A wood Bokuto (or Gyoto) in the form of a marine animal, our determination is a whale, however the features are extremely subjective and open to interpretation. The details are economic, fundamentally a series of ripples upon the surface which add a pleasing textural component to appreciate. In terms of serving as a bokuto, which in essence is a device for protection, one certainly would not enjoy being bludgeoned by a swipe from this heavy example and in skilled hands the device could be lethal.
Anonymous. Likely 19th Century.
48cm long.
