A shibuichi tsuba
Tanaka School, late 19th century
Of rounded rectangular form with raised rim, finely inlaid in iroe takazogan with a nio beneath a flowering cherry tree, a dance arena curtain at his feet, the reverse with three pigeons, two pecking at the ground while the third flies overhead, signed Kazai kasui no yo, Ryu Hogen with inlaid gold seal Kiyotoshi.
8cm (3 1/8in).
Sold for £7,200 (€8,577) inc. premium
Footnotes
鐔　桜に仁王　銘「家在花水之陽　竜法眼　清寿（方印）」　19世紀後期

Provenance: Michael Tomkinson collection, sold at Glendining & Co., London, 5th-9th December, lot 1161, Catalogue, illus. pl.XXVIII.
Purchased at Glendining & Co., London, 1963.

The maker is Tanaka Kiyotoshi (1804-1876). He was a student of Goto Shojo and of Kono Haruaki: see Haynes, Index, no.H 03368.