A signed, matched, pair of Abumi with a geometric design of interwoven maple leafs. The design has been hand chiselled and inlaid with silver and bronze. The stirrups measure 11" long x 5 1/4" wide x 10 1/4" high, and date to the late Edo period. The maker has inlaid his Name and City on both stirrups and this translate as follows: "Made by Yamada Nagamoto living in Kanazawa". Nagamoto is the seventh generation Yamada chiseller to work at Kanazawa, and he was born in 1810...

The tatami armor was used by foot soldiers, archers, and spearmen. Its a lightweight armor which allowed the warriors to be more swift and fluid with their movements. It is also an economical munition armor as a alternative to the traditional lace scale construction. Going to battle was costly and this gave the clan army full protection from all levels of warfare.
The armors head gear covering has two flaps with a back slit...

Small bronze flared muzzle cannon of this type where made for shooting flaming arrows at ships. For launching fireworks at festivals and for signaling purposes. The example of cast bronze with a bore that is described as at the breach and the bore is reduced to a half round section to form a chamber for the powder mount for use.
The gun would be imbedded into a wooded block such as the lower half of the barrel and the entire breach end is covered...

The netsuke is made in the shape of a matchlock pistol. It is composed of different material such as wood, brass, and iron. Handmade during the Meiji period for the European market. Mounted on a custom iron stand.

Meiji Period 19th Century

Size: 5" L x 1.5" W x 1.5" H
(4.25" H on stand)

The bronze cast cannon is decorated in low relief of a coiled dragon. The shape handle stock and body represent a carp. The signaling cannons shows a smooth casting which indicates it was lost cast from wax. Fine detailing shows high level of craftsmanship. Mounted on custom Bronze stand.

Meiji Period 19th Century

Size: 4" L x 1.25" W x 1.5" H (4.5" H on stand)

A large Tembo tsuba. The Tembo (or Tenpo) style evolved from the Saotome school and the sukashi decoration of Okiagari here (an especially nice feature) carries over. Okiagari are self righting toys and the subject was a symbol of inspiration to Samurai in aspiring to improvement and the right path in life. There is, on a curious level of interest, some minute trace of old gold decoration (long since worn off) on the surface of this tsuba...

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...

A simple, four lobed armorer's tsuba with simple pierced decoration perhaps depicting a landscape with structure. The udenuki-ana (cord holes) have the effect of completing the illusion of a Sesshu-like landscape. The saotome were armorers turned tsuba makers who worked in this manner and scale. Good condition with good tekkotsu. Sengoku era. 2 15/16 (7.46 cm) inches x 2 5/8 (6.67 cm) inches

A katchushi mutsu-gata sukashi tsuba. The six lobed, thin plated armorer's tsuba with good tekkotsu and with openwork decoration was described by Skip Holbrook (ex collection) as Saotome made and depicting three birds. The Saotome were a line of armorers (katchu) turned tsuba makers...

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.

An iron, Ko-Tosho (early sword smith's) tsuba. The slightest taper from seppa dai towards rim. Pierced decoration. Purchased from Andy Quirt (ex Skip Holbrook collection) at the February 2016 Tampa show, he thought it depicted gourds. I guess the beholder might see different things. I see Japanese eggplants on leafy vine (two fruit and two leaves) supported by a bamboo trellis. An uncommon and well executed, balanced decoration. The hitsu-ana appears to be original to the tsuba. Late Muromachi...

An armorer's iron tsuba, possibly for a wakizashi as it is somewhat diminuitive in size. Or perhaps more in keeping with its apparent age, an early example of a proportionately small tsuba used with an uchigatana as was first the fashion. Sukashi decoration of a conch (horagai) traditionally used for ritual practices and for signaling on the battlefield...

A katchushi (or armorer's) tsuba, probably Myochin, with pierced decoration of ship's rudders (the significance being a comparison of rudders steering a ship to values guiding a Samurai's life choices.) The strong, homogenous, dense iron plate with only light tekkotsu and smooth to the touch. Dark patina. Momoyama to early Edo. Good condition: Lamination folds with openings evident on the surface of one side. Ex Skip Holbrook collection. 3 3/32" x 3 1/16" x 1/8" (7.8 cm x 7.7 cm x .32 cm)

An armorer's tsuba, with very slightly raised rim on the strong, flat iron plate...

Antique Japanese jingasa helmet, made of riveted iron panels in black lacquered, with the inside of the helmet is lacquered in red. On the front is a large ume (plum blossom) mon (family crest) belonging to the Maeda Family (ruler of the Kaga). Since the helmet is made all of iron it attests to the wealth and influence of the Maeda clan. It is more than likely that this particular helmet was worn in battle showing ware that is consistent of its age. Original lacquer and patina.

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This is a very fine Japanese Netsuke hand-carved during the Meiji Period of Japan by Ruygetsu. It depicts a Sumo Wrestler, who is wearing the typical Mawashi with a heavy twisted rope, which is bound in the back in the typical ‘unryu’ knot. 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, and polished the natural color of the material to produce the white checkering of the m...

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. Signed Ryugetsu on the bottom, right next to the basket. Netsuke measures 1.20 inches (3.1cm) wide and 1.67 inches (...

Pair of Kinko (soft metal, as distinguished from iron) menuki. The soft metal copper alloy with dark patination (perhaps shakudo) depicting a pair of shishi or dogs (these are more dog like than most shishi I've seen, which are often thought to be lions.) The dogs with hair defined with fine incising. Decoration in gold including spots and pupils on the dogs, the collars each with a bell, and sprays of flowers. One of the menuki appears to have a miniature gold self-righting figure of Daruma (an...