A fine shakudo soroi kanagu (complete set of sword fittings)
By Matsuo Gassan, Harutsura, Kawarabayashi Hidekuni and Sasayama Tokuoki, mid 19th century
Comprising: a tsuba of rounded rectangular form, carved with swirling water and inlaid with ten variously shaped panels of silver, copper, shakudo and shibuichi, variously engraved and inlaid with Mount Fuji, a flying crane, salt-burners’ huts, a butterfly and floral designs, in gold and slight copper hirazogan, signed Kongosai Gassan with kao; a kozuka similarly inlaid with four fan-shaped panels inlaid with rat and radish, an anchor, Daruma doll and mandarin ducks, the reverse thickly gilt, and with an engraved fan, signed Harutsura; a fuchi-gashira similarly inlaid with eight fan-shaped panels of plant designs, signed Kinryusai Hidekuni; a kurikata inlaid with three fans depicting a scarecrow, flying geese and reishi fungus, unsigned; a kojiri with six fans engraved and inlaid with peony, paulownia, cherry blossom and iris, signed Saya kanagu Tokuoki; a saya kanamono with a single fan engraved with a narcissus; with fitted wood storage box bearing a paper label with descriptions and attributions on the underside of the cover. The tsuba 7.3cm (2 7/8in). (7).
Footnotes

Provenance: Mitsui Takakage collection.

The makers of this interesting set were all working in Kyoto during the latter half of the 19th century. Matsuo Gassan (1815-1875), a student of Kawarabayashi Hideoki and Otsuki Mitsuoki, developed the Kongosai School and also worked under Tanaka Kiyotoshi. Sasayama Tokuoki (1813-1891) was the son-in-law of Kawarabayashi Hideoki. Aoki Harutsura (1805-1858) was the son of Shunki Jinsuke and worked in the classic later Goto style. Kawarabayashi Hidekuni (1825-1891) was the adopted son-in-law and student of Kawarabayashi Hideoki.