Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for a samurai sword), made all of iron and cast in the form of a daikon raddish. The leafy tops of the daikon are highly raised and the raddish root itself twists around becoming the circular rounded edge of the tsuba. Wonderful three dimensional quality. Edo Period. Size: 3" wide diameter

Rare Japanese gusoku bitsu (carrying box for samurai armor). Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and lacquered red and black. Unusual curved form. Leather shoulder straps for carrying. Iron hardware. Top lifts off. Decorated with the mon (crest) of the Oyamada Samurai clan. Edo Period (circa 1800's) Size: 28" high x 15" wide x 16 1/2" deep.

Mokkogate samurai sword guard (tsuba) made of shibuishi with gold inserts, with katakiri decor representing on one side a monk sitting and holding a brush and surrounded by clouds and on the other side a dragon emerging from clouds. The tsuba is signed. Japan, Edo Period, 18th/19th century. Diameter: 6.7 cm. the tsuba is offered in its original box. Very good condition. Provenance: Old Canadian collection. Auction sale Tajan, in Paris, December 14th 2015.

Pair of Kinko (soft metal, as distinguished from iron) menuki. The soft metal copper alloy with dark patination (perhaps shakudo) depicting a pair of shishi or dogs (these are more dog like than most shishi I've seen, which are often thought to be lions.) The dogs with hair defined with fine incising. Decoration in gold including spots and pupils on the dogs, the collars each with a bell, and sprays of flowers...

Tombo Eboshi-Nari Okegawa Do Gushoku, a rare and wonderful Japanese antique suit of armor: Eboshi helmet (represents one who has attained manhood distinguished by an Original dragonfly (tombo meadate) carved of wood and lacquered gold. It is original to the suit of armor and it represents perseverance and transformation. The half mask or monkey form (saru bo) covers only the jaw portion of the face...

An Edo Period Kozuka (utility knife handle.) Kinko (mixed soft metals) decoration on shakudo alloy with nanako (fish roe textured) background. Depicted in a farmer with horse in water plowing in prepartion to plant rice. A willow or other weeping tree, to one side, not yet with blooms. Nicely detailed with featured highlighted with gold and silver overlay. The water nicely textures with an itame (wood grain) effect. Serviceable, fair to good condition...

An iron mokogata form iron tsuba with surface and patina indicating significant age. Some folds apparent in the iron, tekkotsu ("iron bones" describing irregularities in surface resulting from gradual wearing away of softer iron, leaving more refined, harder iron), rim slightly raised around the hammered plate. The raised decoration of the hare and vine in quintessentially Japanese taste - thick gold overlaid details. This would work nicely on a Yamashiro or other slender, old blade...

Two nicely matched Edo period mixed metal menuki. Each with decoration of a duck in water. Some difference in the detailing of the water and perhaps different duck species (though one could explain the lack of a crest and color on one because it was the female of a pair of mandarin wood ducks.) For the price, they would work quite well together on a tsuka (sword hilt.) Longer one, about 1 1/2 inches. Good condition.

Antique Japanese menuki of a snarling fu dog's head over gilt flowing "fabric", made with gold ,silver, shakudo,copper and bronze.. Menuki are one of many components to a Japanese sword, mounted as an ornament on the tsuka (handle). They are believed by some to secure the swordsman's grip. Size: 1.75" long, .5" wide

Antique Japanese horse saddle, wooden frame with brass hardware, leather is decorated with orange and gold lacquer with peony design, indigo cotton fabric with woven mesh saddle cover with long fringe, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 18" high x 31" wide x 25" deep.

Late 18th to early 19th century Japanese lacquer 5-compartment inro with a stunning design of a dragon!

It has a fantastic lacquer work called Maki-E. The inside is covered with precious Nashiji Gold Dust. This techique was only used for luxury items for the most famous Samurai fighter.

The material of the Netsuke and the string fastener (ojime) is Kotsu, a delicate work.

Very good condition with only little damages due to the high age...

Antique Japanese bronze Shakudo (mixture of Gold and Copper) menuki of a fu dog with signature engraved on its backside. Menuki are one of many components to a Japanese sword, mounted as an ornament on the tsuka (handle). They are believed by some to secure the swordsman's grip. Size: 1 1/4" Long x .5" wide

Antique Japanese jingasa, a special protective hat worn by samurai. It is covered in a special lacquer called "tatake nuri" and is decorated with a star shaped like blades, and delicate carvings around the finial. The underside is lacquered in red with old cloth and string. Edo period (1615-1868) Size: 2.75" height, 16.5" diameter

Antique Japanese black lacquer jingasa (samurai helmet), gold lacquer Maeda mon (crest), the edges are also lacquered gold, red lacquer on the underside, metal chrysanthemum form finial on top, Meiji Period. Size: 14" long

The Katchushi style of this tsuba gives it an earlier look and feel. But it is probably an Edo period work (might expect more wear on the seppa-dai or more conspicuous tekkotsu on an older example.) The thin body nonetheless resilient. Strong, sparse, decorative file marks on the vertical add to character. Adept use of the file, thin plate and slight taper toward the rim could support argument a swordsmith may have made the tsuba...

A kozuka with gilt and silvered bronze decoration of a general's baton and banner on dark patinated bronze nanako ('fish roe' textured ground.) The utility knife handle with shakudo (a pickled gold and copper alloy) back and sides. Surfaces showing wear and slight distress from use but in fairly good and serviceable condition. Could benefit from a light cleaning and oiling. Length, little more than 3 3/4 inches (9.53 cm)

A good pair of dragon menuki in nicely detailed patinated shakudo alloy and with gilt features. Late Edo period. Good condition but with glue adhering mostly to the back. Each little more than 1 5/8 inches (4.13 cm) long.

A kozuka with sea shell and seaweed decoration with gold and silver overlaid on shakudo (a pickled gold and copper alloy) nanako ('fish roe' textured ground.) The utility knife handle with filed gilt bronze sides and back. Slight bend and the nanako somewhat dented in places. Would present nicely enough with a sword fitted to hold a kozuka in the saya (scabbard.) Kogatana (utility blade) not included. Length, 3 3/4 inches.