KATSUYASU: A FINE INLAID SENTOKU TSUBA WITH YORITOMO HIDING IN A TREE

Sold for €1,560

including Buyer’s Premium

Lot details

By Katsuyasu (1832-1880), signed Katsuyasu horu 勝保鐫
Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Of kakugata shape with sumikiri corners, decorated in superb gold, silver, shakudo, and copper takazogan, depicting Yoritomo and his comrades hidden in a tree trunk and two doves in flight, the reverse finely engraved with pines, military banners, and mountains, signed KATSUYASU horu.

SIZE 9.3 x 8.5 cm
WEIGHT 194.9 g

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

Katsuyasu is listed on page 608, H 02931.0 in THE INDEX OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS AND ASSOCIATED ARTISTS by Robert E. Haynes. The artist was born in Mito, Hitachi province, as the second son of Hagiya Katsuhira. He carried on the family business in Mito and Edo.

This tsuba shows Minamoto Yoritomo hiding from his enemies in a tree during the Genpei War (1180-1185). Yoritomo was being followed through the Hakone Mountains by warriors from the Taira clan. One of these warriors, Kajiwara Kagetoki, was secretly a supporter of Yoritomo. When the Taira soldiers came upon the tree where Yoritomo was hiding, Kagetoki stuck his bow into the tree. This startled two doves that flew away. Kagetoki convinced the other Taira soldiers that no one could be in the tree with the doves, thus allowing Yoritomo to escape.

source: https://www.zacke.at/auction/lot/lot-145—katsuyasu-a-fine-inlaid-sentoku-tsuba-with-yoritomo-hiding-in-a-tree/?lot=26691&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=63&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1