By a member of the Tetsugendo school, signed Tetsugendo saku
Japan, mid-Edo period (1615-1868)

Of nagamarugata form, with one kozuka hitsu ana plugged in shakudo, worked in gold and iro-e takazogan and hirazogan, with very fine engraving to the details, depicting a monkey clambering on the upper side of the tsuba, its hand grabbing through the metal to pull on a sentoku rope in an attempt to catch an octopus emerging from turbulent waves. The reserve finely rendered with crashing waves and dew drops, and signed TETSUGENDO saku [made by Tetsugendo].

HEIGHT 8.3 cm, LENGTH 8 cm
WEIGHT 201.4 g

Condition: Very good condition with minimal wear.

The Tetsugendo school was founded by Shoami Tetsugendo and flourished during the late Edo period (1615-1868). The school invariably worked in iron and members often only signed with the name Tetsugendo.

The subject of monkey and octopus references a legend in which the octopus-physician of Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey’s liver to heal the king’s daughter.