A VERY BEAUTIFUL and decorative heavy Japanese sword scabbard of ABALONE SHELL and black lacquer to the background. The shell work is most impressive and truly a work of art ! It is difficult to do it justice with photographs. The metalwork is copper, which has been gold lacquered ( this would have been in Japan, many years ago ), which is rather attractive. The Kurikata is rather impressive and unusual.........it has a wild boar ( symbol of courage and fighting prowess ), a MON ( Heraldic Samurai emblem ), and the metal securing the KURIKATA is large, and a section perforated !!! I have never seen this ever before ! The metal resembles an old armour plate or fitting, with the holes for the stitching, which could be symbolic, or from the leftovers of a family armour, perhaps with significance !!!......and general scroll engraving .........Interesting ! ........Plus three filagree Chrysanthemum 'Mons' on the Koi Guchi, which I thought might have been later additions, but hard to say !!!...................Heavy and weighs well over 400grams, and approx 700mm long ( just over 27 and a half inches ). Please see photos for other measurements of the 'sori' and koi guchi............ I have never removed the sageo hanging cord, but it looks very good underneath in keeping with the other shell inlay. The Abalone shell seems very solid, and to my eye, I cannot see any obvious losses, but occasionally some lacquer between the shells appears to have peeled slightly, but this is VERY MINOR ! I am trying to be 'picky' to avoid any description issues !!! Generally in great condition for age !!! ................... I bought this direct from Japan, many years ago, so long I cant remember !!! ............. The MON on the scabbard ( saya ) is a slight variation of the TOYOTOMI MON ( please Google this and look 'Wikipedia " to discover the rich and exciting history with the Tokugawa Emperor ), which was also adopted as a 'Government' Mon. .............. If fifty years of sword collecting, I have seen few scabbards ( saya ) as elaborate. ............... The different colours, patterns and hues of the Abalone shell is mesmerising !!!.............. Fitted to the correct sword, it would look truly impressive !!!.............PLEASE NOTE - The sword stand ( and anything in the background ) is NOT INCLUDED in the sale, you are BIDDING on the SWORD SCABBARD ( SAYA ) ONLY !!! ..............PLEASE NOTE EBAY THIS IS A SCABBARD ONLY, NO SWORD !!! THEREFORE COMPLIES WITH THE RULES !!! ................ Please see my other interesting items !!!