Pair of early 19th century Goto style menuki - Japanese sword fittings - each depicting three ripe fuyu persimmons on branches with leaves. Slightly different design for each piece, great casting and detailing, gilding, beautiful patina. Come in very well made fitted kiriwood box. Length 1.7 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.

Rare Japanese spear (Yari) from the early 19th century. striking blade with three edges. Lacquered red cap to protect blade. Hand forged iron fittings.

Measures 94" tall. 4"

War fan, gunbai uchiwa, made of bronze clad wood, in the shape of a butterfly. In low relief on front and back the text Hachiman Daibosatsu, surrounded by generic family crests in the shape of quinces. Hachiman is a war deity. These fans were traditionally handled by samurai commanders to direct his troops in battle. It is also a symbol of power. Japan, Meiji era, late 19th century.

H 21.5 x W 15.75 inches

Some corrosion, good condition

Certainly Choki the devil hunter emptying his sack, it is funny to see the three devils captured and emptied from the sack depicted on the inner side of the kozuka, so the artist has cleverly increased his reading page using the reverse side as well.Many goldsmith techniques used. Partly golden...

Antique Japanese bajo jingasa, lacquered military hat for a horseman. Decorated with textured brown lacquer and with the Kyogoku family mon in gold. The underside is lacquered red with a black circle in the center and four hooks for chords...

Antique Japanese tsuba done in the finest craftsmanship. Made of iron with extensive shakudo nanako plate overall and with many gold blossoms. A motif of very detailed chrysanthemums densely covers both sides of the tsuba. The view in general would be titled, "Kikka Senpi zu" or Chrysanthemums in full bloom. Age: Possibly Momoyama Period. Size: Diameter: 2.75"

Antique Japanese pair of jingasa, hats worn by samurai or foot soldiers. Lacquered black and marked with the mon (family crest) of the Ogasawara clan. The Ogasawara were descended from Seiwa Genji. They acted as shugo, governing Shinamo Provence during the Sengoku Period (1185-1600). This pair of hats dates to the Edo Period (1608-1867) when the Ogasawara were daimyo (feudal lords) of territories on Kyushu.
The underside of each jingasa has gold leaf and remnants of padding...

A kozuka with sea shell and seaweed decoration with gold and silver overlaid on shakudo (a pickled gold and copper alloy) nanako ('fish roe' textured ground.) The utility knife handle with filed gilt bronze sides and back. Slight bend and the nanako somewhat dented in places. Would present nicely enough with a sword fitted to hold a kozuka in the saya (scabbard.) Kogatana (utility blade) not included. Length, 3 3/4 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle with raised and incised decoration of a morning glory plant with flowers and leaves. Elegant design, excellent crisp work, wonderful warm brown patina, beautiful gilding, in very good condition. Length 3 3/4 inches.

Several sword mount sold separately to complete an incomplete sword. Prices range from $200 to $700.Details, photos and dimensions on request.

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.

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.

An excellent shakudo tsuba inlaid with a "thousand flowers" decoration in gold, silver and sentoku. The technique is particular, the tsuba is first cast in shakudo with all the flowers in relief, then chiseled. Then each flower is covered with a thick sheet of metal, gold, silver or sentoku, this sheet is hammered on the sides of the flowers as one would border a bed sheet. Excellent work , exceedingly difficult more than inlaid...

Japanese circular jingasa with a gradual pointed top and curved rim in the front. Lacquered black with a crest in gold. The underside is lacquered red.

Jingasa ("war hat", a type of kasa commonly worn by samurai and ashigaru.
In the Edo period, the politics of display of sankin kôtai and other ceremonial occasions led to jingasa becoming more decorative in appearance, as was also the case for many other items of samurai arms, armor, and clothing...

An antique Japanese full length tanegashima rifle with working original matchlock mechanism. Hand made of high figure burl keyaki hardwood with original translucent lacquer finish. The whole length of the hand forged iron barrel is inlaid with a swirling silver dragon in clouds and the crest of the noble Tokugawa clan with six character mark which reads: 松平三河守 Matsudaira Mikawa-no-kami. Matsudaira refers to the Matsudaira clan...

Antique Japanese uma-jirushi, flag standard for battle. This uma-jirushi is a large inverted gourd surrounded by smaller gourds. The great daimyo, Hideyoshi Toyotomi (famous for being the second unifier of Japan) made the upside down gourd his uma-jirushi symbol. A large upside down gourd was placed on top of his flag pole and smaller gourds were added around it with each victory. Called "Sen nari hisago" or "thousand gourds"...