🎎 Mid-Showa Japanese Brass Fusuma Pull with Stylized Etching – Japan Antique Roadshow

$72.21 CAD

🎎 This ornate brass fusuma (sliding door) fitting may have served as a decorative pull plate—or perhaps simply as an architectural flourish—adding a refined touch to a traditional Japanese interior. Crafted from two interlocked layers of brass and secured by a central rivet, the piece features a pattern of four almond-shaped cutouts over a subtly hammered backdrop. The engraved radiating lines suggest a balance between abstract design and floral inspiration, typical of subtle embellishments found in classic Japanese woodwork.

On the reverse, you’ll find a hand-brushed inscription in traditional calligraphic ink. The characters are not faded but are rendered in a flowing, stylized form that resists easy reading—one may be 「す」 (su). This inscription could be a craftsman’s signature or an installer’s note, quietly marking a moment in time. It adds a personal, human dimension to this small yet elegant piece of domestic architecture.

Measuring approximately 8.25 cm long by 5.5 cm wide and weighing just under 10 g, this piece exhibits a rich patina that hints at decades of use. Accompanying it is a distinct wooden pull, carved from dense hardwood and deeply worn—a companion piece likely from another fusuma. At 7.5 cm long, this wooden element shares the same history of daily handling and silent service.

📏 Approximate dimensions
• Brass fitting: 8.25 cm × 5.5 cm, approx. 10 g
• Wooden pull: 7.5 cm × 3.5 cm × 1.25 cm, approx. 10 g
• Materials: Brass & hardwood
• Era: Mid‑Showa or earlier
• Condition: Well-worn with patina; brush calligraphy intact but stylized; wear consistent with long-term domestic use

Curated in Shizuoka City by Kurt Bell, this pair of fusuma fittings offers a tactile glimpse into bygone Japanese daily life—where even the simplest architectural details were shaped by a craftsman’s hand, imbued with meaning, and marked by time.

➡️ https://a.co/d/6SORY8N
Get your copy of Going Alone at this link (the hardcover edition is recommended) 🤠🏜️☀️
🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
🌀 Discord: https://discord.gg/srfDtMN5jA
👍 Support my endeavors on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/softypapa

Be safe… But not too safe

#KurtBell #GoingAlone #JapanAntiqueRoadshow #Fusuma #JapaneseAntique #Tategu #BrassHardware #JapaneseCraftsmanship #Softypapa #ShowaEra #WabiSabi #DomesticArchitecture

Dropdown

Quality Guarantee & Returns

Dropdown
  • Quality is guaranteed. If there is a print error or visible quality issue, we'll replace or refund it.
  • Because the products are made to order, we do not accept general returns or sizing-related returns.