Page 166 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

140 | A TANTO IN SUPERB IVORY
AND SHIBAYAMA KOSHIRAE

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The blade of the tanto with horimono incised on one side with a
dragon chasing after a flaming tama. The reverse is decorated with
plum (ume) blossoms. The koshirae is superb and made from ivory
with dense and masterful inlays in Shibayama style of stained ivory,
horn, silver, coral and mother of pearl. One side shows a long-tailed
cockerel (nagatori) next to a gnarly tree and amongst dense leaves
and blossoms. The handle shows a basket on top of a stand, the
basket filled flowers and leaves, and a small bird is perched on the
handle. The other side of the handle shows a hanging mother of
pearl basket with many flowers and leaves fixed on the top by a bat
ornament. The reverse shows a tranquil scene a pair of mandarin
ducks (oshidori) swimming below dense blossoms. The area of the
kashira and kojiri is finely incised with floral designs and scrolling
vines. The inset and original kozuka is similarly decorated with
flowers and leaves and shows the artist signature KIMPOSAI and
seal. The kozuka blade is signed.
LENGTH 34.6 cm

Condition: SUPERB and original condition with no losses to inlays.
Provenance: British collection.
Auction comparison: A similar tanto was sold by Christie’s, Japanese
Art & Design Including Arts of the Samurai, 9 November 2011,
London, lot 267, sold for hammer price £ 25.000,-.

Estimate EUR 15.000,-
Starting price EUR 7.500,-

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