mei (signed): Yanagawa Naoharu (柳川直春) (kaô, 花押)
Size: 7.14 cm x 6.82 cm
Thickness at rim: 0.3 cm
Weight: 95 gr
Period: Mid Edo
With a N.B.T.H.K. Hozon Certification
In kiri box
– With hako-gaki written by Tōsō Jikai + seal
– Used by I.N.T.K. (Italy) for a Kantei Kanshō on May 9th 2015.
Botan-shishi no zu tsuba (牡丹獅⼦図鐔) – Sword guard depicting peony and lion
Elongated round shape, copper and gold alloy with polished finish, half-cut carving, gold accentuations, rim with ring-shaped covering/encasing, two openings for scabbard accessories.
Excellent Yokoya school style work.�
Yanagawa Naoharu (柳川直春), 3rd gen. was born in Edo in the third year of Kan´en (1750) as the son of Naohisa.
His first name was “Benzō“ (弁蔵) followed by “Koheiji“ (小平次) and later “Rizaemon“.
He was two years old when his father died and so he was raised by Naomitsu who had married his mother.
Naoharu succeeded as 3rd gen. of the Yanagawa school when the latter retired during the Kansei era.
He is regarded as the most talented Yanagawa artist after Naomasa and used the gō “On´kokan“ (温故観) and “Sei´unsha“ (青雲舎).
His year of death is unknown but it is assumed that he died during the Kansei era.
The “Sōken-kishō“ lists Shimizu Jin´emon (清水甚右衛門) as the natural father of Naoharu.
Jin´emon was a student of Naomasa and was allowed to use the family name “Yanagawa“.
He also worked under the craftsman name “Naotsugu“ (直次).
Some sources say that Naoharu was the adopted son of Naohisa but this can be ruled out because he was two years old when the latter died.
But it is conceivable that Naoharu and Naotsugu were brothers.