58 - A MINO-GOTO SCHOOL SHAKUDO NANAKO ‘ZODIAC ANIMALS’ TSUBA

A MINO-GOTO SCHOOL SHAKUDO NANAKO ‘ZODIAC ANIMALS’ TSUBA Unsigned Japan, 18 th-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of mokkogata form, with one kozuka and one kogai hitsu ana, the shakudo nanako ground decorated in gold, copper, and silver with the twelve animals of the East Asian zodiac framed by a border of autumnal blossoms and leaves. One side showing the rat, ox, hare, dragon, snake, and tiger, the other side with the monkey, horse, goat, rooster, boar, and dog. HEIGHT 6.7 cm, WIDTH 6.1 cm HEIGHT 2.6 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.4 cm (seppa-dai), 0.4 cm (mimi) WEIGHT 90.4 g Provenance: From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York. 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, lacquer, and sword fittings. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear.