By Masatomo, signed Masatomo
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Published: Patrick Liebermann, Tsuba. Itinéraires d’une collection, 2016, p. 33, no. 18.
Published & Exhibited: Samouraïs. Guerriers et esthètes, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg, 11 March-13 July 2022, p. 153, no. 157.

Of nadekakugata form, decorated with gold and iro-e takazogan to depict a frightened monkey protecting its young from a snake, their expressions finely rendered, the tail of the snake wrapping around the monkey’s leg, and its mouth ajar ready to attack. The body of the snake continuing to the reverse and signed MASATOMO.

HEIGHT 9.1 cm, LENGTH 8.5 cm
WEIGHT 327.1 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and light scratches.
Provenance: Ex-collection Ernest Le Véel. Beaussant-Lefèvre, 19 October 2011, Paris, lot 156. Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann, acquired from the above. Ernest Le Véel (1874-1951) and his wife entered the art trade at a very young age in the closing years of the 19th century, and were soon drawn to Japanese prints. They became acquainted with Japanese art lovers such as Louis Gonse, Gillot, Haviland, d’Ennery, among others, and gradually became their friends, suppliers and advisors. Over a period of almost forty years, they assembled a unique collection, which presents the widest possible range of Japanese prints and other Japanese works of art. Patrick Liebermann (1948–2023) was a passionate collector of tsuba (Japanese sword guards). His journey began in 1970 when he unknowingly purchased his first tsuba, unaware it was a sword fitting—an encounter that sparked a lifelong dedication. Over the course of more than fifty years, Liebermann assembled an impressive collection of over 200 pieces, always prioritizing quality over quantity. Rather than adhering strictly to specific schools, periods, or types such as sukashi or kinko, he was guided by the thematic content of each piece. His acquisitions were often made directly in Japan, with a discerning eye for originality and artistic merit. A selection of his collection was exhibited at the Bibliothèque Universitaire in Strasbourg in 2022, offering a glimpse into his refined and deeply personal approach to collecting.

Museum comparison:
Compare a related tsuba with monkey and snake, dated to the late 19th-early 20th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 51.246.