Kinko menuki with flowers on a jardiniere, worked in shakudo and gold. The piece is signed Nakajima Haru Teru of the Yanagawa school, whom the supplier places in the mid-19th century and records as living in Edo to the age of 76. It is sold used and listed under Japanese Swords, Fittings and Firearms as SKU MGJ204.

Signed and attributed fittings give a Connecticut collector something to research as well as something to look at, and here the Yanagawa school attribution and the Edo connection are the starting points. The flowers-on-planter subject is a quieter theme than dragons or warriors and suits a display built around nature motifs, or a handle rebuild where a signed shakudo and gold menuki is wanted under the wrap. Examine the signature and the gold work in the photographs before you commit, and compare the style against other Yanagawa pieces if you have them.

Key features

• Kinko menuki, flowers on jardiniere
• Shakudo and gold
• Signed Nakajima Haru Teru, Yanagawa school
• Mid-19th century
• Used, SKU MGJ204

This menuki ships to the door at any Connecticut address; sword fittings need no FFL dealer.