Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Swords and Related (116)

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.

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...

Late 18th to early century Japanese sword tsuba with relief decoration of all sorts of natural objects, including ginkgo nuts and leaves, pine needles and cones, mushrooms, cherry flowers, maple leaves and acorns. Subtle design in Japanese taste, couple of rust spots on the surface, beautiful patina, very tranquil piece. Height 2 9/16 inches.

Single 19th century menuki - Japanese sword fitting - depicting a twisting dragon clutching a Precious Gem in its claws. Great design and detailing, crisp work with gilding, beautiful patina. Length 1 5/8 inches.

Single 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting water a shepherd boy playing flute leaning against a standing buffalo, a folded umbrella sticking out of his robe. The subject is bokudo - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood. Great design and detailing - see the face and skin folds on the back of the animal, beautiful dark patina, gilding. Length 1 5/16 inches.

Single 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting a water lily bud with two leaves on stalks. Elegant design in Japanese taste, excellent work with superb detailing, bronze with beautiful coppery patina, in great condition. Signed with a single character KO on a plaque inside. Length 1 5/16 inches.

Single 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting 7 shells with decoration on the inside. This rare subject is “kai-awase" - a Japanese game with painted shells, often depicting scenes from The Tale of Genji, as well as Genji-mon - crests representing individual chapters from the book, with 3 of them shown on this menuki. The aim of the game was to find the other half that would fit. Excellent work with superb detailing, bronze with silvering and gilding, beautiful patina, in great condition...

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.

Pair of early 19th century menuki - Japanese sword fittings - depicting water a shepherd boy playing flute leaning against a resting buffalo, and his basket by another resting animal. Did not photograph well. Great design and detailing (see the faces and ribs of the animals), beautiful dark patina, gilding and silvering. Length 1 inch.

Pair of 19th century Japanese sword menuki each depicting a pair of frolicking shishi in different attitudes. Nice design, bronze with gilding, overall in very good condition. Length 1 3/8 inches.