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.

A matched pair of iron tsuba. Geese and ginger. Not a true daisho pair, the workmanship and subject are close enough to consider for a daisho with smaller kasane for the daito. Daigoro was a later Akasaka district artist known for this motif. Later Edo (19th century). Good condition. Larger, 3 by 2 5/8 inches. Smaller 2 5/8 inches by 2 3/8 inches. Note that the smaller one is a bit thicker (see pics).

A fine daisho pair of Akasaka school iron sukashi tsuba. The concentric rings motif reminds of kamon designs but also could be symbolic of the rings on a Buddhist monks prayer staff. Very good spatial design consistent with earlier, sophisticated yet austere samurai taste. These started life together for use on the long and short sword pair. Circa 1700. Excellent condition and consistent as a pair in all respects. Larger, 2 15/16 by 2 7/8 inches. Smaller, 2 13/16 by 2 3/4 inches.

A matched pair of iron tsuba. Wasp and antler motif. Relates to a Japanese saying (we’ll research and get back with an account). Not a true daisho pair, the workmanship and subject are more than just close enough to appropriately use well on daisho swords. Edo period Shoami work, circa 1800. I’ve also seen this motif attributed to Kanayama (the surface texture would be consistent). There could be overlap as Shoami was more a movement than a region-bound school. Good condition...

Daisho ko-Shoami marugata form (round) tsuba. Gunbai-uchiwa motif (gunbai referring to a war signal fan and uchiwa referring to the form of the fan). A pair being understood as a daisho (though one tsuba being for the longer of two swords, and the other for the shorter sword, they are more often than not graduated in size). These started life together...

Antique Japanese set of iron and lacquer samurai armor in the Saiga school style. Tetsu Kuro urushi nuri 2mai dou Saiga gusoku. The kabuto has special iron-cut gilt eyebrows. Unique shikoro, Oie's mempo, large tare, hollow nose. Very thick torso, armpit ribs, Bishyamonten style kote.

Age: Early Edo Period (1603-1868)

Antique Japanese Samurai meadate (samurai helmet decoration) of a gilt dragon made of hand carved wood with dry lacquer with metal details on tail/whiskers. Whimsical flowing hair and long eye lashes. Mounted on a custom antiqued bronze metal/walnut stand for presentation.

Age: Mid Edo period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 11″ High x 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2"

Antique Japanese gunbai, war fan belonging to a high ranking samurai officer. Made of lacquered wood with shell inlay and with 2 large cut outs. This fan would have been used to shade from the sun and to signal troops. Though this shape of fan was not used as a weapon, it could have come in very handy in battle and there are legends of samurai heroes fighting with nothing but their war fans. The art of fighting with a war fan is called tessenjutsu...

CUIRASS

Aged Japanese samurai iron armor covered with black lacquer and gold foil of practical light weight make for infantryman, dated back to the Edo period (or could be a little earlier). W 32 x H 40 x D 13 cm (12.59 x 15.74 x 5.11in). In such actually used condition as is, with lacquer-peelings, partial cut of string, etc...

This exceptional tanto is very original, unique in its kind, it represents a bundle of lotus flowers wrapped in a canvas. The mount is in silver, embossed for the leaves of the sheath and cast for the flower buds at both ends. The seppa are in shakudo and gold. Some elements in gilded bronze. The design of the sheath is unique, it is a perfect imitation of a fabric canvas. It is made of woven bamboo fibers covered with lacquer...

Antique Japanese pair of jingasa, hats worn by samurai or foot soldiers. Lacquered black and marked with the mon (family crest) of the Ogasawara clan. The Ogasawara were descended from Seiwa Genji. They acted as shugo, governing Shinamo Provence during the Sengoku Period (1185-1600). This pair of hats dates to the Edo Period (1608-1867) when the Ogasawara were daimyo (feudal lords) of territories on Kyushu.
The underside of each jingasa has gold leaf and remnants of padding...

A protective deity is carved into this Piece of a pillar from Himeji Castle dating from the Meiji period restoration of the Tenshukaku (main tower). It is branded with the Yaki-in which reads Himeji Jo Ko-zai-in (Brand of the old wood from Himeji Castle). It has long been a method of raising funds in Japan to offer replaced pieces of a historical building to those who donate to the restoration. These pieces are commonly branded with a special seal, called a yaki-in, which is heated and burnt ...

A set of 5 rare Dutch glass cups imported to Japan in the Edo period and formerly owned by the Confucian scholar Nakai Riken (1732-1817). They are enclosed in a custom made double sided wooden box with drop in doors titled on the side Yoi-O-Gozui (Five fortuitous ways to be drunken) with a long verse carved into each door. Of course, the meaning of the title goes much deeper, and the Gozui is also a Confucian concept. The emperor of China distributed five jade treasures to the five feudal lor...

Antique Japanese jingasa (samurai war hat). Carved of wood and lacquered black with many raised plates and upturned rim. This shape of bajo-jingasa was developed to be worn by warriors on horseback. The underside is lacquered black and his metal eyelets intended for cord. Age Edo Age - 19th century

Dimensions: 6 1/2" high x 16 1/4" long x 12 3/8" wide