Kazarizame

A rare mounted rayskin

Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th/early 19th century

51.5 cm long

 

Of waisted and convex form, having a wood core, covered by a single piece of rayskin, displaying varying grades of same visible through five variously shaped cut-outs ringed by raised gold thread in tightly bound gold and silk brocade of various formal designs.

 

A kazari-zame is a "presentation" same. Rayskin has always been a precious material and those with large nodules were sometimes not mounted on a sword hilt but given as a gift, elaborately tied with plaited cords on gold brocade. 

Other two similar items are recorded, probably by the same maker: one is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York while another one was in the Dr. Walter A. Compton collection.