19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle with multimetal inlays depicting a Shinto ritual ladle containing various flowers, its bamboo handle decorated with a tied ribbon. Superb crisp work - see the fine textures of different flowers and nodules of the handle, silver and bronze inlays, gilding, finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar, in great condition. Length 3 9/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a a centipede wrapped around an arrow. Unusual and elegant piece, extraordinary crisp work - see the head and body segments of the creature and fine feathers of the arrow. Gilding, finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar, in great condition. Length 3 3/4 inches.

Antique Japanese group of 6 tsuba (samurai sword hand guards), made of iron. Each tsuba is unique. From top left to right: suksahi tsube with aoi leaves and tiny inlaid gold details, sukashi tsuba with boat with sail in the mist and signed Masayoshi, sukashi tsuba with three gourds aubergine motif, sukashi tsube with boat and sail, sukashi tsuba with pine branch and mist, wangata tsube with two characters...

19th century Edo period Japanese bronze kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with multimetal inlays depicting wispy clouds supporting a tiger, a shishi and a kirin, all on a punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Unusual combination of animals, wonderfully made piece with crisp metalwork and gilding, in great condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.

Early 19th century Japanese sword tsuba with combination of sunken and raised relief decoration of a seated man wearing eboshi (a specific hat worn by aristocrats to indicate rank) holding a bitter melon in his hands and looking at more melons and lotus leaves with flowers, design continuing on the back. Material appears to be shakudo (alloy of copper and gold) with characteristic black patination resembling lacquer...

Late 18th to early 19th century tanto iron Japanese sword tsuba with four cutouts surrounded by gold inlaid scrolls. Great design, nice feel of age, some rusting, overall in good condition. Height 2 1/2 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba inlaid on the front with gilded copper bunch of flowers and grasses, the back inlaid with a sickle. Elegant piece in Japanese taste, superb quality inlay with finely defined petals, great feel of age. Height 3 1/4 inches.

18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba depicting a bird in flight among bamboo stems and leaves with design continuing on the back. Wonderful subject, crisp work with gilding, excellent detailing. Beautiful patina, great feel of age. Height 2 3/4 inches.

18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba with multimetal inlays depicting a tengu in flight among swirling clouds above city roofs as he carries a stolen jar of oil or sake that he carries in a string, two inlaid inscribed silver plaques. Design continues on the back showing a tall tower and more roofs. Tengu are mythological creatures half men, half birds, usually depicted as goblins, and first-class fighters. Wonderful subject, excellent detailing, inlays in various metals...

18th century or earlier Soten school Japanese sword iron sukashi tsuba with pierced decoration of four samurai with swords and bows among pine trees by a waterfall. Wonderful early work, great design, powerful piece. Signed, the left side of the inscription reads SOTEN, the right one must be the name of a particular artist. Height 2 3/4 inches.

A very unusual and rare mid Edo period iron Duo. Full wrap around breast and back plate with hinged shoulders plates. Detail of an incredibly fierce and deleted dragon wrapped around and suspended around swirling clouds.
In japan, the dragon represent wisdom, strength, force for good, wind, water and of coarse wealth. Dragons are destructive forces, but they are also considered guardians.
The collar of the undergarment is hand sewn silk embroidered with gold threads...

19th century Edo period Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief depiction of a crane in flight over pine saplings, all on a finely punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Wonderful crisp metalwork, some worn gilding, in great condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century Edo period Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief depiction of Benten seated on a throne floating on a cloud and accompanied by 3 attendants. Benten is the only female among the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of learning, speech and music. Wonderful crisp metalwork, beautiful gold and silver inlays, in great condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century or earlier Japanese sword set of fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) and kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief design of numerous butterflies in different attitudes, all on finely punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Excellent quality work, wear to gilding as can be seen on photos. Kashira length 1 5/16 inches, fuchi length 1 7/16 inches.

19th century Japanese sword set of fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) and kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with gold inlaid design of birds in flight over a gnarled flowering cherry tree. Made out of shakudo (alloy of copper and gold) with characteristic black patination resembling lacquer. Excellent quality work, in great condition. Kashira length 1 5/16 inches, fuchi length 1 7/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a view from the height of a castle tower and boats with sails and oars among the waves in a bay. Beautifully designed, wonderful crisp work with shakudo and gold inlays, in excellent condition. Length 3 13/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a long arrow and a segment of samurai’s armor with cord, all on the background of a stone castle wall. Unusual and elegant piece, wonderful crisp work - see the textures of the feathers on the arrow and silk wrappings holding together metal plates constituting the armor. Gilding, finely textured ground, in excellent condition. Length 3 13/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting Ebisu - one the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of fishing - happily hanging out in a humble boat by reeds in a stream. Wonderful crisp work - see his happy smiling face, texture of his hat and finely done reed leaves, in excellent condition. Signed SHOGETSUSAI HARUYUKI on the back - the artist is a listed 19th century Japanese metalsmith...