50 - UEDA KAZUTSUNE: A FINE IRON ‘MOKUME AND CICADA’ TSUBA

UEDA KAZUTSUNE: A FINE IRON ‘MOKUME AND CICADA’ TSUBA By Ueda Kazutsune (died 1868), signed Tansuishi Kazutsune with seal Tan Japan, Kii province, mid-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of tatemarugata form, with one kozuka hitsu ana, the finely worked mokume ground layered with a gold and iron takazogan cicada. Signed TANSUISHI KAZUTSUNE with a gold hirazogan seal TAN. HEIGHT 7.4 cm, WIDTH 6.9 cm HEIGHT 2.4 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.3 cm (seppa-dai) WEIGHT 103.8 g Provenance: Van Ham, Netsuke & Japanese Art, 8 June 2017, Cologne, lot 1749 (sold for EUR 1,548 or approx. EUR 2,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). With Giuseppe Piva: Japanese Art, Milan, acquired from the above. A copy of a signed and sealed certificate of authenticity from Giuseppe Piva, dated March 2018, accompanies the lot. Condition: Excellent condition. Kazutsune is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on p. 630-631 (H 03052.0). Museum comparison: Compare a related iron tsuba by Ueda Kazutsune featuring Ja-kago and reeds, signed Tansuishi with seal, dated 1848-1868, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 51.91.