19th Century Japanese Set of 12 Mixed Metal Kozuka Knife with Sea Creatures & Figures

They are 7.87 inches (20 cm) long by 0.78 inch (2 cm) wide. The kozuka is 3.85 inches (9.8 cm) long by 0.63 inch (1.6 cm) wide. The total weight is 1.1 Lb.

They are tarnished and have oxidation, rubbing of gold, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell...

Japanese sword guard, known as a tsuba. The inscription on the tsuba reads "Mogarashi Nyudo Soten-sei" (藻柄子入道宗典製), meaning "made by Mogarashi Nyudo Soten". He was a master craftsman from Hikone in Goshu Province (modern-day Shiga Prefecture) during the mid-Edo period. The piece is made of iron and features intricate sukashi (openwork) and iroe-taka-zogan (raised inlay) in gold, silver, and copper. Perfect condition. 3” x 2 ¾ “. 7.5 x 7.2 sm

The motive features two puppies playing with a rope, abalone shell on the foreground. Silver, shakudo and gold inlays. It may be a menuki or other sword or tobacco pouch decoration, turned into a brooch with a silver mounts. Perfect condition. 2” x 1”.

A pair of Japanese, Edo period, copper alloy menuki depicting buffalo. Horns, hooves and spots highlighted with gold hirazogan overlay. Good condition. Each about 1 1/8 inches.

A pair of left and right menuki depicting lobsters in a paulownia wood box. Unsigned, gold finish, shakudo base, Yobori carving, attributed to Kyoto workshops. 2 ¼” long.

Exquisite Samurai Katana Stand with Makie Lacquer – Late Edo Period, 19th Century

A refined and elegant sword stand (katana kake) from the late Edo period, crafted with meticulous makie lacquer work. The shimmering black lacquer surface is adorned with detailed gold and silver makie depicting seasonal grasses, bellflowers, bush clover, and nanten berries—classic autumn motifs that evoke Japanese aesthetics and natural harmony...

Kozuka of exceptional quality; on a hammered Shibuichi background with a light, discreet amati, the artist has chiseled a scene representing a Chinese child feeding a crane, the details are inlaid in relief with precious metals, gold, silver, shakudo and sentoku. On the reverse are incised 6 Chinese characters...

A finely curated group of six antique Japanese tsuba (sword guards), each forged in iron and showcasing a range of traditional openwork (sukashi) and motif-driven designs. These hand guards reflect the refined artistry and symbolism of the samurai class during the Edo Period...

Antique Japanese bronze tsuba with seven baby crows in silver and gold learning to fly over crested waters. Signed By Female Artist: Katsurano Fumiko /...

Antique Japanese iron Tsuba with inlay of a three gold clawed dragon amongst the swirling clouds. cast in iron using sand cast technique. Unsigned

Age: early 1900's

Dimensions: 2 3/4" wide 2 7/8" high

Antique Japanese iron tsuba (sword fitting). Depicting three water buffalo resting in the shade of the weeping willow tree. Details of sprouted wild grasses and flowers in gold. Finely detailed, each water buffalo is raised and has gold inlaid eye. Very and well made, smaller size than most tsuba.

Age: Late Edo Period Circa 1800's

2 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" high

Antique Japanese solid bronze tsuba (sword guard). Depicting a small gold fishing boat with cormorant traditional fishing. Long ling leading to a ring place around the trained cormorants neck. Natural bamboo springs up on both sides of gold and silver. Well made with careful attention to details.

Age: Late Edo Period Circa early 1800's

Dimensions2 3/4" wide x 3" high

Antique Japanese iron tsuba depicting a newt, with eyes of gold on natural wood. Silver spider web falling maple leafs.
Signed Tsuchiya Morichika who was active in the Edo period. Morichika worked in Okayama in Bizen province, and later in Osaka. He is the son of Noriyuki (H 05810), and a student of the sixth Tsuchiya Yasuchika (H 11109)...

Antique Japanese 18th century, Edo period, Soten school iron tsuba for Japanese samurai sword. The tsuba of marugata shape is made of nade-maru-gata iron, featuring a yo-sukashi design. It is intricately carved on both sides in relief with motifs of chrysanthemums and leaves, which are beautifully highlighted with gold...

Daisho Bushu school iron tsuba. Sukashi decoration of basket weave panels and parcel gilt prunus blossoms. Each signed Bushu Ju Masanaga. A nice pair of tsuba having started life together. Edo period. Good condition. Larger, 2 7/8 by 2 3/4 inches. Smaller, 2 3/4 by 2 5/8 inches.

A fabulous pair of daisho iron tsuba. Haruta school, with the character “Haru” still legible in the seppa-dai of the larger. Realistic depiction of weathered wood with a few gin-zogan (inlaid silver) woodworms in the decoration of the larger. I’ve seen similar work attributed to Hirata school, but that must have been misheard from Haruta. Excellent condition, and the two having started life together. Later Edo period, early 19th century. Larger 3 1/8 by 2 15/16 inches...

A pair of daisho iron tsuba of yatsu-mokko-gata (eight lobed) form. Sukashi motif of fans and gingko leaves (an interesting combination of similar shapes). Some chiseled texturing of the surfaces of the gingko leaves. Edo period, circa 1700. Good, serviceable condition with a few interrupted fan ribs on the larger. It is about 3 1/8 inches diameter. The smaller is about 2 7/8 inches diameter.

A fine pair of Chosho school maurugata form iron daisho tsuba. Sukashi work depicting blossoms on budding prunus branches. Strongly and well carved decoration. Edo period, 18th century. Good condition, with the nakago-ana filed larger at some point. Larger, 3 1/8 diameter. Smaller, 2 7/8 by 2 13/16 inches.