A FINE BAKUMATSU SENTOKU TSUBA WITH NOH MASKS

Sold for €2,600

including Buyer’s Premium

Lot details

After Iwamoto Konkan (1744-1801), signed Iwamoto Konkan 岩本昆寛
Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Of kakugata shape, the front finely worked in copper, shibuichi and gold takazogan, depicting two noh masks of Okame and oni, their tassels neatly incised and worked in shishiaibori (sunken relief), the reverse with a Konoha-tengu mask worked also worked in shishiabori. Signed IWAMOTO KONKAN – likely as a tribute to this legendary artist.

SIZE 9.7 x 8.3 cm
WEIGHT 261.6 g

Condition: Very good condition, minor associated surface wear.
Provenance: British collection.

Iwatomo Konkan is listed on pages 716-717, H 03464.0 in THE INDEX OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS AND ASSOCIATED ARTISTS by Robert E. Haynes. Also known as Asai Konkan. He was the student and adopted son of Ryokan I, fifth master of the Iwamoto family, and founder of the Iwamoto school. He originally worked in the style of the Yokoya school and Nara school, but later developed the Konkan style. His work style and subject were so popular that the majority of signed examples are reproductions made in homage to this artist.

Auction comparison:
For a related tsuba after Iwamoto Konkan, Meiji era (1868-1912), see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 May 2016, London, lot 329 (sold for 6,875 GBP).