● IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CERTAIN EU COUNTRIES - IOSS SHIPMENTS UNDER EUR 150 Due to recent changes in EU import procedures, temporary shipping restrictions may apply to IOSS shipments under EUR 150 to the following countries: - Austria - Germany - Finland - France - Belgium - Luxembourg - Portugal - Poland Shipping availability may change depending on Japan Post and the destination country's postal procedures. Please consider this possibility before placing a bid. *** Vintage Japanese Deba & Yanagiba Kitchen Knife Set – “Ota Dokan” / “Tokuro” – 2 Signed Traditional Japanese Knives A characterful set of two vintage Japanese traditional kitchen knives, consisting of a substantial Deba and an elegant Yanagiba. Both knives bear Japanese inscriptions and display the distinctive forms associated with traditional Japanese culinary cutlery. The Deba additionally retains a matching “Ota Dokan” branding on its wooden handle, an appealing detail that enhances its vintage character. The contrasting forms — the broad and substantial Deba alongside the slender Yanagiba — make this an attractive pair for collectors of vintage Japanese knives as well as experienced enthusiasts interested in cleaning, sharpening and restoring older blades. Both knives are offered in their authentic used and unrestored vintage condition. 1. Deba Knife – “Ota Dokan” (太田道灌) – Handle Also Branded “Ota Dokan” The knife on the left is a traditional Japanese Deba, characterized by its broad, substantial blade and strong profile. The blade is marked: 太田道灌 – Ota Dokan Importantly, the wooden handle also retains the branding: 太田道灌 – Ota Dokan The presence of the name on both the blade and handle is an interesting identifying feature and adds considerably to the knife's vintage appeal. The broad blade, considerable blade height and robust profile are characteristic of the Deba form, traditionally associated with fish preparation in Japanese cuisine. This example has clearly seen extensive use over the years and retains the patina, scratches and surface wear associated with an authentic older working knife. Approximate dimensions: Overall length: 34 cm Blade length: 18.5 cm Handle length: approximately 14.5 cm Maximum blade height: approximately 5.5 cm Fitted with a traditional wooden Japanese handle and metal ferrule. 2. Yanagiba Knife – “Tokuro” (東九郎) The knife on the right is a traditional Yanagiba, the long, narrow Japanese slicing knife closely associated with sashimi and sushi preparation. The blade bears the inscription: 東九郎 – Tokuro Its slender profile provides an elegant contrast to the heavy, broad Deba beside it. The blade gradually narrows toward its pointed tip, creating the recognizable silhouette associated with traditional Japanese Yanagiba knives. Approximate dimensions: Overall length: 38 cm Blade length: 23 cm Handle length: approximately 14 cm Maximum blade height: approximately 3.0 cm Fitted with a dark wooden Japanese handle and metal ferrule. A Classic Pair of Traditional Japanese Knife Forms This set brings together two distinctly different types of Japanese kitchen knife. The Ota Dokan Deba has a broad and powerful blade profile traditionally suited to fish preparation, while the Tokuro Yanagiba has a long, narrow form associated with controlled slicing of fish and sashimi. Placed side by side, the contrast between the substantial Deba and elegant Yanagiba illustrates the specialized nature of traditional Japanese kitchen knives. The visible inscriptions on both blades, together with the surviving “Ota Dokan” handle branding, add further interest for collectors of older Japanese culinary tools. Condition These are genuine vintage, previously used Japanese kitchen knives and are offered in their current, unrestored condition. They show various signs of considerable age, use and storage, including: Dirt and staining Rust and oxidation Patina and discoloration Scratches and rubbing marks Surface and blade wear Edge chipping Damage/chipping to the blade tips Dirt and wear around the ferrules Scratches, dents, damage and some misalignment around the ferrules Dirt, staining, scratches and other signs of age and use on the wooden handles The blades show clear evidence of previous sharpening and prolonged use. Please examine all photographs carefully before bidding. The photographs form an essential part of the condition description. No professional polishing, complete rust removal or restoration has been carried out for this sale. The knives retain their scratches, oxidation, patina, wear and other traces accumulated through their working lives. Important Notice for Bidders These knives are not presented as restored or immediately ready-to-use kitchen knives. Due to their age and current condition, they are primarily recommended for collectors, restorers and experienced Japanese knife enthusiasts capable of cleaning, sharpening and maintaining vintage knives themselves. Depending on the intended use and the buyer's preferred level of restoration, they may require thorough cleaning, rust removal, sharpening, correction of edge chips and tip damage, and other maintenance or restoration work. Please bid only if you fully understand and accept their present vintage condition and are capable of carrying out the necessary cleaning and sharpening yourself. All dimensions stated above are approximate measurements estimated from the measuring scale visible in the photograph. A distinctive vintage pairing of a broad “Ota Dokan” Deba, retaining matching Ota Dokan branding on its handle, and a slender “Tokuro” Yanagiba. Two signed Japanese knives with authentic traces of age and use, offering considerable character for collectors and excellent potential for careful restoration. ■ IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING ● NO SHIPPING TO DENMARK,UNITED KINGDOM,UNITED STATES (USA) ● bidding and payment please do not place a bid if you do not intend to complete the purchase and make payment. by placing a bid, you confirm full intention to complete payment if you win. non-paying bidders cause serious delays. if payment is not completed after reminders from catawiki, the order may be cancelled under catawiki policy. ● condition of the item all items are vintage, antique, or pre-owned unless stated otherwise. signs of age, wear, scratches, stains, rust, oxidation, patina, repairs, sharpening marks, and other imperfections should be expected. please carefully examine all photos before bidding. photos form an important part of the description. please also understand that some defects or imperfections may not be visible in photographs. hidden or non-visible flaws may exist. in addition, the condition of the item may change during transport due to vibration, impact, temperature, humidity, or handling. therefore, items are sold strictly for buyers who have knowledge and ability to perform cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair if necessary. this lot is not suitable for buyers expecting fully restored or ready-to-use items without maintenance. all measurements are approximate. ● important notice regarding traditional japanese knife handles traditional japanese kitchen knives (wa-bocho) use replaceable wooden handles. handles are consumable parts and may require repair or replacement due to age, drying, shrinkage, cracking, looseness, or transport stress. replacement parts are not included. ● shipping restrictions - knives due to uk law, we do not ship knives to the united kingdom. due to strict regulations, we also do not ship knives to denmark. shipments to other countries may also be restricted depending on local laws. bids from restricted countries will be cancelled. ● international shipping - customs import rules for knives vary by country. buyer confirms legality of import. seller ships from japan with accurate customs declarations. customs delays, inspections, confiscations, taxes, or import issues are outside seller control. ● countries we do not ship to We do not ship to the United States at this time due to ongoing international shipping restrictions. Shipping service to the United States remains temporarily suspended and we are currently unable to accept orders with US delivery addresses. We also temporarily do not ship to Portugal due to logistics instability. Bids from these countries will be cancelled. ● international situation - shipping limitations due to global conditions, sanctions, transport restrictions, or postal issues, shipping may become impossible to certain countries. in such cases, orders may be cancelled. ● important notice for italy delivery to italy may take one month or longer due to customs and postal delays. please bid only if you accept this. ● no combined shipping each item will be shipped separately even if multiple items are purchased. ● shipping method and delivery time all items are shipped from japan via japan post. estimated delivery time is 3?4 weeks. delivery time is not guaranteed. ● import duties and taxes (EU buyers) import duties, VAT, and other taxes are not included. buyer is responsible for all charges. ● customs contact and buyer responsibility buyer must respond to customs requests promptly. failure may result in delay, return, confiscation, or destruction of parcel. ● returned parcels if returned due to customs refusal or non-response, reshipping requires double shipping cost. ● force majeure seller is not responsible for delays or failures caused by war, sanctions, disasters, postal suspension, or other force majeure events. ● agreement by placing a bid, you confirm you have read and accepted all conditions and understand the item may contain non-visible defects and may require cleaning, sharpening, restoration, or repair.