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.

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 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)

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

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

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.

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...

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...

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"

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for a samurai sword). Made of bronze in the form of bending grain and leaves inlaid with gold details.
Meiji Period (1868 -1912) Size: 2 3/8" long x 1 7/8" wide.

A well forged, handsome mokume tsuba in mokko-gata form with katakiri-bori landscape decoration on both the omote and ura. The mokume grain is large and well controlled reminding one of ayasugi hada. In fact, this tsuba is indeed a tosho (swordsmith's) tsuba, being made by [Kai Ju] Kiyonaga and dated the third year of Bunkyo (1863) believed to be the same as KIY 298 referenced in Hawley's, Japanese Swordsmiths...

A very unusual Katana held in a saya (scabbard) made to look like a gnarled branch cut into a poor man’s cane. When pulled a spring-loaded mechanism releases two iron flanges creating a very effective tsuba hand guard. The blade is unsigned, measuring Nishaku nissun nibu {26-1/2 inches (67.3 cm)}. The remnants of a piece of paper remain glued to the saya with the name Masaaki Noma (?) written in cursive Roman letters, followed by UZUMASA, an area in Kyoto city...

A lacquered and iron bound round lidded box called a kubi-oke made to carry the head of a man taken in battle or that of a man after committing ritual suicide for offering to the lord. It is 13 inches (33 cm) diameter, 11-1/2 inches (29 cm) tall with large handles from which it could be carried on a pole. There is mouse damage on one part of the bottom, but has not eaten through to the inside.

Antique Japanese fireman's helmet, or kaji kabuki. Made from iron and copper plated, with red lacquer front bill incised with smoke clouds. Beautiful lotus shaped finial details the top of the helmet. Round kanji emblems on its sides. Iron display stand is also included. Original finish and condition. Comes with custom Iron Stand for safe proper display.

Edo period (1615-1868)

Size: 12" W x 13.5" D x 7" H (on stand) 11" H