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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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

Japanese antique tsuba (hand guard for a samurai sword), cast all of iron. The motif appears to be a combination of two kamon (family crests); one being the inside part of a mokko crest and the other the swirling comma shaped arms of a tomoe or mitsudomoe (Shinto) mon. The resulting design is an open work of elegant lines. Edo Period. Size: 3 1/8" wide diameter

Antique Japanese jingasa helmet, made of riveted iron panels in black lacquered, with the inside of the helmet is lacquered in red. On the front is a large ume (plum blossom) mon (family crest) belonging to the Maeda Family (ruler of the Kaga). Since the helmet is made all of iron it attests to the wealth and influence of the Maeda clan. It is more than likely that this particular helmet was worn in battle showing ware that is consistent of its age. Original lacquer and patina...

Dramatic Japanese Boy's Day Banner depicting the warrior Kashiwade no Hanoshi defeating a tiger. Colorful paste resist dyed and painted cotton. Tall banner with two mon (crests) at the top. One mon is the fuji (wisteria) of the Fujiwara family or possible of a family expressing devotion to the Kumano Shrine also associated with the wisteria motif. Meiji Period. Size: 16 feet high x 32 inches wide (including tabs)

An armorer's tsuba, with very slightly raised rim on the strong, flat iron plate. Pierced decoration of a shrimp with pleasing, subtle swell along the antennae and legs (mostly on the ura.) Small, irregular brass inlays for the eyes (missing from one eye - not conspicuous.) The kogai-ana plugged with a copper rich alloy. Oval form about 2 7/8" (7.3 cm) by 2 3/4" (6.985 cm). Thickness at rim about 5/32" (.39 cm). Late 16th century to early 17th century - perhaps Momoyama period...

A katchushi (or armorer's) tsuba, probably Myochin, with pierced decoration of ship's rudders (the significance being a comparison of rudders steering a ship to values guiding a Samurai's life choices.) The strong, homogenous, dense iron plate with only light tekkotsu and smooth to the touch. Dark patina. Momoyama to early Edo. Good condition: Lamination folds with openings evident on the surface of one side. Ex Skip Holbrook collection. 3 3/32" x 3 1/16" x 1/8" (7.8 cm x 7.7 cm x .32 cm)

An armorer's iron tsuba, possibly for a wakizashi as it is somewhat diminuitive in size. Or perhaps more in keeping with its apparent age, an early example of a proportionately small tsuba used with an uchigatana as was first the fashion. Sukashi decoration of a conch (horagai) traditionally used for ritual practices and for signaling on the battlefield...

An iron, Ko-Tosho (early sword smith's) tsuba. The slightest taper from seppa dai towards rim. Pierced decoration. Purchased from Andy Quirt (ex Skip Holbrook collection) at the February 2016 Tampa show, he thought it depicted gourds. I guess the beholder might see different things. I see Japanese eggplants on leafy vine (two fruit and two leaves) supported by a bamboo trellis. An uncommon and well executed, balanced decoration. The hitsu-ana appears to be original to the tsuba. Late Muromachi...

Antique Japanese matching Katana (long) and Wakazashi (short) swords, from the Shinto Period (1579-1763). Both swords have a beautiful dark brown patina on the tang with visible laminar construction on the blades. The blades have been fully polished and have paper work from the NBRHK in Japan. Each sword comes with a matching bag for protection. Wonderful details including side knives and menuki. The tsuba on the Wakizashi is shakudo...

Set of two Japanese samurai warrior dolls on horseback. Possibly representing the very well known Toyotomi Hideyoshi or Yoshitsune Minamoto and Benki. One samurai rides a white horse caught in mid stride while his rider leans forward in pursuit. The other warrior is on a black horse that is standing still analyzing his next move. Both warriors have intense expressions and are decorated in full armor with bows and arrows. Very highly detailed with all original parts.

Edo Period (ea...

Antique Japanese iron tsuba. Used as a sword fitting where the blade meets the handle. Designed to protect the hands of the Warrior. Unusual three dimensional rippling wave/cloud patterns. Hand forged to look like natural wood graining. Includes padded storage box. Edo period (1615-1868) Size: 3.25" x 3"

Unusual Antique Japanese maki-e lacquer Jingasa (Samurai helmet) decorated in low relief lacquer work of a fierce looking red Oni with piercing gold eyes and teeth . A gilt lacquer mon, or family crest is seen below the Oni representing daffodils. The underside of the helmet is smooth, shiny black lacquer.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru), used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather. Kas...

Antique Japanese light weight Jingasa (Samurai hat) made with a basketweave bamboo and paper coated in black and red lacquer. The front of the hat has the gilt paulownia leaf mon (family crest) with the top decorated with a three prong yari forming a trident.

Edo age (circa 1830's)

Size: 15.5" W x 3.5"