. I had always suspected you were a student of Japanese swords with your name. I have only one, but it is a nice Shinto wakazashi from the mid to late 1400s that I keep in a shirasaya so as not to detract from the blade with distracting koshirae. While this is a silver forum, since the people here appreciate fine artistry in metal I also urge people to take a look at the incredible art that those smiths were able to create so long ago without any machines or chemistry. To my Western eyes those skills seem to have been lost forever to modern day metal smiths. With these old steel blades, the artistry is subtle and doesn't reveal itself quickly - the more more you contemplate them the more to you are able to see and appreciate the amazing workmanship. IP: Logged |
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Patrick Vyvyan Posts: 640 |
posted 09-09-2004 10:34 AM
Any chance of photos of your bracelet and the marks? Certainly to the purist collector, many Japanese traditional crafts plummeted in the latter 19th century. But I guess this is a matter of taste. Some very fine silver was produced, mainly for European visitors. See for example this earlier posting on Arthur & Bond: arthur and Bond teaset IP: Logged |
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nihontochicken Posts: 289 |
posted 09-09-2004 11:26 AM
Hi, Kimo! I don't want to stray too far off topic (like I did last night with my first response that I mercifully euthanized this morning!). Yes, I am a mediocre student of Nihonto (Japanese swords). The art in these weapons is indeed subtle and not familiar to to western mind. Congrats on your blade, sounds like a nice one! Back to this thread, absence of proof is not proof of absence. I'm just not aware of any Japanese "hallmarking" system utilizing stamps as described here. I'd be interested in seeing pics of the stamps in question. Historically the Japanese didn't seem to be much interested in western style precious metal jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, etc.). What may have been made was likely for the western market, as Patrick remarked, most dating from Meiji times onward. Quality, while impressive by western standards, may not have been up to snuff by Japanese standards in a number of cases. Competent Japanese chasing and mixed metal work is extraordinary by most other criteria, and the best work is simply off the Richter scale. IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 09-09-2004 11:28 AM
I have been long interested in the Damascening technique of overlaying softer metal over iron. Several of these pieces are signed though most are from the early to mid 20th century. I have a bar pin of fine damascene work mounted in gold and signed Komai Sei or from the Komai workshop. I suspect it is late 19th century or early 20th. I do know of some of today's craftsmen who strive to achieve the same subtlety of the early Japanese smiths. We no longer have the social structure to offer the craftsman the time and money to produce these items. There are very few patrons who will commision and pay for this labor intesive art. Many of us spend countless hours studying and practicing a skill that we may only partly use in our work. It would be a great boon to have a list of marks and attribution of these marks to makers. Some volumes do exist but are scarce, in Japanese, and out of most's price range. Fred [This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 09-09-2004).] IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 09-09-2004 05:32 PM
It would be interesting to see some photos of the bracelet. I've seen some Japanese, Chinese and Tibetan bracelets and necklaces that appear to have been assembled from bits and pieces of other items (such as charms, furniture decorations, etc) by jewelers at a later date to make saleable items. From the description alone it might be such an item given the numerous different markings. IP: Logged |
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