KZ-115 Yonemitsu Taihei Bashin (Umabari)

$4900

1900’s

Yonemitsu Taihei Mitsumasa – NBTHK Hozon

12.5 cm

Iron Gold Inlay Bashin by Living National Treasure Yonemitsu Taihei

Rare signed Bashin (Umabari) by the ONLY tosogu maker to be given the title of Ningen Kokuho (Living National Treasure). Yonemitsu Taihei Mitsumasa was an excellent tsuba maker and kinko-shi. His works rival that of any top level Higo artisan from the Edo period and have been often mistaken for those of earlier masters. He was trained in the traditional Higo style by his uncle, and received the title of Living National Treasure in 1965. Many of his works are unsigned as that was the style of the Higo School, but in his later years he started to carve his name on his pieces. Not only is this piece signed, it has the original box, also signed by Taihei. A very rare package by a true master.

This piece is also published in a well known book by the famous fittings teacher Torigoye.

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KZ-116 Shunga Kozuka

$2500

1700-1800’s

 

Signed with Kao only

9.7cm x 1.5cm x 5.2mm

Shibuichi Kozuka of Shunga Eotic Art

Shunga kozuka made of silver with shakudo, copper and gold. The fine carving is done in very good kiri bori style, especially upon examination of the both the facial and other detailed features. In most cases, this type of kozuka was made by the Otsuki School (see menuki section for another example of Otsuki work). They were very well known for making fittings like this in silver, and then either leaving the pieces unsigned, or like in this case signed by Kao only.
Shunga is a term for Japanese erotic art, meaning literally “spring, which is common euphemism for sex. It was thought by samurai that the carrying of shunga was a special lucky charm to ward against death and its popularity was such that both Japanese women and men were avid collectors of Shunga works of art and carried very little of stigma that it does today. With some research, we could probably figure out which maker made this interesting piece. The pictures tell the rest on a fun piece!

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KZ-114 Goto Cat Kozuka

$2200

1600’s

Unsigned – Goto School (NBTHK Hozon to Goto meaning mainline but not sure which maker)

9.6 cm length
14.7 mm width

Rare Kozuka Goto School

Mainline Goto kozuka with  an obviously custom ordered subject. Very well executed design of a cat attacking a mouse. Someone who was a high up cat lover must have ordered this piece for themselves. Well-done carving done in top grade shakudo with use of gold for the accents. This kozuka also has age to it, probably from around the Mid Edo period or slightly earlier. There is nice action to the layout, thus the piece looks like it has “life” to the design. Definitely a piece for a collector who loves the felines.

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KZ-113 Goto Etsujo

$2,200

1642-1708

9.70 length x 1.43 panel width x .48 cm thickness

Design of Maru-Mado

Excellent kozuka by one of the most highly regarded Goto artists, Goto Etsujo. Etsujo is Goto Teijo's 2nd son. He is considered to be as, if not more, talented than his older brother . However, due to the Japanese system, and him being the 2nd son (the 1st son usually becomes the next master in the mainline), he ended up moving to the Rihei line.  He was so skilled a worker that the Maeda Daimyo hired him for 150 koku (a very large amount of money!!!). He became the head teacher of fittings craftsmanship for the Maeda, and established the next masters to work for the Maeda family for many years to come.

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KZ-106 Omori Hizen line Tomohide Kozuka of Dragon

$2,200

1800’s

9.69 cm long 1.43 cm wide

Hizen Tomohide Kozuka of Dragon

Excellent mix metal kozuka by Miyake smith Tomohide. Excellent ishime ground plate with superb high relief dragon. Kozuka is lined with gold rim, ura in shakudo and shibuichi, sides in copper. The Miyake line were direct retainers to the Mori Daimyo and came from the Yokoya tradition and were part of the Omori line. Worked in both Hizen Nagasaki and Edo areas.  We guarantee the signature to be genuine. Kozuka comes with custom box.

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KZ-111 Ko-Goto Kozuka

$2,200

Momoyama

9.95 length x 1.51 panel width x .57 cm thickness

Shakudo nanako Oars 

Deep dark shakudo nanako kozuka of oars. The piece has a lot of age on it and probably is the work of a Ko-Goto master. This theme was popular with Goto Sojo. The nice coloring and feel of the piece do not preclude him from possibly having made this kozuka. Kozuka is in good condition but has some wear which is to be expected considering the age. Comes in kiri box.

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KZ-105 Funada Ikkin

$1200

1800’s

Signed Ikkin –NBTHK Hozon Certified

9.69 cm long 1.39 cm wide