70 - TAKESHIMA TOSHITAKA: A FINE SUAKA ‘SWIMMING CARP’ TSUBA

TAKESHIMA TOSHITAKA: A FINE SUAKA ‘SWIMMING CARP’ TSUBA By Takeshima Toshitaka (died 1755), signed Takeshima Toshitaka with kakihan Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of nademarugata form, with one kogai and kozuka hitsu ana, the suaka migakiji ground chiseled in shishiaibori, kebori, and takabori with gold, silver, and shakudo takazogan, depicting a carp swimming in a pond. The reverse with crashing waves and silver dew drops. Signed TAKESHIMA TOSHITAKA with kakihan. HEIGHT 8.8 cm, WIDTH 8.3 cm HEIGHT 2.9 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.5 cm (seppa-dai) WEIGHT 232.5 g Provenance: Christie’s, Japanese Art and Design including Arts of the Samurai, 9 June 2004, London, lot 75 (sold for GBP 1,912 or approx. EUR 4,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York, acquired from the above. Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple were married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Notably, they assembled an impressive collection of Japanese art, focusing on fine netsuke, inro, and lacquer. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. With a padded storage box. Takeshima Toshitaka (died 1755) is listed in Wakayama Takeshi, The Toso Kinko Jiten, on p. 234. Takeshima Toshitaka was a pupil of Goto Tsujo.