KANO NATSUO: A SUPERB INLAID IRON TSUBA WITH A CARP

Sold for €4,298

including Buyer’s Premium

Lot details

By the studio of Kano Natsuo, signed Natsuo with kakihan
Japan, Natsuo School, 19th century

Of mokko shape with slightly raised rim, the iron superbly patinated with a fine finish, carved in relief with a carp leaping from the water, a minutely detailed wasp above it, the details finely worked in copper and gold takazogan, the water rendered in takabori with fine incision work, the dew drops inlaid in gold. The tranquil backside with an incised stream and a few gold grasses, signed NATSUO with kakihan.

SIZE 8.4 x 7.7 cm
WEIGHT 153.6 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: An important East German private collection, mostly assembled in the 1970s and 80s.

Kano Natsuo (1828-1898) was born to a rice merchant in Yanagiba Oike, Kyoto. At the age of 7, he was adopted by Jisuke Kano, a sword merchant, and naturally became fascinated by the beauty of tsuba and began to chisel by imitation.

Literature comparison:
Compare with a closely related tsuba by Kano Natsuo depicting a similar motif at the Walters Art Museum, accession number 51.397.

Auction comparison:
Compare with a closely related tsuba by the studio of Kano Natsuo depicting a similar motif at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 19 March 2014, New York, lot 3337 (sold for 7,500 USD).