Tsuba in shakudo decorated with a floral basket flown over by butterflies. Inlays (Taka Zogan) in solid gold, in fact the flowers are not in gilded copper as usual but in cast solid gold. The nanako background is particularly regular and deep. The artist used gold of two shades, a pure yellow and a pale yellow probably due to the addition of platinum or silver. Anonymous despite the excellent quality. Japan 19th century or before. 76x4mm

A rare example Japanese zunari kabuto (samurai helmet) made all of iron with a mixed metal (gold & silver) design of a dragon amongst swirling clouds. The eyes and whiskers of the dragon are inlaid gold and it's body coils all the way around the hachi (dome). The mabizashi (visor) is edged in bronze and decorated with more wisps of clouds. The underside of the visor shows traces of original red lacquer. The shikoro (neck guard) has five layers and shows traces of black lacquer...

Very beautiful tsuba in sentoku inlaid with shakudo, gold and silver by Jo-I, first-rank artist from the end of the 18th century. The funny subject represents a man driving demons out of his house by throwing beans on the ground. Excellent work, perfect finish. No restoration or hidden defects. Original patinas. 67x58x4 mm

19th Century (Tall) Japanese Boxwood Netsuke: Mythical Animal This is a rather rare representation of a Soken Kisho inspired Mythical Animal, that was carved by an anonymous artisan during the 19th century in Japan. It has a Dragon shaped body with delineated scales, a sprouting unicorn, and a long curled and wavy tail. It is made of light wood, possibly cypress wood, and is covered with a reddish-brown lacquer. On its right side it is inscribed with archaic characters...

Antique Japanese Tanegashima long matchlock rifle. The entirety length of cast iron barrel is decorated with mixed metal inlay of birds and flowers, an unusual motif for a rifle. The gold mon is of the Kobayakawa clan, a powerful samurai clan with close ties to the Mōri family.

Guns were first introduced to Japan during the Sengoku era through the Portuguese in 1543...

Japanese war fan, very thick and heavy iron frame that can be used closed as a weapon. Wooden slats (bamboo?) Maintaining the paper part. One side painted with a golden circle (sun) on the other a golden circle with a silver shade (moon?). Signed inside the frame...

A set of sword fittings compromising of a tsuba, pair of menuki, and fuchigashira. The menuki is chiseled in the katagiri style on shakudo with gold iroe embellishments. The fuchigashira are done in polished shibuichi bronze. The set comes with a special kiri box with purple chirimen silk to store the set.

Age: Late Edo Period. Comes with original purchase paperwork.

Size: (tsuba) length 2.78" width 2.55"

19th century or earlier Japanese sword set of bronze fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) and kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with low relief design of chidori (plovers) in flight over the cresting waves. Excellent quality work, gilding, beautiful wear. Kashira length 1.4 inches, fuchi length 1.5 inches.

Antique Japanese matching Katana (long) and Wakazashi (short) swords, from the Shinto Period (1579-1763). Both swords have a beautiful dark brown patina on the tang with visible laminar construction on the blades. The blades have been fully polished and have paper work from the NBRHK in Japan. Each sword comes with a matching bag for protection. Wonderful details including side knives and menuki. The tsuba on the Wakizashi is shakudo...

Pair of early 19th century Japanese sword menuki each depicting a pair of geese resting on a riverbank by a willow tree. Bronze with brown patina, overall in good condition. Length 1 7/16 inches.

19th century Edo period Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with multimetal relief inlays depicting a Japanese spiny lobster (Panulirus japonicus). Wonderfully made piece with crisp metalwork, gilding and silver inlaid eyes, some wear. Length 1.29 inches.

Antique Japanese large tsuba (samurai sword hand guard). Cast in iron with an intentionally uneven surface to suggest a sandy beach or rock and further decorated with mixed metal inlay in the form of a variety of sea shells. Shakudo and gilt copper stand out against the dark iron. With collector's kiri wood box.

Age: Edo Period (1603 - 1867)

Dimensions: 3 5/8" x 3 1/2"

Antique Japanese tanegashima short rifle (gun) with working original matchlock mechanism. Not original barrel, this one has been replaced with a shorter forged barrel onto the rifle wood stock.
Made of hardwood with lacquer finish. Silver inlay on the iron barrel includes an rare arrow motif. Elaborate brass work includes little florets and frolicking fu-dogs. Comes with custom iron stand to aid in display...

Tsuba with a decoration in strong relief of a dragon among clouds. Iron, with heavy oxidization. Japan, mid Edo Period. Height: 3 1/16" (8 cm). Despite obvious signs of age, very good condition.

This is an very fine Japanese Netsuke hand-carved during the Meiji Period of Japan by Ruygetsu. It depicts a Peasant holding a basket with fruits and vegetables, while pleasurably (notice his smile) smoking a pipe. Intricate and true to form detail have been carved in this remarkable miniature sculpture. The artist has accented the figure with different shades of brown stain...

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.

Pair of 19th century Japanese sword menuki each depicting one closed and one open hozuki (Chinese lantern fruit). Fantastic work with great detailing. Differently colored patinas, gold inlaid spots, in perfect condition. Length 1.25 inches.

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.