WASHIDA MITSUCHIKA: A FINE SENTOKU TSUBA WITH KIRIN UNDER A PINE TREE

Sold for €1,300

including Buyer’s Premium

Lot details

By Washida Mitsuchika, signed Yuzensai Mitsuchika with kakihan
Japan, second half of 19th century

The sentoku tsuba of kakugata shape, with a kozuka and kogai hitsu-ana, delicately worked in gold and shibuichi takazogan, as well as fine kebori and katakiribori engraving to depict a kirin under a pine tree. The beast standing on a rocky outpost detailed with scrolling whiskers as it looks up at the pine needles high above, its body incised with curly mane and tail, the reverse carved with the plummet beyond the cliff, a gushing waterfall issues from a rocky height, all below scrolling clouds. Signed YUZENSAI MITSUCHIKA with kakihan (artist’s cursive monogram).

HEIGHT 6.8 cm, LENGTH 6.2 cm
WEIGHT 93.6 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear.

With a padded wood tomobako storage box with a label ‘Mitsuchika.’

Washida Mitsuchika (1823-1902) is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on pp. 1049 (H 05142.0) and was the first son of the second Washida Mitsutoki (H. 05455).

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related sentoku tsuba by Yuzenkyo Mitsuchika at Bonhams, Japanese Art & Design, 11 May 2011, London, lot 382 (sold for GBP 1,875).