Description:

East Asia, Japan, late Edo to Early Meiji period, ca. 19th century CE. A wonderful gilt iron tsuba or sword guard adorned with relief imagery of a samurai hunting scene. Annular in form, the piece presents an ovoid kozaku hole and a slender, triangular tang hole. The relief scene shows an archer on horseback to the right as he takes aim at a seated figure resting against a bull, vegetal and cloud motifs surround the figures. The verso is much less elaborate, showing flowers and trees growing on a rocky cliff in the foreground as mountains rise in the background. A signature next to the Tang hole roughly translates to "Shihosai Mitsuaki." Size: 3" W x 3.1" H (7.6 cm x 7.9 cm)

The tsuba is a protective guard fitted between the hilt and the blade of a sword. Originally they were simple iron disks, sometimes decorated by piercing or hammering in low relief. Later sword guards were more often made of copper alloys, patinated to a wide range of colors and inlaid with other colored metals. Sword guards became miniature art forms, and different schools of makers developed their own unique styles.

Provenance: private Kihei, Hawaii, USA collection, purchased from Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, December 26, 2012

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#189494

  • Condition: Age-expected weathering and surface wear with some minor chipping to tang hole at center and some softening of detail. Otherwise, intact with liberal remains of detail and gilding. Rich patina throughout. Accompanied by a cloth case and padded storage box.

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October 11, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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