THE FAMOUS CHICAGO HOTEL BARON, POTTER PALMER, HAD FOUR TRUE IVORY MOUNTED SWORDS. THE MOUNTINGS WERE MADE FROM ELEPHANT TUSKS AND THE CARVINGS WERE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY BY TOP CLASS NETSUKE ARTISANS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE TWO OF THE FOUR. THE TWO I SAW BOTH CONTAINED TRUE SAMURAI BLADES OF UPPER MEDIUM QUALITY. WHEN PALMER DIED, HE LEFT ONE TO EACH OF HIS FOUR FAVORITE SERVANTS. ONE OF THESE SWORDS ENDED UP IN THE COLLECTIONS OF THE FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN CHICAGO. IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE COLLECTIONS STORAGE DURING RENOVATIONS IN THE MID 70'S. THE OTHER BELONGED TO PALMER'S CHAUFFEUR, WHO SOLD IT TO A FRIEND OF MINE. IT WAS PASSED DOWN TO HIS SON AFTER MY FRIEND'S DEATH. THESE PIECES WERE EVIDENT THAT THEY WERE MADE TO SELL TO WEALTHY VISITORS TO JAPAN IN THE MEIJI PERIOD. THE QUALITY OF THE CARVINGS WAS NIGHT AND DAY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE CRUDE CARVED BONE MOUNTS SOLD ON THE DOCKS OF YOKOHAMA SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT STARTED THIS THREAD.
