An iron tsuba
Tanaka School, 19th century
Of rounded rectangular form with raised rim, carved in takabori and inlaid in iroe takazogan with Shoki standing in a defiant attitude while an oni peers through a hole above, signed Rakusei Toshiharu with inlaid gold kao.
8.2cm (3¼in).
Sold for £960 (€1,135) inc. premium
Footnotes
鐔　鍾馗と鬼　銘「洛西　寿治（花押）」　19世紀

Provenance: W.W. Winkworth collection, 1962.

For the maker, Nakajima Toshiharu, see Haynes, Index no.H 10323. The name is preceded by Rakusei, referring to a western suburb of Kyoto.