61 - A FINE GOTO SCHOOL SHAKUDO NANAKO ‘DRAGON CHASING THE MAGIC PEARL’ TSUBA

A FINE GOTO SCHOOL SHAKUDO NANAKO ‘DRAGON CHASING THE MAGIC PEARL’ TSUBA Unsigned Japan, 18 th-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of nademarugata form, with one kozuka and kogai hitsu ana, the nakago-ana with suaka sekigane, the shakudo nanako ground worked in takabori and gold takazogan to depict a sinuous three-clawed dragon grasping a magic pearl, the scales and scrolling clouds neatly rendered, and the mimi applied with a gilt rim. HEIGHT 8.3 cm, WIDTH 7.8 cm HEIGHT 2.7 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.5 cm (seppa-dai) WEIGHT 193.3 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, and lacquer. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear.