ICHIRYU TOSHIMITSU: A SUPERB SENTOKU BAKUMATSU TSUBA WITH MONKEYS AND CRABS

Sold for €6,500

including Buyer’s Premium

Lot details

By Ichiryu Toshimitsu, signed Ichiryu Toshimitsu 一柳壽光 with kakihan
Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Of aorigata shape, decorated in masterful takazogan with highlights of gold, copper and shakudo depicting a family of three monkeys, the father getting his hand nipped by a crab, while one of his young tries to pull him free, pulling on the collar of his father’s jacket, another monkey to the side screaming with his arms flailing. The reverse with another crab and an inlaid silver river stream, signed ICHIRYU TOSHIMITSU and kakihan.

SIZE 8.2 x 8 cm
WEIGHT 226.0 g

Condition: Very good condition, minor surface wear.
Provenance: British collection.

Ichiryu Toshimitsu is listed on page 2054, H 10450.0 in THE INDEX OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS AND ASSOCIATED ARTISTS by Robert E. Haynes. He lived in Mito, Hitachi province, and was the first son and student of Hirano Toshiharu.

The present tsuba is a reference to the story of ‘The Crab and the Monkey’, in which a sly monkey kills a crab, and is later killed in revenge by the crab’s offspring.