M-123 Gion Shato Menuki

$2,200

Late Edo

Unsigned – NBTHK Certified to Yamazaki school

3.50 x 1.58 x .62 cm
3.45 x 1.69 x .63 cm

Excellent Yamazaki Ichiga Menuki

Shakudo base, mixed silver, gold, and copper iroe menuki of Chokushi performing in the Gion Shato ceremony. These Chokushi would wear Heian style costume and perform for the ceremony in honor of the Emperor if he could not attend the ceremony in person. They were symbols of his imperial majesty and an typical local theme for the Yamazaki Ichiga school who were based in Kyoto. The menuki themselves are top notch and in excellent condition. Large size and dynamic work make them all the more enjoyable. Menuki come with NBTHK certification to Yamazaki school and come with custom box.

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M-103 Signed Otsuki Mitsuhiro Tou-buki weapons

1800's

Signed Kishotei Mitsuhiro – NBTHK Hozon attribution

Sword -10.35 cm long
Axe - 10.17 cm long

Mike hid the papers from me when I wrote this so now I have to update it (I was close the first time anyways!). Radical large iron menuki signed Kishotei Mitsuhiro. Well cut and designed, this set is over 10 cm long! They look like mini-weapons and are fun show off piece as well as a top quality set from famous Jokko rated smith. Otsuki Mitsuhiro was Otsuki Mitsuoki’s son and the 5th master of the Otsuki line. Mitsuoki was considered one of the top three Kyoto smiths at the time along with Nagatsune and Tetsugendo Shoraku. As Mitsuoki lived a long life, Mitsuhiro spent most of the time working under his father, retiring shortly after his father passed away. It is rare to see a genuine sign piece of the Otsuki school as there are many fakes. It is even rarer to see a signed Mitsuhiro piece. Design is of Tou-buki weapons. They are in excellent condition and come with custom box and NBTHK Hozon paper to Kishotei Mitsuhiro.

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M-114 Large Size Warrior Menuki

Late Edo

Unsigned

4.12 x 1.66 x .51 cm

3.97 x 1.88 x .55 cm

Large menuki of Yoshitsune and Benkei

Excellent large size menuki depicting Yoshitsune charging Benkei. A famous story from the tale of the Heikei, Yoshitsune attempted to cross Gojo bridge where Benkei had stationed himself previously disarming 999 samurai of their weapons as they attempted to cross the bridge. Yoshitsune was able to defeat the fearsome Benkei and the powerful Benkei pledged himself to become Yoshitsune's retainer. These menuki are probably the work of Yamasaki Ichiga school in Kyoto and are notable for their high quality and large size. Comes with custom fitted kiri box.

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M-128 Mito Yoshitoshi

Early 1900’s

Signed – Yoshitomo Yoshitoshi signature guaranteed to pass NBTHK shinsa if sent through us within 1 year of purchase

3.5 cm x 1.5 cm

Large Shakudo Peony Signed Menuki

Menuki by the last official Mito kinko artist, Yoshitoshi. This is a rare set, made of top grade materiasl. The shakudo is very high quality, and the presence of solid gold signature plates also indicate that no expense was spared in making this set. The 3 dimensional carving makes the peony appear almost real in appearance. He is listed in the meikan, as an official maker, and he died in showa 33. The original artist origami accompanies this set.

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M-124 Excellent Goto School Menuki

1600’s

Unsigned - -Goto School

4.27 cm length      1.3 cm width top-bottom of face

Design of Uma no Gu

Mint condition set of menuki done in the style of the Goto School. Fine work shows high quality with use of mixed metals done in very nice taste. The fine carving shows that the artist was of a very high level, with top level training. The use of gold with the red copper and shakudo is a very difficult technique, so we can most likely assume from both those clues along with the style and subject, that these are Goto School menuki from around the mid-early part of the late Edo period.  The subject of horse riding implements is a very nice subject when done correctly as this set. This set is in very excellent condition and would be a nice addition in any collection. We also recommend that they be submitted to an NBTHK shinsa in the future.

 

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