Map weight marks.

[Peterl56]

Hi,

I've got a couple of these, and was told that they are map/scroll weights, and from somewhere in SEAsia.
I've looked, and looked.... don't know of they're Japanese, Chinese, Burmese.....

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Ando
http://s199.photobucket.com/user/PeterL ... e.jpg.html

(Apologies for the link... still trying to work out how to post an image.)

[dognose]

Hi Ando,

Welcome to the Forum.

When using Photobucket you just need to select the IMG code. (Great image BTW)



Trev.

[Peterl56]

Thanks Trev.

[davidross]

The marks shown are Japanese.

At right, 墨寳齋, most likely phoneticized "Bokuhozai," the maker's name as a craftsman.

At left, 正宗, most likely phoneticized "Masamune" (a common man's name, also the name of a popular brand of Japanese sake.)

Without additional photographs of the entire object(s) and their dimensions, it is difficult to say much more.

Regards
DR

[Peterl56]

Thanks for the info so far David, I appreciate your assistance. The weights, with the little round piece on the front are approx 1015g. It is approx 1/2" thick, 3 and 7/8ths at it's widest across the back, and 5 and 3/4" top to bottom.

Cheers,

Ando

[davidross]

Hello Ando

Many thanks for posting fine pics of a splendid object.

What you have is an inkstone (Japanese: suzuri), probably from the last quarter of the 19th century. I suspected this might be the case from the maker's name--"Boku" means "ink."

While I would not doubt that it is made of silver, please note that it is unmarked for silver content, which was not uncommon on 19th century Japanese silver.

Cheers,
David

[Peterl56]

Many thanks for your assitance David.
It now gives me a lead off point for further investigation.

Cheers,

Ando