For your consideration this lot includes antique Katana (Japanese Samurai Sword) fuchigashira and menukis, circa mid 1800s, eleven (11) pieces, with carved, chased, and gold and silver gilt decorations in mixed metals including iron, shakudo, and bronze, during the end of the Edo Period. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame. Donations also include African, Afghan and Asian artifacts. The Samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the abolishment of the feudal system during the Meiji Restoration of 1868. A fuchigashira is a pair of matching sword fittings comprising the fuchi (collar at the base of the grip of the sword hilt) and kashira (pommel cap at the end of a sword hilt). The menuki are the decorative metal ornaments that are woven under the tsuka-ito (handle wrapping). These ornaments were originally made to hide the mekugi pins that secure the tsuka to the tang of the blade. They are normally positioned forward on one side and back on the other. These are your hand positions with the menuki fitting into your palms. An alternative configuration is known as gyakumenuki (gyaku meaning "reverse") wherein the menuki are positioned the the other way around, so that the menuki fits into the palm of the hand when held with a standard right handed grip. Historically, the precursor to the Katana, the battlefield Tachi sword, had the ornaments positioned in gyakumenuki and was worn with the edge downwards. When the Katana came on the scene, the placement of the ornaments did not change for the sake of preserving tradition, thus the normal placement may not be as ergonomic as the gyaku configuration. On unique tsuka wrappings such as katate-maki or battle wrap the menuki may be woven into the center as a decorative ornament. Some are very elaborate pieces made by talented jewelers and artisans that will compliment or become the center piece of the katana's overall theme. These ornaments come in a variety of styles, and are usually thematically matched with the rest of the fittings, though 'neutral' themes such as dragons or Japanese arrows are not uncommon. These fuchigashira and menuki reflect the intricate artistry of the skilled carvers: birds, bows & arrows, village scene, human figures, dragons, chrysanthemums. Largest piece measures 1.5"L, solid wood carrying case has brass locking strap and hasp which measures 16"L x 2.5"W x 1.25'H, and the weight is 8oz.*