Tsuba

This set is a rare Christie's auction catalogues on Japanese art from 3/20/1985 and 3/21/1985. The boxed set includes all six catalogues and the prices realized.

This group covers ceramics, porcelains, lacquer, inro, netsuke, sword fittings, Nihonto, tsuba, kogo, Ukiyo-e, Sharaku, kabuto, and on and on.

The catalogues are as follows;
Fine Japanese Prints 3/20/85
Important Japanese Armor 3/20/85
Important Japanese Sword Fittings 3/20/85
Important Japanese Pri...

A beautiful limited reference book containing the collection of the Baur Museum in Geneva, Switzerland of "Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Metalwork", written by Basil William Robinson (former in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London). Hardback with 444 pages, 752 illustrations (several in color), section with signatures. Cloth with dustjacket, printed 1980 in a limited numbered edition of 1600, this is No. 52. Condition: fine. Dimension: c. 28.8 cm x 24 cm x 5.1 cm, 3 kg.

Antique Japanese iron tsuba, or hand guard for a sword. It has an oval shape with raised motif of gold inlay bamboo shoots and leaves crossing in from the outer edges. Its backside has a single bunch of gold inlay leaves peeking in from the bottom. Size: 2.75" height, 2.5" width

Antique Japanese iron tsuba or hand guard for a sword, in a mokko or melon shape, decorated with motifs of thin tree branches with plums and blossoms, with silver and Shokudo inlay, and an engraved sun in the top corner. The backside has a small cluster of plums inlaid with silver. Size: 3" height, 2.75" width

Japanese iron tsuba, or hand guard for a samurai's sword, with cast motifs of waves inlaid with gold and silver, the patina indicates age and wear from use.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3"

Two stacks of each 5 flat boxes or trays for storing kozuka, fuchi-kashira or other small and flat objects, the tops both covered with a lid. Both stacks stand on a rectangular bottom plate, tied with a braided silk rope. Shitan (sandal wood). Meiji period, around 1900.
Bottom plate: 9 7/8 x 8 5/8 in. (25 x 21.8 cm). Each tray 8 3/8 x 4 ¾ x 1 1/16 in. (21.4 x 12.1 2.8 cm).
Bottom plate with split, traces of re-gluing at the trays, braid virtually worn down, minor warping of the sides ...

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for samurai katana) decorated with a monkey peeking though the bamboo rails of a cage or gate. Often occurring in Japanese folk tales, the monkey generally symbolizes a trickster. Since tsuba were often a warrior's source of personal expression, it is likely this monkey held specific significance to the blade's owner.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3" high x 2 7/8" wide x 1/8" thick (1/4" thick including monkey).

Antique Japanese tsuba done in the finest craftsmanship. Made of iron with extensive shakudo nanako plate overall and with many gold blossoms. A motif of very detailed chrysanthemums densely covers both sides of the tsuba. The view in general would be titled, "Kikka Senpi zu" or Chrysanthemums in full bloom. Age: Possibly Momoyama Period. Size: Diameter: 2.75"

A sublime antique Japanese tsuba centered on the theme of the ocean. The tsuba contains motifs of abalone shell, basket weave pattern, and waves peeking through the patterned holes near the area where the blade would have been fitted. Tsuba is done in iron with mixed metal accents to highlight the abalone shell and rope. Age: 19th century, Edo period. Size: Diameter: 3.25"

An antique Japanese tsuba done in a fluted style. The tsuba is inlayed with different copper, gold, and silver colored metals done in the zogan and shakudo styles. The image is depicting the famous scene from the Tales of Ise known as Azuma Kudari where Ariwara no Narihira goes to the East and sees Mt. Fuji. Size: Diameter 2.5" Height 0.2" Age: 19th century

An antique Japanese iron tsuba decorated with motifs of autumn grasses, such as chrysanthemums and a bellflower and suzumushi crickets. The base is done similar to a tsuchime-ji base. Size: Diameter 3.25" height 0.2" Age: 19th century

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for a samurai sword). Made of bronze in the form of bending grain and leaves inlaid with gold details.
Meiji Period (1868 -1912) Size: 2 3/8" long x 1 7/8" wide.

A well forged, handsome mokume tsuba in mokko-gata form with katakiri-bori landscape decoration on both the omote and ura. The mokume grain is large and well controlled reminding one of ayasugi hada. In fact, this tsuba is indeed a tosho (swordsmith's) tsuba, being made by [Kai Ju] Kiyonaga and dated the third year of Bunkyo (1863) believed to be the same as KIY 298 referenced in Hawley's, Japanese Swordsmiths. Our angled, side view photographs more accurately portray patina and color as well as...

Japanese tsuba, a sword fitting to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The tsuba depicts a scene of hunters, one on horseback and the other on foot wielding a staff, in pursuit of a leaping rabbit, in gilt and silver. The backside of the tsuba depicts a running fox in gilt and copper.

Dimensions: 2 1/2" x 2 1/8"

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The openwork tsuba depicting two sages, their robes accented in gilt, one sage with a face of silver and the other with a face of copper. The front image is signed 'Soheishi Nyudo Soten' , the other side reads 'Goshu Hikone ju' (resides in Goshu-current Shiga prefecture).

Dimensions: 3 1/8" x 3 1/4"

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The front depicts two joyful festival performers, one holding a drum and the other holding a fan, the figures in relief with gilt accenting throughout. The backside of the tsuba shows a large mallet and mortar traditionally used for pounding rice into mochi.

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3"

Japanese hand-forged iron tsuba, used to protect a swordsman's hand from sliding up the blade during use as well as to provide balance. The openwork motifs depict a man and ox resting below pine trees and a cottage with gold gilt, with a faint signature illegible from wear.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 2 5/8" x 2 3/4"

19th century shakudo Japanese sword tsuba with inlaid decoration of autumn grasses on both sides, all on finely textured ground. Shakudo (an alloy typically consisting of 96% copper and 4% gold) body, superb design perfectly capturing the mood of autumnal melancholy. Crisp work, black shakudo stems and gold seedheads, in excellent condition. Height 2 3/4 inches.