A LARGE SHIBUICHI TSUBA
By Toshiharu, Tanaka School, late 19th century
Of rounded rectangular form with softly raised rim, carved and inlaid with the young hero Yoshitsune seated before the large figure of Sojobo, the king of the tengu (mountain-dwelling demons), who looks down upon him while holding a feather fan, the reverse with shimenawa (sacred ropes) tied to a pine trunk, details in gold, silver and shakudo, signed Heian no ju Toshiharu saku; with storage box. 8.5cm (3 3/8in). (2).
Footnotes
鍔　遮那王と僧正坊　銘「平安住壽治作」　19世紀後期

Provenance: Blockley collection.
G. G. Davies collection.
G. F. Hearn collection.

For this artist, by repute a guard at Kyoto’s Nijo Castle who made sword fittings as a hobby, see Robert E. Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, Ellwangen, Germany, Nihon Art Publishers, 2001, no.H10323.