44 - A RARE IRON HAMANO SCHOOL ‘FRAGRANT WOOD’ TSUBA

A RARE IRON HAMANO SCHOOL ‘FRAGRANT WOOD’ TSUBA School of Hamano Shozui, unsigned Japan, Edo, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of kawarigata form, with two kozuka hitsu-ana, the nakago-ana with suaka sekigane, finely carved in marubori (round carving) as a piece of koboku (fragrant wood) with simulated holes, detailed with gold nunomezogan bands. HEIGHT 6.7 cm, WIDTH 6.2 cm HEIGHT 2.8 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.5 cm (seppa-dai) WEIGHT 96 g Provenance: Ex-collection Carlo Monzino. Carlo Monzino (1931-1996) was a prominent European collector renowned for his extensive collection of Japanese netsuke, sword fittings, inro, and other Asian art, which he meticulously amassed during his years living in Tokyo. His collection, which included rare and exceptional pieces, was celebrated for its depth and quality, particularly the Edo period netsuke crafted by master carvers. His legacy continues through the sale of his collections, which have become key references in both public and private art spheres. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Fragrant woods (koboku) were highly prized in Japan, both for the preparation of blended incense (takimono) and for the refined art of incense appreciation, kodo. In the courtly game of genji-ko, participants distinguished fragrances through combinations associated with the chapters of The Tale of Genji. Imported from distant regions such as Siam, India, and Indonesia, even small fragments of rare aromatic woods could command extraordinary prices. Museum comparison: Compare a related iron tsuba carved to imitate a piece of wood with prominently worked vertical grain, 7.2 cm high, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, accession no. EAX.10726.