Page 48 - Bonhams May 2017 London Fine Japanese Art

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94

TSUBA (SWORD GUARDS)
Various Properties

94 95 96
A KO-TOSHO TSUBA AN IRON KYO SUKASHI TSUBA A TACHIKANAGUSHI SHAKUDO TSUBA
Muromachi period (1333-1573), Early Edo period (1615-1868), Momoyama period (1573-1615), 17th century
late 15th/early 16th century early 17th century Of irregular oval chrysanthemum form with
The thin plate of circular form, pierced within Of circular form, pierced with large slightly raised rim, the nanako ground, inlaid
the hammered ground with a hanabishi crest, waterwheels beneath a bridge in stylized on either side with paulownia crests and
unsigned; with a wood storage box. turbulent water, unsigned; with a wood scrolls in shakudo and gilt metal, unsigned;
8.9cm (3½in). (3). storage box. with a wood storage box.
8.3cm (3¼in). (3). 7.6cm (3in). (3).
£1,200 - 1,500
JPY170,000 - 210,000 £3,000 - 4,000 £1,500 - 2,000
US$1,500 - 1,900 JPY410,000 - 550,000 JPY210,000 - 280,000
US$3,700 - 5,000 US$1,900 - 2,500
Accompanied by a NBTHK Tokubetsu
Hozon certificate. Accompanied by a NBTHK Hozon certificate. Accompanied by a NBTHK Tokubetsu
Hozon certificate.
Published:
Shigeo Fukushi, The Art Appreciation of
Japanese Sword Fittings, Tokyo, Ribun
Shuppan, 2012, p.260, no.51.

For an almost identical design in smaller size,
see Sasano Masayuki, Japanese Sword Guards
Masterpieces from the Sasano Collection,
part 1, Mega Co., Ltd., 1994, no.79.

The design is derived from the huge mizu-
guruma (waterwheels) used for irrigation at Yodo
Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1589.

46 | BONHAMS For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.